XIN_ENG_20061116.0111

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 16 , 2006 (Xinhua)

China home entertainment fair opens in Guangzhou

The 2006 China Home Entertainment Fair, the largest of its kind in the country, opened on Thursday in south China's Guangdong Province, attracting hundreds of audiovisual companies from both home and abroad.

The three-day event, held in the Guangdong Audiovisual Industry Base in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, is showcasing 100,000 products from 256 audiovisual firms, according to the organizers.

Spread over an exhibition area of 25,000 square meters, the fair focuses on copyright acquisition and distribution right for audiovisual products and on new audiovisual technologies and techniques.

The fair is also holding a series of seminars on digital movie development and China's audiovisual development strategy.

A number of awards for audiovisual products, graphic design, sales volume and so on, will be made at the fair.

The fair is being sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture and the Guangdong provincial government. It has been an annual event since 2004.

Nov. 16 , 2006

Thursday


XIN_ENG_20051122.0082

TOKYO, Nov. 22 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Dollar moves narrowly in lower 119 yen in Tokyo

The US dollar moved in a narrow range in the lower 119 yen level Tuesday in Tokyo as many investors took to the sidelines ahead of holidays in Japan and the United States.

At 5 p.m., the dollar traded at 119.04-06 yen, compared with Monday's 5 p.m. quotes of 118.99-119.09 yen in New York and 119.27- 29 yen in Tokyo. It moved between 118.96 yen and 119.20 yen during the day, trading most often at 119.12 yen.

The euro traded at 1.1728-1730 dollars and 139.61-65 yen, against Monday's 5 p.m. quotes of 1.1721-1731 dollars and 139.55- 65 yen in New York and 1.1777-1779 dollars and 140.47-51 yen in Tokyo.

Nov. 22 , 2005

Tuesday

Monday

the day

Monday


AFP_ENG_19970426.0011

SINGAPORE, April 26 , 1997 (AFP)

Singapore fines man 6.6 million dollars for smuggling cigarettes

A Singapore court imposed a record fine of 9.25 million Singapore dollars (6.6 million US) on a man who pleaded guilty to smuggling two tonnes of cigarettes from Indonesia, a report said Saturday.

Fong Weng Liong, 42, who was also jailed for two years, will have to serve an additional five years in jail if he cannot pay the fine, the Straits Times reported.

Fong, who is unemployed, smuggled eight consignments, totalling 10,100 cartons, this year before he was nabbed by undercover Customs officers, the court was told.

He had evaded paying duty and tax amounting to 245,329 dollars on the smuggled cigarettes worth 434,300 dollars.

Four other men who assisted the 42-year-old Fong in the elaborate smuggling operation were fined between 3.74 million dollars and 4.9 million dollars each.

Cigarettes are smuggled into Singapore largely because of the disparity in prices of cigarettes sold here and in neighbouring countries, where tobacco taxes are much lower.

April 26 , 1997

Saturday

two years

five years


AFP_ENG_20061204.0442

MOSCOW, Dec 4 , 2006, 2006

Russia hopes next US ambassador to UN less 'severe'

Russia hopes that the next US ambassador to the United Nations will be less "severe" than outgoing envoy John Bolton, a ministry of foreign affairs spokesman said Monday.

Bolton, whose resignation was announced by a White House spokeswoman, "was a very strong professional, although on a series of issues, including problems of UN reform, he supported extremely severe views," the spokesman was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

"We would like to express the hope that his successor will be able to overcome excessive severity in his approach, and at the same time preserve and develop the positive experience of our cooperation," he added.

US President George W. Bush appointed the controversial, tough-talking Bolton in August 2005 in the face of stiff Democratic opposition.

It was unclear when Bush would announce his choice for a successor to Bolton, who will leave his post at the end of the year.

Dec 4 , 2006

Monday

August 2005

the end of the year


XIN_ENG_20061124.0219

CHENGDU, Nov. 24 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Yangtze River no risk to panda habitats: Experts

China's large-scale hydropower projects on the Yangtze River's upper reaches pose no risk to nearby giant panda habitats, experts said here Friday.

The climate changes in the area due to the hydropower projects would in fact assist the giant panda's survival, said Yu Jianqiu, vice director of Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Center.

During the past 20 years, China has started or completed more than ten large hydropower stations on the upper Yangtze each with a capacity of at least three million kilowatts.

When small and medium-sized hydropower stations are added in, the total capacity in the area is about five times greater than the Three Gorges hydropower station, said China's Ministry of Water Resources.

On Sunday, the six-million-kilowatt Xiangjiaba hydropower station will start operation. At least 1.4 billion yuan (about 175 million U.S. dollars) of project funds have been earmarked for environmental protection.

Yu said more than 100 wild giant pandas lived in the stations' drainage area and this had sparked widespread concern that their natural environment might be affected.

But the expert said most of the concerns were "unnecessary" because all the projects were built or planned on the Yangtze mainstream, far from the giant panda habitats.

The Mamize Natural Reserve, the closest habitat, is about 50 kilometers from the Xiluodu station currently under construction, Yu said.

The Yangtze tributaries Xining River and Xisujiao River are the main water sources for Mamize, said Gyina Guqe, chief of the natural reserve.

"When completed, the hydropower station will slightly raise the water levels of the two tributaries and the humidity of the natural reserve will also rise," said Gyina, adding that this will help the growth of the subtropical wildlife in the area, especially the 12,000 hectares of bamboos that giant pandas feast on.

The Xiluodu hydropower station will replace local thermal power plants, which means 41 million tons less coal burnt each year, said the official.

About 150 million tons of carbon dioxide and 850,000 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions will be eliminated thanks to the new hydropower project, said Gyina.

Nov. 24 , 2006

Friday

the past 20 years

Sunday

each year


XIN_ENG_20051116.0421

KATHMANDU, Nov. 17 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Nepal begins using Boeing for mountain flight

After introducing jet aircraft service on domestic routes, Cosmic Air, the leading private Nepali airline is gearing up to use its Fokker-100 jet aircraft for mountain flights from Sunday, a statement released by the airline stated on Thursday.

The airline's inaugural mountain flight with its Fokker-100 jet has provided passengers a "spectacular" view of the world's highest peak Mt. Qomolangma and Annapurna mountain ranges on Wednesday.

"We are the first airline in Nepal to use a Boeing for mountain flights covering both the Himalayan ranges," deputy director of sales and marketing division of Cosmic Air Simrik Shrestha said.

The airline is expected to begin its scheduled mountain flights with its Fokker from Nov. 20.

There were 72 passengers, including journalists and crew members, on board the 108 seater aircraft, according to Shrestha.

Mountains of Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Gauri Shankar, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Qomolangma, Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre are some of the peaks that can be seen during the mountain flight, he said.

The airline intends to sell only 84 out of 108 air seats per flight so as to provide a better view of the mountains to the passengers.

"The mountain flight today made me feel as if I were in heaven. I felt like I was on top of the mountains," 41-year-old Spanish tourist, Maria Carmen Sane, said.

"It was amazing to see the mountains, I found Mt. Pumori the prettiest of all the mountains," another Spanish tourist, Pablo Uriarte Masio, said.

Nov. 17 , 2005

Sunday

Thursday

Wednesday

Nov. 20


XIN_ENG_20051104.0253

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina, Nov. 4 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Backgrounder: Summit of the Americas, FTAA

The fourth Summit of the Organization of American states (OAS) will take place on November 4-5 at Mar del Plata, Aregentina, to focus on FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas), fighting poverty and strengthening democratic governance.

The first Summit of the Americas was held in December, 1994 at Miami, the United States. The meeting endorsed the idea of FTAA and approved Plan of Action to strengthen democracy, eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development in the region.

The first summit was based on the initiative former US President George Bush, father of the current US President George W. Bush.

The 1994 summit, called by then US President William Clinton, occurred just after the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Mexico, Canada and the United States.

NAFTA was deemed as an experiment of Washington for future similar agreements with Latin American countries or a continental one.

Four years later, in April 1998, the second Summit took place at Santiago, Chile. The summit decided to promote transparency in matters related to defense policy and the peaceful settlement of disputes in the Hemisphere.

The third Summit was held at Quebec City, Canada, in April 2001.

The 2001 summit stated that commitment to democracy was a requirement for a country's participation in the summit process. The meeting also determined that the OAS was to be the technical secretarial for the process, assuming many of the responsibilities previously taken by the host country.

In January, 2004, Mexico hosted a special summit to address the issues of economic growth with equity, social development and democratic governance. No major results were obtained.

The FTAA, a pet project of the US, which is designed to unite 34 continental and Caribbean countries in a trade pact and originally expected to be created this year, has been delayed by serious disputes in the negotiations between the United States and Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela.

If the FTAA were to come into effect, it would group 34 countries of the continent, representing an economy of 13 trillion US dollars and a population of 800 million.

Nov. 4 , 2005

November 4-5

December, 1994

Four years

April 1998

April 2001

January, 2004

this year


WSJ891026-0077
 = 891026
 891026-0077.
 MGM Grand to Pay
@  $93 Million, Stock
@  For Resort Site
@  ----
@  By David J. Jefferson
@  Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
 10/26/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 MGMG RAM
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)
REAL ESTATE, REITS, LAND DEVELOPMENT (REL)
CASINOS AND GAMBLING (CNO)
STOCK MARKET, OFFERINGS (STK)
 BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.

   MGM Grand Inc. has agreed to pay $93 million and nearly 1.8 million common shares to buy 117 acres of land along the Las Vegas, Nev., Strip as a site for its planned movie-studio and theme-park resort.

   Of the total purchase price, $50 million cash and $30 million in stock (nearly 1.8 million shares) would be paid to buy the existing 700-room Marina Hotel amp Casino from Southwest Securities, a Nevada limited partnership.
The remaining properties to be acquired are the Tropicana Country Club amp Golf Course, a facility jointly owned by Ramada Inc., of Phoenix, Ariz., and the Jaffe family, and a small parcel owned by MGM Grand director James D. Aljian.

   The purchase price was disclosed in a preliminary prospectus issued in connection with MGM Grand's planned offering of six million common shares.
The luxury airline and casino company, 98.6%-owned by investor Kirk Kerkorian and his Tracinda Corp., earlier this month announced its agreements to acquire the properties, but did n't disclose the purchase price.

