AFP_ENG_20051215.0505

KABUL, Dec 15 , 2005

Donkey used to attack German aid group in Afghanistan

Explosives strapped to a donkey were detonated near a German aid agency's vehicle in northern Afghanistan but the blast caused no human casualties, police said Thursday.

The explosives, stuffed into a pressure cooker strapped to the donkey's back, detonated near the car belonging to the aid group in Faizabad, capital of northeastern Badakhshan province, police commander Shah Jahan Noori said.

He blamed the attack, which took place Wednesday, on "terrorist organisations who do not want Afghanistan's stability".

"We're investigating whether it was a remote-controlled bomb or one of those time bombs," Noori told AFP.

The car of the aid group, GTZ, was slightly damaged in the explosion.

While the police chief did not name any particular group for the blast, most bombings in Afghanistan are blamed on remnants of the ousted Taliban regime although they occur largely in the insurgency-hit south and east.

It appeared to be the first time a donkey was used to carry out an attack since the Taliban launched an insurgency against the new US-backed government.

Insurgents in Iraq have used the animals to pull a cart from which rockets were fired.

Noori said an investigation into the bombing would reveal if the use of donkeys was a new tactic of the Taliban, who frequently use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in their attacks.

"An investigation has been launched. We will in future check donkeys laden with suspicious items," he said.

The animals are plentiful in mountainous Badakhshan.

The Taliban were overthrown in a US-led invasion in four years ago and are trying to claw their way back into power with regular but usually small-scale attacks on government and foreign forces, and groups allied with the administration, including aid organisations.

There has been an increase in the number of bombings blamed on the Taliban, with about 10 suicide attacks since late September which analysts say suggest the militants are adopting some of the techniques used by insurgents in Iraq.

The latest was in a mosque in the main northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif Wednesday which caused no casualties besides the bomber. It was unclear if the attacker was linked to the Taliban and other insurgents, or driven by personal enmity.

Dec 15 , 2005

Thursday

Wednesday

four years ago

late September


XIN_ENG_20051110.0314

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 10 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Security Council expansion should address Africa's concerns: Chinese envoy

The Security Council expansion should give priority to increasing the representation of developing countries in the United Nations' most powerful organ, particularly African nations, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya stressed on Thursday.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Wang reaffirmed China's support for necessary and rational reform of the council, including its expansion and the improvement of its working methods, in order to maintain its authority, increase its efficiency and strengthen its role.

He pointed out that the council expansion should be in line with the democratization trend of international relations and give priority to enhancing the representation of developing countries.

"Democratization of international relations is a global trend, which should also find its reflection in the Security Council," he said. "While developing countries account for more than two thirds of the entire UN membership, they are seriously under-represented in the Security Council."

China holds that the council expansion should give priority to augmenting the representation of developing countries in general and African countries in particular, and increase opportunities for more countries, particularly small and medium-sized countries, to participate in the council's decision-making process, Wang noted.

"A reform package that addresses only the concerns of a few states while disregarding those of the majority and treats African and other developing countries inequitably will lead to nowhere," he warned.

Wang also emphasized that the council enlargement should adhere to the principle of equitable geographical distribution and ensure the representation of different cultures and civilizations.

He reiterated China's opposition to imposing an artificial deadline for the council expansion or forcing any expansion proposal through the General Assembly by putting it to a vote.

"The council reform should be based on democratic discussion with a view to reaching the broadest possible consensus. No artificial deadline should be set, nor should a vote be imposed," he said.

"Only when this approach is followed can the relevant decisions command the widest possible trust and support, and meet the common long-term interests of all member states," he added.

The Security Council is currently composed of five veto-holding permanent members -- China, the United States, Russia, France and Britain -- and 10 elected members with two year terms. A fierce debate over the council expansion before the September UN summit failed to produce any agreement.

Nov. 10 , 2005

Thursday

two year terms


AFP_ENG_20061229.0192

DURBAN, South Africa, Dec 29 , 2006, 2006

by Chris Burnes

India lost an early wicket after South Africa set them a target of 354 to win on the fourth day of the second Test at Kingsmead Friday.

India were 18 for one at tea, with Virender Sehwag out for eight when he edged Makhaya Ntini to Graeme Smith at first slip.

Needing a win to square the three-match series, South Africa batted aggressively despite losing six wickets for 44 runs at one stage before lunch.

Shaun Pollock made a stroke-filled 63 not out to enable South Africa to declare their second innings at 265 for eight.

There were nominally a maximum of 146 overs for India's second innings but bad light stopped play early on each of the first three days. Clouds were building up and the floodlights were switched on soon after the innings started.

Both Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer edged balls which fell short of the slip cordon and Sehwag edged one for four at catchable height through a vacant fourth slip, only to be caught off the next ball when he played forward defensively.

Indian captain Rahul Dravid edged Andre Nel just short of Andrew Hall at third slip before he had scored. He was on one at tea, with Jaffer on six.

Pollock shared quick-scoring half-century stands with Hall and Morne Morkel as South Africa recovered from a top order collapse.

Shanthakumuran Sreesanth, India's exciting young fast bowler, took three of the wickets as South Africa collapsed from 99 for no wicket to 143 for six. Sreesanth finished with four for 79, taking his tally for the series to 16.

VRV Singh made the first breakthrough, dismissing AB de Villiers for 47, but Sreesanth then took three wickets in eight balls to plunge the home team into trouble.

One of Sreesanth's victims was South African captain Graeme Smith, who emerged from a batting slump to make 58. Smith made his runs off 81 balls and hit 11 fours before trying to whip a straight ball through the leg side and having his off stump knocked back.

But Pollock regained the initiative for South Africa in a 99-ball innings which included 10 fours. Hall (21) helped him put on 70 in 68 minutes for the seventh wicket before Morkel (27) shared in a 52-run stand in 50 minutes for the eighth wicket.

Dec 29 , 2006

eight

each of the first three

68 minutes

50 minutes


XIN_ENG_20061128.0101

SEOUL, Nov. 28 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Seoul stock market closes down

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 13.66 points to 1,411.47 on Tuesday.

The volume of the KOSPI was moderate at 246 million shares worth 2.85 trillion won (3.07 billion U.S. dollars).

The KOSDAQ index dropped 2.85 points to 612.93 with a volume of 655.32 million shares worth 2.184 trillion won (2.346 billion U.S. dollars).

The local currency finished at 930.80 won against one U.S. dollar, down 0.2 won from Monday's close.

Nov. 28 , 2006

Tuesday

Monday


XIN_ENG_20051126.0192

ALGIERS, Nov. 26 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Algerian president flies to Paris for medical treatment

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika went to Paris for medical treatment on Saturday after experiencing digestive disorder, his office said in a statement.

Bouteflika received a medical check-up the same day in the capital Algeria "due to digestive disorder" and was later sent to Paris for further treatment on the advice of the doctors who examined him, the statement said.

The statement also quoted the doctors as saying "the president's condition is not a source of concern."

Bouteflika's office said he would now not attend the Euro-Mediterranean summit in Barcelona on Sunday as planned.

Bouteflika, born in March 1937, was elected president in 1999 and secured a second term in office in April 2004.

Nov. 26 , 2005

Saturday

Sunday

March 1937

April 2004


XIN_ENG_20061122.0228

NEW DELHI, Nov. 22 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Uzbekistan pulls out of inaugural Asian Hopman Cup in India

Uzbekistan have withdrawn from the inaugural Asian Hopman Cup in India to focus on the 15th Asian Games, the organisers said on Wednesday.

Philippines have replaced Uzbekistan in the mixed team event starting on Thursday whose winners qualify for the Hopman Cup to be held in Perth, Australia from Dec. 30.

Hosts India, China and Japan have been drawn in Group A and Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Philippines in Group B.

The two group winners will meet in Sunday's final.