   The proposed stock offering and issuance of nearly 1.8 million common shares in connection with the land purchase will bring MGM Grand's total shares outstanding to 28.7 million, of which 72% will be owned by Mr. Kerkorian and Tracinda, according to the prospectus.

   In over-the-counter trading, MGM Grand was bid at $17.50 a share.

   Proceeds from the offering are expected to be used for remodeling the company's Desert Inn resort in Las Vegas, refurbishing certain aircraft of the MGM Grand Air unit, and to acquire the property for the new resort.
The company said it estimates the Desert Inn remodeling will cost about $32 million, and the refurbishment of the three DC-8-62 aircraft, made by McDonnell Douglas Corp., will cost around $24.5 million.

   MGM Grand said the latest stock offering wo n't cover the $600 million or more cost of building the proposed resort and theme park, and added it will need to seek additional financing, either through bank borrowings or debt and equity offerings, at a later date.
Construction is set to begin in early 1991.

   The resort  will include the MGM Grand Hotel, a multi-spired, castle-like facility that  will include 5,000 rooms and 85,000 square feet of casino space.
The facility will be marketed toward families, and room rates will be between $35 and $55 a night, MGM Grand said.

   The prospectus did n't include many details about the studio and theme park, although conceptual drawings, released this month, show that it may feature several "themed" areas similar to those found at parks built by Walt Disney Co.

this month

a later date

early 1991

this month


XIN_ENG_20051123.0113

DARES SALAAM, Nov. 23 , 2005 (Xinhua)

China-Tanzania relations ever strengthened: senior CPC official

China will join efforts with Tanzania to continuously strengthen and expand the time-tested friendly relations between the two countries, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said here Wednesday morning.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remark when holding talks with Philip Mangula, general secretary of the ruling Revolutionary Party of Tanzania.

Li said China and Tanzania has maintained a close relationship though the two countries are far apart. This time, he headed a CPC delegation to pay a goodwill visit to Tanzania in order to enhance mutual understanding, reinforce friendship, exchange experience and deepen cooperation, Li said.

Li spoke highly of the achievements that Tanzania and other African countries made in advancing social and economic development.

He said since African countries and their peoples are at a critical stage in all-round national construction and in the process of exploring development routes that suit to their different specific national conditions, China is ready to join hands with the African countries to seize the opportunities to promote China-Africa cooperation and South-South cooperation to a new level.

Li expressed the confidence that under the leadership of the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania, the Tanzanian people will surely be able to cope with various challenges and create a better future. China will as always work with Tanzania to continuously consolidate and expand their time-tested friendship, he added.

On the relations between the CPC and the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania, Li said both parties are ruling parties in their own countries. The relations between the two parties have withstood the test of times and kept vitality.

Li thanked Tanzania for giving long-term support to China on such issues as Taiwan. He emphasized that the CPC is willing to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania.

Li put forward four suggestions on further strengthening the friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two political parties.

First, Li said the two parties should maintain high-level contact so as to further enhance mutual understanding and political trust between their leaders.

Secondly, the two parties should strengthen exchange of experience on administration and governing the country and learn from each other, Li said.

Thirdly, he said the two parties should carry out personnel exchanges by exploring new ways and new forms in this respect.

Fourthly, Li said the two parties should continue to explore new areas of party-to-party cooperation that will help advance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Mangula warmly welcomed Li and the CPC delegation to visit Tanzania. He said the visit will push the friendly bilateral relations that established by older generations of leadership of the two countries to a new era.

Mangula agreed with Li's comment on the relations between the two countries and between the Revolutionary Party and CPC. He highly praised the four suggestions that Li put forward on advancing exchanges between the two political parties.

Mangula said the Revolutionary Party attaches great importance to exchanges and cooperation with the CPC. He said his party is ready to work with the CPC to explore new mechanisms and arrangements for deepening their relations.

Mangula reiterated that Tanzania will continue to stick to the one China policy. He expressed the wish that the Chinese people will realize the reunification of their motherland on an early date.

Li arrived in Dare Salaam Tuesday evening for a two-day goodwill visit to Tanzania.

Nov. 23 , 2005

Wednesday morning

an early date

Tuesday evening


AFP_ENG_20051215.0102

HONG KONG, Dec 15 , 2005

Hong Kong gold closes markedly lower

Hong Kong gold prices closed markedly lower Thursday at 501.50-502.00 US dollars an ounce, compared to Wednesday's close of 514.50-515.00 dollars an ounce.

The market opened at 504.30-504.80 dollars an ounce.

Dec 15 , 2005

Thursday

Wednesday


XIN_ENG_20051130.0057

SINGAPORE, Nov. 30 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Singapore promotes ICT in education: minister

Singapore has made efforts to promote the implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) in education, Minister of State for Education Gan Kim Yong said Wednesday.

"Generally, the use of ICT has expanded learning opportunities for our students, bringing them beyond their classrooms into authentic learning environments," Gan said at the opening of the 13th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE).

Apart from adopting the approach of top-down support for bottom- up initiatives to implement innovative ICT-based pedagogical practices in schools, the Education Ministry will also encourage inter-school collaborations to use ICT for teaching and learning, according to the minister.

During the three-day conference, participants will discuss topics such as the development of ICT in administration, the use of blogs and e-learning in a series of panels and workshops.

The ICCE series has been organized by the Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education (APSCE), which evolved from the Asia- Pacific Chapter of the Association for the Advancement of Computers in Education (AACE) based in the United States.

The aim of the conferences is to foster the creation and dissemination of knowledge about the use of information technology in education throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Nov. 30 , 2005

Wednesday


AFP_ENG_20061220.0486

ABIDJAN, Dec 20 , 2006, 2006

Ivory Coast rebels maintain illicit diamond trade: UN

Rebels in the Ivory Coast continue the secret production and illegal export of diamonds to neighboring countries in violation of a United Nations embargo, a report by UN experts said Wednesday.

The experts "found continued evidence of diamond production in Cote d'Ivoire and illicit exporting of diamonds, especially to Mali," said the report prepared for the UN Security Council.

The report identified Malian buyers which "underlines the significant smuggling of Ivorian diamonds to Mali" where the experts observed the illicit activity in November.

In addition to Ghana and Mali, the experts believed there was regular smuggling of Ivorian diamonds to Guinea.

The UN on December 4 reaffirmed its support for the Kimberley Process (KP), a global initiative designed to stop the market of "blood diamonds" -- sold to pay for warfare -- which includes 47 representatives from 71 countries.

"No action could be taken against Mali," since it is not a member of the certification process, but Ghana could be sanctioned in February 2007, the report said.

It cited an instance when a "suspicious shipment of rough diamonds with a Ghanaian certificate of origin was blocked in Dubai in July 2006," saying the group asked for further information from the United Arab Emirates but got none.

"According to scientific examination, the diamonds were not of Ghanaian origin, and the group was surprised that the United Arab Emirates had released the package to the importer."

In previous reports, the UN experts have said that diamonds were a major source of revenue for the New Forces (FN) rebels which have controlled the north of Ivory Coast since September 2002.

The FN rebels have denied the UN accusations of exploiting the country's diamond wealth, saying they get their money from cocoa and coffee and other products.

Dec 20 , 2006

Wednesday

November

December 4

February 2007

July 2006

September 2002


XIN_ENG_20061109.0336

NAIROBI, Nov. 9 , 2006 (Xinhua)

UNEP chief appreciates China's efforts in handling climate change

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner has expressed appreciation for what China has done in dealing with climate change and advised the largest developing country in the world to do more in this field.

"It is rapidly gaining pace. There is steward awareness among Chinese leadership, particularly those who are looking at future economic development power of China," he told Xinhua Wednesday during a major United Nations climate change meeting being held here.

Steiner suggested that China exert more efforts in power generation in the future and public transport.

"I know the leadership in China, with international collaboration, is looking at how the power, the electricity that is needed in the future can be generated," he said.

The UNEP chief also advised the Chinese government to work out a plan to manage the public transport as China has seen a rapid growth of private vehicles in the past years.

Steiner also pointed out that forestation and efficient management of lands could help China register sustainable development.

China, which has sent a delegation led by senior officials and diplomats to the climate change conference, is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, which is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emission through global efforts to curb the trend of adverse climate change.

The UN conference on climate change kicked off on Monday, with participating parties exploring an international framework to deal with the issue of global warming after 2012, the last year covered by the current gas emission rules under the Kyoto Protocol.

Nov. 9 , 2006

Wednesday

the future

the future

the past years

Monday

last year


XIN_ENG_20051126.0149

BELGRADE, Nov. 26 , 2005 (Xinhua)

International community to stay on in Kosovo: UN envoy

The international community would stay on in Kosovo for a long time to come whatever the outcome of the talks on the Serbian breakaway province, said Martti Ahtisaari, UN envoy on Kosovo future status talks, on Saturday.

"Whatever the status is going to be, I think we all recognize that there is going to be a presence of the international community in Kosovo for quite some time to come," Ahtisaari, former Finnish president and veteran peace broker, told a press conference following meetings with Montenegrin leaders in Podgorica, capital of Montenegro.

Ahtisaari embarked on his first tour of the Balkan region this week to launch the process of defining Kosovo's future status. He has visited Kosovo and Serbia in an effort to collect first-hand material about the situation.

Kosovo is nominally part of Serbia-Montenegro, but it has been run by the United Nations and NATO since mid-1999. Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority is insisting on independence from Serbia, while Belgrade wants to retain sovereignty over Kosovo.

Ahtisaari said that he expected the direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina to start early next year.

"In order for us to make progress in these talks, it is important to make progress on the (democratic) standards, and that requires not only the actions and measures by the Kosovo Albanians, but also the cooperation of minority population, including the Serbs," Ahtisaari said.

There are some 100,000 Kosovo Serbs, living in isolated enclaves. They have been boycotting the province's institutions, complaining of harassment by majority ethnic Albanians.

Late on Saturday, Ahtisaari traveled to Albania where he met with Albanian leaders. From Albania, Ahtisaari will travel to Macedonia, which also has a sizable restive ethnic Albanian minority.