Indian Davis Cup captain Leander Paes had already pulled out to recover from a finger injury before the Asian Games being held in Doha, Qatar from Dec. 1.

Nov. 22 , 2006

Wednesday

Thursday

Dec. 30

Sunday

Dec. 1


AFP_ENG_19970414.0302

KIPUSHI, Zaire-Zambia border, April 14 , 1997 (AFP)

Zambian backing helped Zaire rebels to take Lubumbashi by Jean-Pierre Campagne

Zairean rebels' success in taking their country's second city Lubumbashi last week, was due in part to the goodwill of neighbouring Zambia, according to residents living along the border.

In the sleepy border town of Kipushi about 30 kilometres (19 miles) southwest of Lubumbashi, the people claimed that troops of rebel leader Laurent Kabila infiltrated via Zambia on Monday and seized control of their town virtually without a fight.

"We heard three shots at around 06:00 a.m., then nothing else. The soldiers surrendered right away. The rebels were in control almost immediately," said one man who asked not to be identified.

"The first of the rebels, arrived on food and looked tired as theough they had been marching for a long time. The others seemed in better shape. There are serious grounds for believing that some arrived during the night by lorry from Zambia," he said.

According to some reports reaching Lubumbashi and which it was not possible to verify, Kabila's men have a base camp about 30 kilometres (19 miles) inside Zambian territory where "wasungu" - white men in Swahili - have been spotted recently.

Kipushi is the most straightforward access route to Lubumbashi from Zambia over a narrow but good road through the bush and which is well maintained because of the large amount of commercial traffic which uses it.

Another route to Lubumbashi which is wider but lies 100 kilometres (60 miles) away passes through Kasumbalesa.

When the rebels captured Kasenga, 200 kilometres (125 miles) northeast of Lubumbashi at the end of March, they also went through Zambia to catch the Zairean soldiers from the rear, according to informed sources.

The fall of Lubumbashi came as Zambia refused permission to Belgian troops to base soldiers at Ndola on the Zambian side of the border in readiness for an evacuation of foreign nationals from Lubumbashi.

The rebel victory also came the day after Rwandan strongman General Paul Kagame spelled out clearly that the Kabila had the support of countries of the Great Lakes region.

The rebel troops also benefitted from the active support of the local population, in Kipushi and in Lubumbashi.

In Lubumbashi, local people showed the rebels where to find the soldiers of the elite Zairean Presidential Security Division (DSP) whose men had chosen to resist the rebel advance rather than grabbing what they could and fleeing as the Zairean army had been wont to do elsewhere.

Outside the DSP headquarters south of the city, local people deliberately misled the driver of a DSP tank about where the rebels were coming in. He was caught off guard and killed by the rebels.

It was the people of Lubumbashi who recognised and handed over to the rebels, Colonel Kinene, the DSP chief as he was fleeing disguised in civilian clothes and in possession of 20,000 dollars. In this way the DSP was made to pay for the numerous abuses committed by the soldiers in the city.

Even without such help, Kabila's men would probably have captured Lubumbashi but it would have taken them much longer and exacted a much heavier toll on rebel forces.

April 14 , 1997

last week

Monday

the end of March

day


XIN_ENG_20051117.0137

SINGAPORE, Nov. 17 , 2005 (Xinhua)

in Singapore

Singapore has doubled the avian flu tests on local and migratory birds from once every two weeks to once a week, Channel NewsAsia reported on Thursday.

The measure is to monitor possible bird flu virus among some 20, 000 migratory birds flying into the city state during the winter months and to prevent local birds and poultry raised on farms from getting infected.

A collaboration between the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the National Parks Board (NParks) which started two years ago, such tests have been applied to over 400 randomly- captured birds.

All the samples collected were negative for the virus, the report said.

The AVA was quoted as saying that local farms have been asked to take biological security measures against the bird flu virus and the weekly tests will continue as long as countries in the region are affected by the disease.

Nov. 17 , 2005

once every two weeks to once a week

Thursday

the winter months

two years ago


XIN_ENG_20051128.0073

BAGHDAD, Nov. 28 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Urgent: US embassy confirms kidnapping of American

The US embassy in Iraq confirmed on Monday that an American civilian was kidnapped in the violence- plagued country.

Nov. 28 , 2005

Monday


AFP_ENG_20061204.0272

ISLAMABAD, Dec 4 , 2006, 2006

Pakistani FM to visit Afghanistan for talks on joint jirga

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri will visit Afghanistan this week for talks on curbing the Taliban insurgency by holding a traditional gathering of tribal leaders on both sides of the border, the foreign ministry said Monday.

Kasuri's December 7-9 visit was part of regular contact between the two countries, during which he would discuss bilateral relations, the ministry's spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told reporters.

"Basically he would discuss how to bring about peace and calm in the bordering areas of the two countries," she said at a weekly briefing.

Kasuri would hold follow-up discussions with his Afghan counterpart, Rangeen Dadfar Spanta, on decisions made by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai during their joint meeting with US President George W. Bush at the White House in September, she said.

They would also discuss the proposal for holding a joint jirga, or gathering or tribal elders, on both sides of the border.

"The focus would be on how to activate this traditional institution to bring down violence and promote peace in the border areas," Aslam said.

Karzai, concerned about the growing insurgency in his country, proposed convening a jirga at the Washington meeting amid tensions between the neighbours, who blamed each other for not doing enough to rein in the militants.

Ethnic Pashtuns living on both sides of the border have for centuries used jirgas to resolve internal disputes.

Kasuri would also discuss the strategy Pakistan was following in its rugged tribal belt, where the government signed a peace deal with pro-Taliban militants in September to curb violence.

"We hope that something on similar lines, a comprehensive strategy, can be developed in Afghanistan," Aslam said.

"If implemented, that (would have) not only a political dimension -- national reconciliation -- but also an economic component for reconstruction."

Pakistan, a key ally in the US-led "war on terror" has deployed 80,000 troops along the frontier to stop militants launching attacks in Afghanistan.

Dec 4 , 2006

this week

Monday

December 7-9

September

September


XIN_ENG_20061117.0317

NAIROBI, Nov. 17 , 2006 (Xinhua)

UN climate talks ends with decisions to support developing countries

The United Nations Climate Change Conference wrapped up in Nairobi late Friday with the adoption of a wide range of decisions which are seen as a boost to the adaptation of developing countries to the effects of global warming.

"The conference has delivered on its promise to support the needs of developing countries," said Conference President Kivutha Kibwana, who is also the Kenyan Minister for Natural Resources and Environment. "The positive spirit of the conference has prevailed, " he added.

A statement issued at the press conference after the meeting said the "spirit of Nairobi" prevails as the climate change conference held first time in sub-Sahara Africa successfully concluded.

The success is manifested in several agreements. At the meeting, activities for the next few years under the "Nairobi Work Program on Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation" were agreed. These activities will help enhance decision-making on adaptation action and improved assessment of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change.

Another important outcome, according to the statement, is the agreement on the management of the Adaptation Fund under the Kyoto Protocol, which will be helpful to support concrete adaptation activities in developing countries.

Delegates also welcome the "Nairobi Framework" announced by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, which will provide additional support to developing countries to successfully develop projects for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The CDM permits industrialized countries, which have emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol, to invest in sustainable development projects in developing countries that reduce greenhouse gas emission, and thereby generate tradable emission credits.

Officials said rules were finalized for the Special Climate Change Fund, which is another concrete progress at the conference. The fund is designed to finance projects in developing countries relating to adaptation, technology transfer, climate change mitigation and economic diversification for countries highly dependent on income from fossil fuels.

"The spirit of Nairobi has been truly remarkable," Kibwana said.

"Let us now use the momentum of this conference to carry this spirit forward and jointly undertake the kind of concerted action we need for humankind to have a future on this planet," he added.