Nov. 26 , 2005

Saturday

this week

early next year

Saturday


AFP_ENG_20061201.0563

LOS ANGELES, Dec 1 , 2006, 2006

LA archdiocese to pay 60 mln dlrs to settle clergy abuse case

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles said Friday it has agreed to pay 60 million dollars to settle accusations by 45 people that they were sexually abused by priests.

"Today's settlement of 45 cases is a positive step forward in the church's efforts to promote healing and reconciliation for those who have suffered abuse by members of the clergy," said Cardinal Roger Mahony, head of the archdiocese.

The Roman Catholic Church in the United States has been rocked by clergy pedophilia scandals in recent years. Several priests have been convicted and at least two dioceses have gone bankrupt after being sentenced to pay huge civil penalties and interest.

The 45 alleged victims in the Los Angeles case represent only a tenth of those who have initiated a legal procedure against the archdiocese.

The archdiocese has said its financial stability would not be compromised by the settlement because it had made budgetary adjustments since last year.

Dec 1 , 2006

Friday

recent years

last year


XIN_ENG_20051125.0223

HARARE, Nov. 25 , 2005 (Xinhua)

SADC launches initiatives fighting HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa

The Southern African Development Community is making a great effort to fight HIV/AIDS which continues to be one of the major challenges in the region, the SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salomao said here on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference, Salomao said the SADC secretariat has organized a number of initiatives at the regional level to benefit member states, which included regional training workshops on mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS, nutrition, prevention of mother to child transmission and behavior change.

He said a platform has also been created for member states to share best practices through the regional and national AIDS forums.

Over and above the regional initiatives, the secretariat has also been supporting a number of initiatives related to the areas and with the cooperation of a number of cooperating partners, said Salomao.

He said the total support for activities related to the strengthening of behavioral change communication, condom promotion and use, support to people living with HIV/AIDS as well as capacity for coordination of the national AIDS response is about 2. 4 million US dollars.

Salomao disclosed that SADC and the International Cooperating Partners HIV/AIDS Group on November 9 of this year signed a 5.3 million-US dollar financing agreement to help the HIV/AIDS unit in building capacity and to assist member states in dealing with HIV/ AIDS.

This is a joint financial technical memorandum signed by Sweden, Netherlands and Britain.

Salomao also called for SADC member states to strengthen cooperation to fight against HIV/AIDS.

Salomao arrived in Zimbabwe on Thursday after visiting Namibia, Madagascar, Swaziland, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The purpose of his visit is to get first hand information on what member states expect from the secretariat and exchange views and ideas on regional cooperation and integration issues.

Nov. 25 , 2005

Friday

November 9 of this year

Thursday


AFP_ENG_20061230.0065

KABUL, Dec 30 , 2006, 2006

=(PICTURE)=

Afghan President Hamid Karzai used the start of the Islamic Eid festival Saturday to again call on Taliban-led rebels to end their insurgency, which he said was being directed by "strangers".

Karzai made the call after leading some of his cabinet and other officials to Eid al-Adha prayers in a busy mosque in the centre of the city, a departure from his routine of praying inside the heavily defended presidential compound.

"I call upon those who are still committing acts against their land, those who are still acting on orders of strangers in the destruction of their land, to give up fighting," Karzai told reporters.

The president this month accused the government of neighbouring Pakistan of trying to turn his countrymen into "slaves", in his strongest words yet blaming Islamabad for the wave of insurgent violence.

Pakistan has angrily denied the allegations.

The insurgency launched after the Taliban were toppled in a US-led offensive in late 2001 has been at its fiercest this year, with the militants showing new sophistication and launching deadly attacks in the heart of the capital.

The violence has claimed nearly 4,000 lives this year, with most of the dead rebel fighters.

Karzai regularly calls on Taliban foot soldiers to lay down their arms and join a government reconciliation programme.

In his message for Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammand Omar on Friday praised his followers' sacrifices in their campaign and said they would never accept defeat.

Dec 30 , 2006

Saturday

this month

late 2001

this year

this year

Friday


AFP_ENG_19970430.0014

RANGOON, April 30 , 1997 (AFP)

Burma expresses appreciation for ASEAN support

The Burmese government has expressed its "sincere appreciation" for the "support and understanding" of ASEAN in planning to admit Burma to the regional group, the official press said Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw made the comments Tuesday at a meeting of Burmese and ASEAN officials here, a week after the US imposed an investment ban on Burma and appealed to the regional grouping to bar Rangoon's admittance.

"We are indebted to the ASEAN secretariat, as well as to our ASEAN friends" for their support, Ohn Gyaw said, adding Tuesday's consultative meeting served to provide a vital link between Burma and the ASEAN countries.

"It illustrates the kind encouragement on the part of our ASEAN friends, as well as our sincere commitment regarding Myanmar's (Burma's) membership," Ohn Gya was quoted as saying in the New Light of Myanmar.

He did not, however, mention the investment ban on US companies in Burma, which was announced by Washington a week ago in response to the junta's continued repression of the pro-democracy opposition.

Most of the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have already rebuffed the US appeal to bar Burma's entry into the group, which is expected to occur later this year.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia and Laos are slated to join the grouping at the same time as Burma.

Ohn Gyaw said Burma had already established a national ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) unit and an ASEAN core group in the foreign ministry as part of its plans to accede to the grouping as a full member.

Thai Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn said Tuesday that the admittance of Burma, Cambodia and Laos would be determined by their readiness to observe the obligations of ASEAN membership.

These obligations include an ability to accede to AFTA, under which trade barriers in the region would be dismantled over the next decade.

April 30 , 1997

Wednesday

Tuesday

week

a week ago

this year

Tuesday

the next decade.


AFP_ENG_19970422.0762

TOKYO, April 23 , 1997 (AFP)

Nikkei up, dollar at 126.45-47 yen in Tokyo morning

Share prices were higher on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Wednesday morning, but with profit-taking capping the upside, brokers said.

The Nikkei stock average rose 160.02 points, or 0.9 percent, to end the session at 18,704.47, down from a session high of 18,782.08.

Investors turned sellers among banks toward the end of the session and took profits on recent gains, brokers said.

"It is understandable to see such modest profit-taking among banks following their recent sustained gains," said a broker at New Japan Securities Co. Ltd.

The dollar was quoted at 126.45-47 yen in late morning trading, up from 126.32 yen in New York late Tuesday and from 126.02-05 yen here late Tuesday.

April 23 , 1997

Wednesday morning

late morning

Tuesday

late Tuesday


AFP_ENG_19970421.0110

PARIS, April 21 , 1997 (AFP)

Right will lose seats, but retain majority: new poll

The French right would lose a substantial number of seats in the National Assembly, but retain a comfortable working majority, according to a new poll on snap elections expected to be called Monday.

The ruling rightwing bloc, which currently holds 80 percent of the seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, would lose about 150 -- but still have some 40 seats more than an absolute majority, said the poll in the daily Le Figaro.

The bloc -- comprising the Gaullist Rally for the Republic (RPR) and centre-right Union for French Democracy (UDF) -- would end up with 318 seats, said the survey by the SOFRES polling institute.

Most previous polls have also put the right marginally in front if snap legislative elections are called, as expected by President Jacques Chirac Monday evening. One poll last week suggested an alliance of the opposition Socialist Party (PS), communist and greens could edge ahead of the right.

Chirac is expected to announce the dissolution of parliament in a TV address Monday evening, justifying it by the need to clean the decks ahead of the deadline for a European single currency next year.

Critics say he wants to get the election out of the way before implementing a new round of unpopular austerity measures required to prepare France for economic and monetary union (EMU).

The Le Figaro poll also confirmed that most French people back the idea of snap elections, a year ahead of schedule: 53 percent of those asked supported the dissolution of parliament, against 33 percent against.

April 21 , 1997

Monday

currently

Monday evening

last week

Monday evening

next year


XIN_ENG_20051122.0210

HARBIN, Nov. 22 , 2005, (xinhua)

Harbin: main factories to operate normally in no-water period

The main factories of Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, indicated that their normal operation will not be affected by the whole city's water supply cut-off on Tuesday.

The three most famous and old-line factories, Harbin Boiler Factory Co. Ltd., Harbin Electrical Machine Factory Co. Ltd and Harbin Steam Turbine Plant Co. Ltd., all expressed on Tuesday they have taken effective measures to ensure their companies operate normally and safely.

Tao Zhiyuan, vice-chairman of Harbin Steam Turbine Plant's information bureau, said the company has mapped out a counterplan to guarantee water supply both for life and production during the special period.

So far, the factory has deposited 1,200 tons of water to ensure normal use for three or four days. Given the period be prolonged, Tao said, the factory would utilize fire engines to collect water from other deep waterheads.

Zhang Hui from Harbin Boiler Factory said they will gather water from deep wells in the factory. Harbin Electrical Machine Factory will also take the same solution, sources with the factory said on Tuesday.

For fears that a chemical plant blast on Nov. 13 may have caused a leakage of poisonous substances into the Songhua River, which supplies water to Harbin, the municipality has announced to cut off water supply to the urban areas at wee hours on Wednesday.

Nov. 22 , 2005

Tuesday

Tuesday

the special period

three or four

Tuesday

Nov. 13

wee hours

Wednesday


AFP_ENG_20051209.0140

TOKYO, Dec 10 , 2005

by Martin Parry

The World Cup draw threw up some enticing encounters for Asia-Pacific nations, with newcomers Australia and Asian champions Japan drawn in the same group as holders Brazil.

South Korea, semi-finalists four years ago, have an easier ride, in a group that pits them against Switzerland and Togo but also 1998 winners France.

Saudi Arabia will play perennial underachievers Spain, and also Ukraine and African champions Tunisia while Asia's other representative, Iran, has its work cut out against seeded side Mexico, Portugal and debutants Angola.

Japan and Australia, who also play Croatia, begin Group F action with a clash against each other in Kaiserslautern on June 12, but it is the prospect of meeting five-time champions Brazil that has mouths watering in Asia.

"Perhaps Japan and Croatia have other ideas, but realistically we are looking for the spot behind Brazil," said Australia's coach Guus Hiddink, who has helped spark huge interest in football in Australia.

"They are the favourites and the toughest draw we could have had," added the Dutchman, who steered South Korea to the last four in 2000.

Australia are competing at their first World Cup finals since 1974.

Japan, recently voted Asia's team of the year by the Asian Football Confederation, are more of an unknown entity for Hiddink, but he is not underestimating them.

"Japan have changed a lot since 2002 and, like us, they will want to pull something out of the hat," he said. "We are happy to have qualified, but we are not here to make up the numbers and want to spring a surprise."

For Japan's Brazilian coach Zico, who took over from Frenchman Philippe Troussier after the 2002 World Cup, being drawn against his home country is a dream come true, and he is ready for the challenge.

"A team that has qualified for the World Cup finals must be prepared for any situation whatsoever," Zico, who played for Brazil at three World Cups, told Japanese television in Leipzig after the draw there.

"For us, it is easier to encounter Brazil in the first round. It is better than fighting them after winning through to the second round."

While Brazil are the number one threat, Zico is aware that Australia under Hiddink are dangerous and shouldn't be underestimated.

"They are well guided. It will be very important for us to win the first match and boost the morale of my players," he said.

Australia play Brazil at Nuremburg on June 18 while Japan will lock horns with them in Dortmund on June 22.

South Korea, led by Manchester United star Park Ji-Sung, will fancy their chances in Group G, opening their World Cup against first-timers Togo in Frankfurt on June 13.

While playing down the prospect of another semi-final success, coach Dick Advocaat said his team would be difficult to beat, but acknowledged France were favourites to top the group.

"We have three tough games but the way we are playing we are very difficult to beat at the moment. We have a very young team but it is maturing," he said. "France are slight favourites on paper."

Three-time Asian champions Iran have a tough draw, with manager Branko Ivankovic admitting it will be hard to overcome Euro 2004 runners-up Portugal and Mexico in Group D.

"Our problem will be in adapting to the different styles -- European, African and Latin-American. I hope our players will learn how to respond to the different problems," said the Croatian.

In Group H, Saudi Arabia, in their fourth consecutive World Cup, will need to be at their best to beat Ukraine, the first European nation to qualify for Germany, and Africa's top country Tunisia.

Saudi Arabia suffered a humiliating 8-0 defeat to eventual runners-up Germany in their opener of the 2002 World Cup in Japan, and will be looking to avoid a similar disaster at all costs.

The World Cup finals get underway in Munich on June 9 when hosts Germany meet Costa Rica.

Dec 10 , 2005

four years ago

June 12

the year

June 18

June 22

June 13

June 9


XIN_ENG_20051129.0342

BANGKOK, Nov. 30 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Thai oil traders cut gasoline prices

All local oil traders have decided to reduce gasoline and gasohol prices by 0.40 baht (1 cent) per liter upon a continued decline in global fuel prices, but remain the diesel price unchanged, Thai News Agency reported Wednesday.

Effective at 5:00 am on Nov. 30, the prices of premium and regular gasoline, as well as gasohol in Greater Bangkok drop to 24. 84, 24.04 and 23.34 baht (62 cents, 60 cents and 58 cents) per liter, while the diesel price remains unchanged at 22.72 baht (57 cents) per liter.

Chaivat Churitti, senior executive vice president of PTT's Oil Business Group, said on Tuesday that the fuel prices were set to reduce at 5:00 am on Wednesday because the Internal Trade Department made a written request for oil traders to announce the price change 12 hours in advance to facilitate an official check of selling prices at service stations.

He said the latest price cut stemmed from the weakening of crude prices on the world market, resulting in gasoline prices in Singapore declining to 57.64 US dollars per barrel.

Nov. 30 , 2005

Wednesday

Nov. 30

Tuesday

Wednesday


AFP_ENG_20061231.0251

BUCHAREST, Dec 31 , 2006, 2006

New Year rings in EU membership for Bulgaria, Romania

Former communist states Bulgaria and Romania celebrated Monday joining the European Union, a historic moment that drew thousands to midnight concerts but leaders warned reforms were still needed.

The addition of the two former Soviet bloc states brought the number of EU nations to 27, with a total population of almost half a billion people.

Dec 31 , 2006


AFP_ENG_20061211.0198

GENEVA, Dec 11 , 2006, 2006

Israel blocks Tutu's UN mission to Beit Hanun: UN official

Israel has blocked a UN human rights fact-finding mission led by South African Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu into the killing of 19 Palestinians in their homes in the Gaza Strip, a United Nations official in Geneva said Monday.

Israeli authorities will not grant Tutu and his team the necessary travel authorisation, the official added.

The UN Human Rights Council voted on November 15 to set up the fact-finding mission into the deaths during an Israeli artillery bombardment in Beit Hanun.   The mission was intended to assess the situation of victims, address the needs of survivors, and make recommendations on ways "to protect Palestinian civilians against further Israeli attacks".

Tutu, the former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, chaired the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the end of the apartheid regime.

The decision to dispatch the mission revealed divisions within the Human Rights Council, which has been criticised by the outgoing Secretary General Kofi Annan for excessive focus on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Thirty-two countries in the 47-member Council, mainly from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, voted for the resolution setting up the mission.

Eight countries, including Canada and European nations such as Britain and Germany, opposed the move. Six countries, including France, Switzerland and Japan, abstained.

Nineteen Palestinians were killed on November 18 in the shelling of private homes in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun, which the Israeli military blamed on a technical malfunction.

Dec 11 , 2006

Monday

November 15

November 18


PRI19980121.2000.2591
 NEWS STORY

 Now for today's geography quiz.

 We're off in search of an ancient and exotic city.

 An officially sanctioned one, too.
 UNESCO declared it a protected site for its beauty and its
 historical significance.

 The city could have used some special protection in nineteen seventy-nine
 when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
 Most of the city's monuments were destroyed, including a
 magnificent tiled mosque, which dominated the skyline for
 centuries.

 The people here are famous throughout central Asia for their
 skill in fashioning pottery and tile, glass too.
 Some families have kept their glass working secrets for more
 than two thousand years.

 Even though this city is in Afghanistan, most people here speak a
 dialect of the Persian language, and have long standing
 cultural ties with neighboring Iran.

 Think you got it?
 Well, frankly, I do n't  , but the answer is coming up
 in just a few minutes.

today

nineteen seventy-nine

centuries

more
 than two thousand years

a few minutes


XIN_ENG_20061116.0230

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 16 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Pakistan, Russia to boost economic, trade link

Pakistan and Russia Thursday agreed to further expand economic and trade cooperation between the two sides.

Addressing a joint press conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said both the countries have agreed to launch the mechanism to activate Pakistan-Russia Joint Governmental Commission to promote economic and trade relations.

The Commission should meet regularly to review the ongoing projects and issues and explore possibility for further avenues of cooperation, the Russian foreign minister said.

The bilateral trade between Russia and Pakistan has more than doubled last year to over 500 million U.S. dollars, he said.

Kasuri said the bilateral contact between the two countries has increased substantially and the Joint Working Groups on bilateral cooperation, strategic stability and counter terrorism met early this year.

He said "excellent opportunities" for joint collaboration exist in sectors concerning Oil and Gas projects, expansion of Railways, construction of coal thermal and hydel power generating stations.

The Pakistani foreign minister also said Pakistan welcomed Russia's strong interest in Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline and were considering Russian participation in the project.

Nov. 16 , 2006

Thursday

last year

early this year


AFP_ENG_20061216.0007

WELLINGTON, Dec 16 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - UPDATES ///

Sri Lanka took a firm grip on the second cricket Test against New Zealand here Saturday as they built an overall 363-run lead with five wickets remaining in a confident second innings batting spree.

In a match which again appears destined to finish well inside five days, weather permitting, Sri Lanka were 225 for five in their second innings at stumps on the second day.

The free-flowing scoring on a benign batting pitch was in stark contrast to the rather limp first innings efforts from both sides where New Zealand were all out for 130 in reply to Sri Lanka's 268.

Sri Lanka, seeking to square the series after New Zealand won the first Test by five wickets, were at one stage four for 100 in their second innings with the top order dismissals including danger man Kumar Sangakkara.

After unbeaten centuries in his previous two innings, Sangakkara lasted only 14 balls before cutting Shane Bond to James Franklin at deep point to be out for eight and finish the Test series with an impressive average of 134.

It was Chamara Silva who primarily kept the scoreboard ticking over with a 68-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mahela Jayawardene, and an unbeaten 57-run partnership with Prasanna Jaywardene.

At the close, Silva was unbeaten on 79, his second half century of the match after failing to score in the first Test, while Jayawardene was not out 22.

Lasith "Slinga" Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan had earlier bowled Sri Lanka to a 138-run first innings lead.

The New Zealand batsmen had no answer to the hostile pace and slinging action of Malinga at one end, and could not read Muralitharan's spin at the other, as they crumbled to be all out before lunch on the second day for 130.

Of the New Zealand batsmen only Brendon McCullum put up any solid resistance. He was dropped on the first ball of the day without scoring and went on to post 43 before he was bowled by Muralitharan to end the innings.

But his knock was not without cost as a Malinga blow to the knuckles forced him to go to hospital for treatment.

Mathew Sinclair replaced McCullum behind the stumps when Sri Lanka came out to bat again.

New Zealand has also lost all-rounder Jacob Oram to a hamstring injury, depleting their bowling options.

Oram was one of seven New Zealand batsmen who failed to make double figures, including senior players Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori who failed to get off the mark.

With a mix of bouncers and yorkers, Malinga terrorised the New Zealand order and was rewarded with career-best figures of five for 68, while Muralitharan chimed in with four for 31 to complete the demolition.

In one magical three-over spell, Muralitharan had Oram (1), James Franklin (1) and Shane Bond (8) all trapped leg before wicket.

New Zealand lead the series 1-0.

Dec 16 , 2006

Saturday

five days

the second day

unbeaten centuries

eight

79, his second half century

the second day for 130


XIN_ENG_20061102.0113

BEIJING, Nov. 2 , 2006 (Xinhua)

China's first stealth warship made public

The country's first warship with stealth technology served as the flagship in recent off-shore exercises of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, according to the PLA Navy sources.

It is the first time that the new-type warship has been made public, the PLA Daily reported on Thursday. It marks a breakthrough in the country's warship building sector, it said.

The stealth destroyer, which is independently designed and built by Chinese, is capable of accomplishing long-distance missions.

In late 2000, China began building the stealth destroyer. Experts involved in the project worked to make it as stealthy as possible, according to Navy sources.

Over 30 percent of the equipment on the destroyer is newly developed.

Module technology was also used on the new warship, making China the third country to use the technology in warship-building.

Before the new destroyer was handed over to the Navy, it made a 9,000-sea mile test voyage lasting more than 120 days. Over 300 problems were found and rectified, the sources said.

Nov. 2 , 2006

Thursday

late 2000


AFP_ENG_20051203.0162

BRATISLAVA, Dec 3 , 2005

Hrbaty replaces Beck in Slovak doubles

Slovak Dominik Hrbaty has replaced Karol Beck in doubles for Saturday's rubber against Croatia at the Davis Cup final.

Officials announced the expected change, which will send Hrbaty into the match alongside teammate Michael Mertinak. Croatia will field Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic in a tie which stands level at 1-1.

Beck had also been replaced by veteran Karol Kucera in Friday's opening singles tie.

He had been suffering with a left knee injury during the closing stages of the ATP season, and is also the subject of unconfirmed reports of a positive test for a banned substance at his country's Davis Cup quarter-final victory over Argentina in September.

Ljubicic stormed past Kucera 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to put the visitors into early command Friday before Hrbaty levelled for the hosts with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 victory over Ancic.

Dec 3 , 2005

Saturday

Friday

September

Friday


AFP_ENG_20051214.0426

BERLIN, Dec 14 , 2005

untenable'

The new British proposal on the EU budget is "still untenable", a German government source said on Wednesday on the eve of a crucial EU summit in Brussels.

For agreement to be reached, there would have to be a "lasting solution to the British rebate issue", the source said.

However the German government noted that the atmosphere "had clearly improved" compared with the fractious summit in June when no agreement could be found on the issue.

While the 25 EU member states are still not on the same page on the budget, Germany is hoping the better mood will translate into an agreement, the source said.

"There is an urgent need for success," the source added.

Dec 14 , 2005

Wednesday

June


XIN_ENG_20051114.0343

ATHENS, Nov. 14 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Greek stocks close higher

Greek stocks ended higher on Monday, pushing the composite index to its highest closing since December 2000 on the Athens Stock Exchange, traders here said.

The index rose 0.58 percent to end at 3,442.20 points, with turnover an improved 244 million euros (287.7 million US dollars).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks rose 0.54 percent, while the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index and the FTSE/ ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 0.90 percent and 0.27 percent respectively.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 143 to 133 with another 58 issues unchanged.

Nov. 14 , 2005

Monday

December 2000


XIN_ENG_20051115.0012

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 15 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Tanzania to try cross-border bank robbers

Tanzania is to bring back for trial foreigners suspected of robbing banks and of committing other crimes once identified and is asking neighboring countries for assistance in repatriation.

Tanzanian Director of Criminal Investigation Adadi Rajabu was quoted by local press as saying on Tuesday that the country had spent a lot of money to find out all those involved in bank robberies by foreigners.

"We follow them (suspects) in Kenya and Uganda but in vain and now we have petitioned that they be arrested and be brought to answer charges because they committed crimes here," said the police officer.

In the past three years, Tanzania has witnessed a spate of well- executed armed robberies by foreigners on such financial institutions as the CRDB Bank in Dar es Salaam, NBC Bank branch in Moshi and in Musoma and the Madison Bureau de Change in Dar es Salaam.

Culprits allegedly enter Tanzania easily using loopholes that Tanzanians are not suspicious and trust even foreigners.

The police officer also called on bank managements to introduce modern security facilities so as to better fight robberies.

Nov. 15 , 2005

Tuesday

now

the past three years


XIN_ENG_20061123.0001

JAKARTA, Nov. 23 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Indonesian athletes get moral boost from Susilo

Indonesian athletes got a morale boost from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before they left for the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 1-15.

Indonesia is sending a total of 219 people -- 131 athletes, 36 coaches, 17 team managers, six mechanics, six officials and 23 cooks -- to the Dec. 1-15 event.

The athletes will compete in 84 events from 20 sports, The Jakarta Post newspaper reported Thursday.

"You athletes are those who have been selected, groomed and are experienced after many competitions in and out of the country. So compete and fight for the best," the President was quoted as telling the athletes during a ceremony Wednesday.

The country is hoping to earn at least four gold medals from badminton, bowling, karate, taekwondo, cycling and sailing.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Adhyaksa Dault said many of the athletes had trained in Thailand and Switzerland and their progress had been closely monitored by a government team.

Adhyaksa said he considered the official target of a minimum of four golds as "too pessimistic".

"We can win more than that... at least eight golds from badminton, karate and bowling," he said.

The Asiad would also serve as a training ground for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, he said.

Nov. 23 , 2006

Dec. 1-15

Dec. 1-15

Thursday

Wednesday


XIN_ENG_20061107.0430

WELLINGTON, Nov. 8 , 2006 (Xinhua)

CNN

FLASH: DEMOCRATS GAIN NECESSARY NET SEATS TO CAPTURE HOUSE CONTROL: CNN

Nov. 8 , 2006


AFP_ENG_20061211.0325

DOHA, Dec 11 , 2006, 2006

China's Xie wins women's triple jump title

China's Xie Limei won the women's triple jump title here at the Asian Games on Monday.

The 20-year-old jumped a best of 14.37 metres to beat Uzbekistan's Anastasia Juravleva while Li Qian of China took the bronze.

Dec 11 , 2006

Monday


AFP_ENG_19970407.0354

BEIJING, April 7 , 1997 (AFP)

China thanks French president for not backing human rights censure

Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Prime Minister Li Peng thanked French President Jacques Chirac Monday for not supporting a European Union move to censure China over its human rights record.

Jiang told reporters the decision by Paris not to support an EU motion to criticize China's human rights record at the ongoing UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva was "very good."

Li told visiting French Defense Minister Charles Million that "we appreciate this perceptive and intelligent decision" by Chirac, state television reported.

He added that China was "happy to cooperate and arrange exchanges with France" in the area of defence and promoting human rights.

"In the past year, we have been happy to see that in bilateral and international fields, France and China have made great progress and in a positive direction," Li told Millon at the start of their meeting.

"We greatly appreciate the importance placed on Franco-Chinese relations by Chirac," he said, adding Beijing was looking forward to Chirac's visit in May."

Millon's five-day visit, which started Sunday, is a clear indication that Paris wants to open a new chapter of ties with Beijing.

During his visit, the first to China by a French defence minister since Paris and Beijing established diplomatic relations in 1964, Millon has invited Chinese defence officials to study in France and called for more visits from the Chinese navy.

Millon's landmark visit is one of the highest-level French visits since the PLA stormed Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989 and fired on unarmed demonstrators, killing hundreds.

European Union foreign ministers agreed Monday to go ahead with UN resolutions criticising the human rights record of Burma, Zaire, Iraq and Iran despite failing to reach accord on a similar condemnation of China.

The move overcame a standoff when the EU's Dutch presidency threatened not to table any resolutions at the UN's Human Rights Commission's annual meeting in Geneva after France blocked a common EU stance on China.

The EU has jointly sponsored a resolution critical of China in Geneva every year since 1989.

France's stance that it is better to pursue a dialogue with China than to seek confrontation is supported by Germany, Italy and Spain but these three countries were willing to go along with the resolution in the name of EU unity if Paris lifted its veto.

Human rights groups believe France's stance on the resolution is motivated by a concern not to jeopardise a major contract for Airbus planes that Chirac is expected to clinch when he visits Beijing.

April 7 , 1997

the past year

May

Sunday

June 4, 1989

Monday

presidency

every year


XIN_ENG_20061102.0309

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 , 2006 (Xinhua)

U.S. rates on 30-year mortgages drop to lowest level in a month

Rates on 30-year mortgages in the United States fell this week to the lowest level in a month as new data showed the economy has been slowing down, mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday.

In the week ending November 2, rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages dropped to 6.31 percent from 6.40 percent last week. That was the lowest level since those rates averaged 6.30 percent four weeks ago.

Other types of mortgages also declined this week.

Rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, a popular choice for refinancing, fell to 6.02 percent from 6.10 percent last week.

Rates on one-year adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) decreased to 5.53 percent from 5.60 percent while rates on five-year ARMs were down to 6.05 percent from 6.14 percent.

A year ago, 30-year mortgages averaged 6.31 percent, while 15- year mortgages stood at 5.85 percent, one-year ARMs were at 5.09 percent and the five-year ARMs at 5.76 percent.

The drops in mortgage rates came after reports showed the economy has been slowing, a development that could help reduce inflation pressures.

Last Friday, the Commerce Department reported that the overall economy grew at a sluggish rate of 1.6 percent in the third quarter, the weakest pace in more than three years.

Nov. 2 , 2006

this week

Thursday

the week

November 2

last week

four weeks ago

this week

last week

A year ago

Last Friday

the third quarter

more than three years


AFP_ENG_19970415.0433

JERUSALEM, April 15 , 1997 (AFP)

Israeli millionaire involved in weapon deals mysteriously disappears

An Israeli millionaire accused of selling chemical arms material to Iran has been missing for several weeks, press reports said Tuesday.

Nahum Manbar, 51, an owner of a Jerusalem basketball team, had been accused by US President Bill Clinton of selling material used in making chemical arms to Iran.

Israel's leading newspapers, the Yediot, Haaretz and Maariv, all reported the story over his "mystery disappearance" and have made independent attempts to contact him.

Manbar, who lived mostly in France owes Israeli banks 150,000 dollars in loans he took for his business deals that totalled 8 million dollars.

Former business colleagues in Israel said Manbar did not always stick to his commitments in deals.

Manbar lived in Nice, France with his wife and two children, who also could not be found. Calls to his home in southern France were not answered.

But a secretary at his French office told Israeli Channel Two television that Manbar had not disappeared.

"When they decide to contact anyone, they will," the unnamed secretary told the television. "I can't say, I don't know where they are."

Manbar was born on the kibbutz Givat Hayim in northern Israel and left the country in 1985.

In 1991 the Israeli defense ministry forbade Israeli contacts with him based on reports he was selling chemical weapons parts to Iran, from China.

Clinton two years ago wrote in a letter to the US Congress that Manbar was involved in selling Iran materials used in the manufacture of chemical weapons.

The US government consequently imposed harsh sanctions on Manbar, preventing US businesses from working with him.

The New York Times reported in 1995 that Manbar had set up fake companies in Britain and Poland, through which he sold the weapons materials to Iran.

The materials, some of which had been produced in China, included those used to produce mustard and nerve gas, according to the New York Times.

Manbar told the Israeli Haaretz newspaper in 1995 that he had not sold such materials to Iran but clothes to protect against chemical attacks and that the appropriate Israeli officials knew of the deal.

Israeli officials told Yediot that Manbar had been the go-between for deals between military companies owned by the Israeli government and countries of the former Soviet Union.

April 15 , 1997

several weeks

Tuesday

two years ago


XIN_ENG_20051115.0145

JAKARTA, Nov. 15 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Indonesia to withdraw over 5,000 troops from Aceh

The Indonesian Military will withdraw 5,556 troops from Aceh in the further phase of military pullout agreed in the Aug. 15 Helsinki peace accord between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), a high-ranking officer said Tuesday.

"In line with our commitment to the agreed peace process, thousands of non-organic military troops will be relocated in stages to their original bases starting this week, at the same time with the third phase of GAM's arms dismantling," Maj. Gen. Supiadin, commander of the Islandar Muda Military Command in Aceh, was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

Under the Helsinki agreement, the government will cut by a half the number of troops in Aceh to 14,700 and reduce its police force to 9,100 before the end of the year.

The police this week will also withdraw 1,350 policemen from Aceh to honor the Helsinki agreement, which ended a civil war of three decades between government troops and GAM guerillas.

Nov. 15 , 2005

Aug. 15

Tuesday

this week

the end of the year

this week


XIN_ENG_20061119.0168

BEIJING, Nov. 19 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Chinese company signs deal for a hydropower project in Laos

China International Water  Electric Corp. (CWE) signed a deal with the Lao government on Sunday to build a hydropower station near Vientiane, capital of Laos.

The hydropower station would have an installed generating capacity of 100,000 kilowatts, and be operated under the model of BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer), said Lu Guojun, general manger of CWE here Sunday.

"With an investment of 142 million U.S. dollars, the deal marks the first hydropower project under BOT model by Chinese companies in Laos, he said.

CWE has participated in three hydropower projects in Laos since it entered the country in 1996, involving the contract value and investment of nearly 178 million U.S. dollars.

"As China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) push for the establishment of a free trade area, ASEAN countries have become popular destinations for Chinese companies eyeing abroad," said Lu.

According to the deal, the concession period of the project will be 30 years, including the estimated four and a half years for project construction. Then CWE will transfer the project to the Lao government.

Nov. 19 , 2006

Sunday

Sunday


AFP_ENG_19970422.0379

CAIRO, April 22 , 1997 (AFP)

Egyptian cabbie robs elderly Briton during 'pharaonic' visit

A taxi-driver robbed an elderly British woman of her jewelry when he took her to visit a "descendant" of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in Luxor, southern Egypt, Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Tuesday.

Morsi Bastawissi, 35, convinced the 84-year-old tourist that one of his friends was a descendant of the boy king who governed Egypt from 1354 to 1345 B.C.

He talked her into going to the descendant's home to see "the daily life of the pharaohs," but grabbed her jewelry when they arrived. The woman contacted the police, who arrested Bastawissi two hours later.

April 22 , 1997

Tuesday


AFP_ENG_19970423.0686

JAKARTA, April 24 , 1997 (AFP)

Indonesian military promises reward to locate rebel leader

The Indonesian military has promised a reward to anyone who providing information about a notorious rebel leader in the easternmost Irian Jaya province, a report said Thursday.

Major General Johny Lumintang, responsible for security in the province, said in the province's capital of Jayapura Wednesday that the military will provide "an attractive reward" for information on the whereabouts of Kelly Kwalik, one of the leaders of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM).

"If anyone knows anything, please let me know so that he could be captured immediately," Lumintang said without elaborating as quoted by the state Antara news agency.

The OPM has been seeking an independent state in Irian Jaya, which shares a border with Papua New Guinea, since the late 1960s.

Kwalik's group in January last year kidnapped 26 people, including seven European scientists, in the mountainous jungle area in central Irian Jaya.

They gradually released most of the hostages until the remaining nine, including seven foreigners, were freed four months later following a military operation in May. Two Indonesian hostages were killed in the operation.

Central Irian Jaya is mostly covered by mountainous jungles and experiences heavy rainfall and temperatures as low as ten degrees Celcius (minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit).

April 24 , 1997

Thursday

Wednesday

the late 1960s

January last year

four months

May


AFP_ENG_20061201.0595

PARIS, Dec 1 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS more quotes from statement, background ///

European plane maker Airbus is to develop its A350 passenger jet, parent company EADS announced on Friday, ending months of speculation and handing a boost to the European aerospace industry.

The board of EADS met in Amsterdam to discuss the A350 programme and decided to "give the go ahead" for the commercial development of the aircraft, a statement from EADS said.

"The A350 XWB, together with the A330/A340 aircraft family, will meet a market that requires some 5,700 new aircraft being delivered in the next two decades, with more than 1,000 billion dollars in value," the statement said.

The twin-engine Airbus A350 XWB has been designed to compete with two Boeing airliners, the existing 777 and the future 787 Dreamliner, which has proved highly popular with airlines.

Initially drawn up in 2005, the Airbus A350 design was sent back to the drawing board after prospective clients complained of insufficient passenger capacity and excessive fuel consumption. It re-emerged in July this year as the A350 XWB. XWB stands for extra wide body.

Financing of the project is considered by analysts to be a critical issue and, tellingly, Airbus was vague about the details of how the 10-billion-euro (13-billion-dollar) project will be paid for.

EADS and Airbus, which is a 100-percent-owned unit of EADS, are financially stretched because of cost over-runs with the Airbus A380 superjumbo project, which is running two years behind schedule.

As a result, EADS stressed on Friday that the decision on the A350 was linked to the "full implementation" of a vast restructuring plan called Power 8, which aims to cut costs throughout the business.

It said the A350 would be financed "predominantly from the company cash flows".

Nevertheless, EADS and Airbus are still expected to need other sources of capital to finance the project, the costs of which are forecast to be about double the initial estimate.

Other sources could be the capital markets, in the form of a share issue or a bond issue, but might also be from European governments, namely Britain, France, Germany or Spain.

The involvement of governments, which are able to grant low-interest loans or guarantees, is a prickly issue given the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and the European Union.

The United States has filed a complaint at the World Trade Organisation alleging the government loans to Airbus amount to illegal state aid.

The European Union has countered with its own case, alleging that Boeing also benefits from illegal state aid, particularly in the form of uncontested military contracts.

"The funding requirements going forward will be proactively managed in line with company policy to preserve a strong balance sheet," EADS said.

"EADS expects to spread the development costs of the full XWB family over the years 2007 to 2014, with the bulk of the spending occurring in 2010-2013."

Dec 1 , 2006

Friday

the next two decades

the future 787 Dreamliner

July this year

two years

Friday

the years 2007 to 2014


XIN_ENG_20051108.0011

JAKARTA, Oct. 8 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Indonesia unhappy with China Open drawing

The Indonesian squad questioned the recent drawing of the International Badminton Federation (IBF), which could see early battles among Indonesian top shuttlers in the China Open badminton tournament, local media reports said Tuesday.

According to the drawing, Indonesia's top duo Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto could face compatriots Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian if both pairs made it to the second round, said the Media Indonesia daily.

The drawing, released in the IBF official website, may also see all Indonesian affairs in the third round between Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso in men's singles and Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan and Luluk Hadiyanto/Alven Yulianto in men's doubles.

"We will send a letter to the IBF (to ask) why many our players meet in the early stages," head of Indonesian coaching team Rudy Hartono was quoted as saying.

Oct. 8 , 2005

Tuesday


AFP_ENG_20061230.0254

WATFORD, England, Dec 30 , 2006, 2006

Heavy rain stops Watford-Wigan match

The English Premiership match between Watford and Wigan at Vicarage Road on Saturday was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.

Referee Steve Tanner called a halt to proceedings about 15 minutes into the second half with the scores level at 1-1 as rain lashed down.

Emile Heskey had given the visitors the lead before Tamas Priskin headed an equaliser for Watford.

Dec 30 , 2006

Saturday


XIN_ENG_20051107.0216

KABUL, Nov. 7 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Big fire in Kabul destroys building of Revenue Department

A big fire happened Monday night in Afghan capital Kabul destroyed the building of the Revenue Department, but left no casualty till now, a local official said.

The fire happened at about 6 p.m. has destroyed almost the whole two-floor building of the Revenue Department. The keepers of the nearby clothes shops were hurried to take all the goods out of the shops in order to prevent from the further destruction of the fire.

"Afghan firefighters and police have come here soon after the breaking of the fire, and firefighters from ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) also came just now. There is a good cooperation between the two sides, and we will try to control the fire as soon as possible," the provincial police chief of Kabul Gen. Jamil Junbish told Xinhua.

"The reason of the fire is still unclear, but probably because of the electric shortage. Since it's already after the working time, so there is no casualty, but the property loss will be big especially some official documents will be lost," the police chief added.

When asked about the possible reason of someone set the fire intentionally to destroy documents of the corruption record, Junbish said "our forces arrived the place on time and took most of the important documents from the archives already".

Until the time of report, the fire is still going on, but the sudden small rain will probably help the work of killing the fire.

Nov. 7 , 2005

Monday night

now

now


XIN_ENG_20061120.0329

DAKAR, Nov. 20 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Chinese, Senegalese experts hold seminar on fight against malaria

Chinese and Senegalese health experts and officials gathered here on Monday to discuss the prevention of malaria, the selection of anti-malaria drugs as well as the financing of and cooperation in the fight against the disease.

At the opening ceremony of the three-day seminar, Zhou Zhaoming, the commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Dakar said this event, sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, was a concrete action taken by China to carry out its promise to help Africans fight malaria.

The seminar took place just two weeks after the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, during which Chinese President Hu Jintao announced a series of measures to assist Africa in combating malaria, he said.

Abdoulaye Ly, advisor of the Senegalese Health Ministry, attended the opening ceremony on behalf of the health minister. He said that China had accumulated enormous experience and made remarkable progress in its efforts to control the malaria epidemic.

Ly said the seminar offered a vital opportunity for China and Senegal to draw up strategies in their anti-malaria cooperation and share experiences in preventing and curing the disease.

China has been leading in the field of developing artemisinin-based anti-malaria medicines, which have been proved very effective in curing the disease. According to Chinese experts participating in the seminar, the number of people infected with malaria in China currently stood at 35,000, compared to the more than 60 million recorded in 1949.

Malaria, an infectious disease characterized by cycles of chills, fever, and sweating, is caused by the parasitic infection of red blood cells by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito.

Though it is largely preventable, the disease kills some 3,000 children a day worldwide and claims nearly a million lives in Africa every year, according to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO). More than 90 percent of the world's malaria cases occur in Africa.

Nov. 20 , 2006

Monday

two weeks

currently

every year


AFP_ENG_20061212.0398

BERLIN, Dec 12 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS background, Olmert comment on Iran ///

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday reiterated his country's longstanding position that it will not confirm or deny having nuclear weapons.

"Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to the region. That is our policy and it has not changed," he told a press conference after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"There is no need to explain it any further."

Olmert sparked an uproar on Monday when he made remarks in an interview with a German television station that were interpreted by some as a break with Israel's traditional nuclear "policy of ambiguity".

He told N24 Sat1 television: "Iran openly, explicitly and publicly threatens to wipe Israel off the map.

"Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as France, America, Russia and Israel?"

Th apparent blunder came less than a week after Israeli officials rounded on the incoming US defense secretary Robert Gates for the same slip-up, and drew calls from across the political spectrum in Israel for Olmert to resign.

The prime minister's spokeswoman however immediately denied that his words had signalled any departure from established policy.

Israel's policy of nuclear ambiguity dates back to the early 1960s, to an agreement struck with the United States and France.

Under this policy, the Jewish state would not carry out any nuclear tests and would stay silent on the issue in order to prevent a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

Observers have warned however that Olmert's statement could undermine efforts by Israel and the West to prevent its arch-foe Iran from pursuing its bitterly contested nuclear power program.

But they also said that the prime minister's remarks were unlikely to change the way the world views the Jewish state's nuclear capabilities because it is widely assumed to have an atomic arsenal.

Olmert on Tuesday described Iran's hardline regime as "a danger" for all of the western world. Israel and the West fear that Tehran's nuclear power programme masks an attempt to develop nuclear weapons.

Dec 12 , 2006

Tuesday

Monday

early 1960s

Tuesday


XIN_ENG_20051127.0195

LONDON, Nov. 27 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Middlesbrough draw with West Brom 2-2

Yakubu scored a second-half penalty to earn Middlesbrough a 2-2 draw with visiting West Brom in the English Premier League on Sunday.

The Nigerian converted his spot-kick after Paul Robinson was adjudged to have fouled substitute Szilard Nemeth.

Middlesbrough took the lead when Mark Viduka's effort with the outside of his boot left keeper Tomasz Kuszczak stranded.

West Brom equalized through Nathan Ellington's rifled shot and then led 2-1 when Nwankwo Kanu fired home from Robinson's pass.

The final result was a fair one after both sides created ample chances and provided great entertainment on a rain-drenched day in Middlesbrough.

The first half-chance fell to the home side and resulted in a goal.

Viduka, who has often been criticized for not putting in enough effort during matches, proved what a valuable asset he is to Steve McClaren's squad, with a goal that would have scored 10s for artistic merit.

"Kanu is my vote for man of the match - he was fantastic."

Former Boro boss Bryan Robson knows the importance of having a player with Viduka's guile and ingenuity in the squad.

In Kanu, he has that, although the Nigerian's strike rate is far lower than that of his Middlesbrough counterpart.

But Robson has kept faith with the former Arsenal striker throughout the season for that little bit extra he gives the team.

His selection of Kanu for Sunday's match paid dividends six minutes after Viduka's strike.

First, the Nigerian directed Quedrue's failed clearance into the path of Ellington, who punished the Frenchman's mistake.

And shortly after the break, he gave the visitors the lead, picking up Robinson's square ball, selling Middlesbrough's defenders a dummy before passing the ball past keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Robinson, who had come back into the first team following a three-match suspension, also had a hand in the next goal - although it went to Middlesbrough.

As the cross from Boro midfielder Fabio Rochemback came in, Robinson climbed over Nemeth, which resulted in referee Peter Walton pointing to the spot.

Yakubu converted to silence the vocal Baggies travelers.

The Nigeria striker should have given Boro the win, but failed to round keeper Kuszczak, while Jonathan Greening went close with a low effort that shaved Schwarzer's left-hand post late in the game.

Nov. 27 , 2005

Sunday

Sunday


XIN_ENG_20051130.0265

MOSCOW, Nov. 30 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Russian defense minister says CSTO expects cooperation with NATO

The members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) expect to cooperate with NATO in tackling common threats and challenges, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday.

The CSTO has long been interested in cooperation with NATO in countering modern threats that both organizations face, such as drug trafficking, Ivanov was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying at a meeting of the group's defense ministers' meeting in Moscow.

"We shall get nowhere by definition unless we take joint measures," Ivanov said.

The CSTO links Russia with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would discuss cooperation with the Western alliance on behalf of the CSTO at a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council next week, Ivanov said.

Nov. 30 , 2005

Wednesday

next week


AFP_ENG_20051215.0400

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 , 2005

US industrial output up 0.7 percent

US industrial output expanded by 0.7 percent in November over the month before as the energy industry rebounded from damaging hurricanes, the Federal Reserve said Thursday.

The increase was just ahead of analysts' forecast for a rise in production of 0.5 percent, and compared with an upwardly revised gain of 1.3 percent in October.

"Further recoveries in petrochemical and energy-related industries affected by the hurricanes again contributed significantly to the increase in output in November," the Fed said in a statement.

Powerful hurricanes in late August and September played havoc with US oil drilling and refining activities in the Gulf of Mexico and on the southern coast.

Manufacturing output rose 0.3 percent in November, the Fed said. Output at mines surged 4.8 percent in November after falling in the previous four months, while production at utilities was up 0.3 percent.

Output of consumer goods fell 0.8 percent but construction was up 0.5 percent.

Dec 15 , 2005

November

the month

Thursday

October

November

late August

November

November

the previous four months


XIN_ENG_20061111.0114

BEIJING, Nov. 11 , 2006 (Xinhua)

launched in Beijing

The World of Chinese, China's only bilingual magazine for the overseas Chinese language learners, starts publication in Beijing on Sunday .

Co-produced by the Beijing Center for the Promotion of Chinese Language Teaching Overseas and the Commercial Press, the Chinese-English bimonthly is mainly published overseas, said Zhu Xiaojian, chief editor of the magazine who is also a professor with the Beijing Normal University.

"We hope the magazine will help the people, who are interested in China and want to learn Chinese, overcome the hardship of learning the so-called one of the most difficult language in the world," said Zhu.

"What's more, we believe the magazine will set up a bridge for foreigners to get to Chinese culture and the people who speak the language," he said.

With the rapid development of Chinese economy and the increasing exchanges between China and the rest of the world, a "fever of learning Chinese language" is spreading worldwide.

An investigation with the Beijing Center for the Promotion of Chinese Language Teaching Overseas estimated 30 million of overseas Chinese learners.

"Now, the whole world is wondering why China is developing so fast and so well. If people can not understand China's history or they are not aware what the 1.3 billion people like, hate, pursue and think, they won't find the answer," said Xu Jialu, a distinguished Chinese linguist and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

"I hope the World of Chinese will become a key to their questions," said Xu.

The magazine includes more than 30 columns, such as Popular New Words and Phrases, Enigmatic Chinese Characters, China Album and Life style,which are taken in charge of by prestigious Chinese teaching experts and foreigners who know Chinese well, according to Zhu.

"In fact, besides overseas learners, foreigner in China and those Chinese who are interested in English are also are target readers," Zhu said.

In addition, the Chinese-Japanese and Chinese-Korean versions of the magazine is under planning, he said.

Nov. 11 , 2006

Sunday


AFP_ENG_20051215.0526

OTTAWA, Dec 15 , 2005

US ambassador hints at lumber dispute resolution with Canada

US ambassador David Wilkins offered an olive branch in a lumber dispute with Canada Thursday during a speech at a Toronto luncheon, on the heels of a war of words between Ottawa and Washington.

"I understand and appreciate Canada's position on softwood lumber. You have made legitimate points. I am very encouraged, as you should be, by recent developments in the past six weeks," Wilkins said, after earlier rebuffing Prime Minister Paul Martin's criticisms of US environmental policies.

Wilkins was referring to a decision in November by the US Department of Commerce to comply with a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panel decision ordering the United States to reduce punishing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports.

The US Commerce Department said it would recalculate its so-called countervailing duty on softwood lumber from Canada at a rate of 0.8 percent, down from 16 percent.

A separate "antidumping" duty of about four percent is not affected.

"Once that process is completed, assuming there is no (US) appeal from it, that would result probably as early as the end of January that there would be no tariffs on softwood," Wilkins said.

"It's got to play itself out, ... but that's the direction it's headed," he said, in the first sign that the United States might concede defeat in this trade dispute.

Wilkins said Washington still hoped for a negotiated settlement after Canada's January 23 election.

Canada walked away from the bargaining table in August to protest Washington's handling of the issue.

Martin said he would need a sign from Washington, such as refunding some four billion US dollars in duties collected so far, before returning to the negotiating table.

"I would submit to you that showing of good faith is there. It doesn't get any clearer than that -- the commerce department's recent decision to slash the tariffs, to render a decision that would result in the elimination of tariffs probably as early as January," Wilkins said.

Washington could still make an "extraordinary challenge" to the NAFTA panel ruling under the trade pact that would take additional time.

Meanwhile, Ottawa unveiled a plan in recent weeks to provide an additional 1.5 billion Canadian dollars (1.2 billion US dollars) in aid for lumber companies and communities affected by the trade dispute, a move that quickly drew criticism from US lumber groups.

Dec 15 , 2005

Thursday

the past six weeks

November

the end of January

January 23

August

January

recent weeks


XIN_ENG_20061119.0021

HANOI, Nov. 19 , 2006 (Xinhua)

URGENT: Russia, US sign agreement on WTO deal in Vietnam

Russia and the United States Sunday signed a bilateral agreement on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the sidelines of the ongoing Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperaiton Economic Leaders' Meeting in Hanoi.

Nov. 19 , 2006

Sunday


WSJ891027-0133
 = 891027
 891027-0133.
 Dividend News:
@  Cambrex Corp.
 10/27/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 CBAM
 DIVIDENDS (DIV)

   CAMBREX Corp., Bayonne, N.J., declared its initial quarterly of five cents a share, payable Dec. 1 to stock of record Nov. 10.
The maker of specialty chemicals has about 5.9 million shares outstanding.
The company said the move recognizes its strong financial position.
Although profits were " squeezed" in 1989, mainly as a result of higher raw-material costs, the company said it is confident about future earnings and cash flow for 1990 and beyond.
In national over-the-counter trading yesterday, Cambrex shares rose 50 cents to close at $13 a share.

Dec. 1

Nov. 10

1990 and beyond

yesterday


AFP_ENG_20061212.0328

WASHINGTON, Dec 12 , 2006, 2006

US trade gap falls to 58.9 billion dollars

Cheaper oil prices drove the US trade deficit down sharply to 58.9 billion dollars in October, from 64.3 billion dollars in September, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

The figure was a big surprise to analysts, who had expected the US shortfall in goods and services to come to 63 billion dollars in October.

The deficit fell to its lowest point since August 2005, and its monthly decline of 8.4 percent was the largest since December 2001.

Dec 12 , 2006

October

September

Tuesday

October

August 2005

December 2001


AFP_ENG_19970418.0186

BANGKOK, April 18 , 1997 (AFP)

Thai share prices down 0.2 percent

Thai share prices fell 0.2 percent Friday as investors factored in expectations of poor earnings in first quarter company reports due out next week, brokers said.

The broad-based Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index dropped 1.53 points to finish at 700.23 points, while the selected SET-50 index was off 0.19 points at 53.29 points.

April 18 , 1997

Friday

next week


XIN_ENG_20061129.0322

BAGHDAD, Nov. 29 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Urgent: Sadr bloc suspends role in government, parliament

The political bloc loyal to Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr Wednesday announced suspension of their role in the parliament and government to protest Iraqi prime minister's meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush.

Nov. 29 , 2006

Wednesday


XIN_ENG_20061129.0338

OTTAWA, Nov. 29 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Philippines airliner makes emergecy landing in Vancouver

A Manila-bound jet carrying more than 280 passengers made an emergency landing at Vancouver International Airport shortly after take-off Wednesday morning.

Airport officials told media the Philippines airliner had just left the airport when a problem developed with one of its wing flaps.

The pilot decided to turn back and dumped fuel into the ocean on the way to Vancouver.

Fire and ambulance crews were dispatched as a precaution but the aircraft landed without incident.

It is unclear when the flight will resume.

Nov. 29 , 2006

take-off Wednesday morning


WSJ891026-0153
 = 891026
 891026-0153.
 Diversified Investment Group
 10/26/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 DING STSS
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)
 PHILADELPHIA

   Diversified Investment Group Inc. said it agreed to be acquired by Star States Corp. for stock valued at $13.75 a share, or about $24.4 million.

   Diversified, the holding company for Fidelity Federal Savings amp Loan Association, said the agreement also gives Star States the option to acquire 588,300 of Diversified's 1,774,326 shares outstanding "under certain circumstances."

   The acquisition would give Wilmington, Del.-based Star States access to the Pennsylvania market.

   The agreement is subject to regulatory approval and resolution of lawsuits brought by certain Diversified holders in connection with the proposed merger.


AFP_ENG_20061214.0793

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 , 2006, 2006

=(PICTURE)=

European Union leaders meet Friday for the last time as a group of 25, amid agreement to slow down the process of enlargement until the bloc has the institutional tools it needs to support new members.

With Bulgaria and Romania poised to become the 26th and 27th EU countries in just over a fortnight, the leaders have decided that their entry into Europe's rich club will be the last for several years.

Turkey's candidacy was slowed down this week, with a freeze put on further discussion on around a quarter of the policy chapters it must negotiate to realise its 40-year quest for European integration.

The stand on newcomers will also have major repercussions for Croatia, the most advanced of the current EU hopefuls, and Macedonia, which has made tremendous reform strides just five years after narrowly averting a civil war.

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, whose country holds the bloc's presidency until the end of the month, said that the leaders had agreed that EU hopefuls should be obliged to more strictly respect the rules.

"It was strongly underlined that the pace of accession depends on the acceeding countries ability to comply with the rules," he said, late Thursday after a summit dinner focused on future expansions.

"The criteria must be strictly applied to," he said.

A key to the problem has been the failure of the European constitution, endorsed by EU leaders but which was rejected by French and Dutch voters last year, sparking the bloc's worst-ever crisis.

The constitution was meant to streamline the EU's institutions as the bloc grows, but while there have been tentative moves to discuss alternatives, no real solution to the blueprint for Europe's future is expected before 2009.

Vanhanen said that the leaders, in confidential talks, had agreed that there was no point in throwing away the painstakingly assembled text.

"We cannot throw out the entire text and start again from scratch," he said. "Most member states would like to retain, if not the treaty as such, at least as much of the substance as possible."

European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said the leaders were moving toward a "new consensus" on enlargement that will make it tougher for prospective members to join, particularly until the institutions are reinforced.

"I see after this very deep discussion, a new consensus emerging on enlargement," he said after the heads of state and government had laid out their visions of where Europe's final frontiers should lie.

"We understand the need to combine the strategic vision of enlargement -- why enlargement is so important for Europe -- with the capacity of integration of the European Union."

Germany, which takes over the EU presidency from Finland on January 1, is expected to revive talks on the constitution, though probably not using that term, and plot a roadmap for its acceptance.

However no substantive decisions are expected before France takes over Europe's helm in the second half of 2008.

Looking well down the enlargement road, the leaders also prepared to renew a commitment to bring Serbia into their fold, amid a tense election campaign there dominated by Kosovo's hopes for independence.

The EU froze talks on closer ties with Belgrade in May over its failure to cooperate fully with the UN war crimes tribunal, but Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said Serbia could expect an outstretched EU hand on Friday.

"Everyone does agree that the Serbian case is a very important regional and continental case," he said. "We'll express ourselves tomorrow in a Serbia-friendly way."

The leaders will endorse the conclusions of their summit after 10:00 am (0900 GMT) with the Finnish presidency holding a closing press conference at around 1:00 pm (1200 GMT).

Dec 15 , 2006

Friday

the last time

several years

this week

five years

the end of the month

late Thursday

last year

January 1

the second half of 2008

May

Friday

tomorrow


AFP_ENG_19970415.0471

NEW DELHI, April 15 , 1997 (AFP)

Hindu nationalists to romp home in fresh Indian elections : poll

A nationwide poll has indicated that India's main opposition party of Hindu nationalists would be elected to power if fresh elections were held now, the United News of India said Tuesday.

The poll, conducted between April 2 and 8 across 16 of India's 25 states, predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian People's Party, BJP) and its allies would get between 237 and 253 seats in the 545-seat parliament.

More than half of the 13,000 registered voters interviewed said they preferred mid-term polls instead of a new coalition government.

India's United Front alliance, ousted in a parliamentary vote of confidence last week after its estranged ally, the Congress (I) party suddenly withdrew support after 10 months, would suffer in fresh elections, the poll indicated.

India's 545-seat lower house is almost evenly split between the BJP, the single largest party with 162 seats, the Congress and the United Front, an alliance of 13 leftist, centrist and regional parties.

The BJP and its allies need about 70 additional members to form a government on their own.

The poll said the Front would get between 150 and 164 seats, a "1.1 percent negative swing," while the Congress would only win between 112 and 126 seats against its current position of 139.

India's political crisis, however, ended Tuesday with the Congress pledging to support a new Front-led alliance under a new leadership.

The party withdrew support from the Front on March 30, accusing Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda of pandering to Hindu nationalists and accusing him of incompetence.

Deve Gowda has offered to step down to regain Congress backing for the Front and prevent mid-term elections but the BJP favours polls, saying any fresh coalition government would not last more than six months.

April 15 , 1997

now

Tuesday

April 2

last week

10 months

current position of 139

Tuesday

March 30

six months


XIN_ENG_20051126.0127

NAIROBI, Nov. 26 , 2005 (Xinhua)

China informs UN about environmental disaster caused by toxic spill

The Chinese government on Saturday informed the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) about the environmental disaster in northeast China caused by a toxic spill, pledging to provide update on the incident to the international community on a daily basis.

Zhang Shigang, China's deputy permanent representative to UNEP, met with the UN agency's Deputy Executive Director Shafqat Kakakhel on Saturday afternoon and gave him a thorough briefing on the disaster.

"Today's briefing is just the first step by the Chinese government in its efforts to keep the international community informed about the environmental disaster. In the coming days, the Chinese government, through its permanent representative office at the UNEP, will provide updated information about the development of the issue on a daily basis," Zhang said.

The disaster was caused by a chemical plant explosion in Jilin province, northeast China, on Nov. 13, which heavily polluted a regional river called the Songhua River, Zhang said, adding that the major pollutants from the accident had been identified as benzene, aniline and nitrobenzene.

"The Chinese government has been taking the incident very seriously. The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) , together with other central competent departments, has sent a team of experts and high officials to the site to coordinate the relief efforts and ensure the damages reduced to the minimum," Zhang said.

According to the latest information released by SEPA on Saturday, the belt of toxic pollutants flowing downstream in the Songhua river is off the city of Harbin about 80 km. A total of 13 monitoring sites have been established along the river and three monitoring vehicles have been doing real time examination.

Nov. 26 , 2005

Saturday

daily

Saturday afternoon

daily

Nov. 13

Saturday