The next round of negotiations under the Kyoto Protocol and talks under the United Nations Climate Change Convention will be held in Bonn, Germany in May 2007.

Nov. 17 , 2006

Friday

the next few years

now

May 2007


XIN_ENG_20061122.0393

KATHMANDU, Nov. 23 , 2006 (Xinhua)

U.S. Carter Center to observe Nepal Constituent Assembly polls

The U.S. Carter Center (CC) has accepted the invitation of the Nepali government and the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (formerly known as guerrilla) to observe the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, local eKantipur.com reported on Thursday.

President of the CC and former U.S. president Jimmy Carter wrote separate letters to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Chairman of CPN Prachanda, confirming the CC's involvement in monitoring the CA election.

Earlier, Prime Minister Koirala, Nepali Congress (Democratic) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and CPN Chairman Prachanda had written separate letters to former president Carter inviting the Center's involvement.

Prachanda in his letter had said, "In light of the commitment of our party towards a free and fair election to the Constituent Assembly, we shall be happy to invite the Carter Center's involvement in observing the CA elections."

Carter, in his letter to Prachanda, wrote, "I value your commitment to conducting the CA elections in a conducive environment free from fear, intimidation or fraud."

Nepal will be the 62nd country where the Center has been involved in election observation.

Country representative of the CC, Dr Duman Thapa, informed The Kathmandu Post on Wednesday that the Center will soon expand its Nepal office and begin observation of the electoral process.

"The observation will begin right from the preparation of the polls," said Dr Thapa.

He also informed that 10 long-term international observers will soon arrive in Kathmandu to begin observation. "Additional 40 will come for two weeks during the CA polls."

Carter himself would also visit Nepal, most probably during the election.

The CC, based in Atlanta, Georgia, works worldwide in prevention and resolution of conflicts and also specializes in election monitoring. The CC has been interested in Nepal's conflict resolution for a long time.

Nov. 23 , 2006

Thursday

Wednesday

two weeks


XIN_ENG_20051113.0263

MANILA, Nov. 14 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Philippine transport workers on strike against gasoline price hike

Two Philippine transport worker groups launched a joint strike here on Monday, protesting against higher gasoline prices.

In Quezon City, Metro Manila, members of the National Transport Workers Union and the Jeepney Coalition Transport of the Philippines gathered to rally along streets, calling for reduction on pump prices of gasoline, a footage of ABS-CBN TV News Channel showed.

The groups said that the last two price cuts by the government were negligible. They also called for the scraping of the oil deregulation law, according to the TV report.

Several public transport routes in Metro Manila were affected, and some school classes have been suspended due to the strike, the metropolitan authorities said.

However, some major local transport groups did not join the protest and government offices in the Quezon city remained open.

Nov. 14 , 2005

Monday


AFP_ENG_19970412.0293

TEHRAN, Feb 12 , 1997 (AFP)

13 drug traffickers hanged in Iran

Thirteen drug traffickers, also accused of armed robbery and murder, have been simultaneously hanged in southeastern Iran, newspapers reported Saturday.

The "international traffickers," all of them Iranian, had killed or wounded several policemen in clashes with security forces in Sistan- Baluchestan province bordering Afghanistan, the papers said.

They did not say on which day the hangings took place.

It was the highest number of people executed at the same time for several years.

In a separate incident, Iranian police said Saturday they had seized more than half a ton of opium hidden in cars in the northeastern towns of Torbat Jam and Tayyebad.

The official IRNA news agency said three grenades and an automatic rifle were also seized after routine checks.

Iran is a transit route for drugs coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan destined for Europe.

Iranian authorities have stepped up the fight against drug trafficking in recent years, and anybody possessing more than 30 grammes of heroin or five kilos of opium faces the death penalty.

Feb 12 , 1997

Saturday

several years

Saturday

recent years


AFP_ENG_19970407.0546

NEW DELHI, April 8 , 1997 (AFP)

Notorious criminal Sobhraj deported from India

Notorious criminal Charles Sobhraj, linked to a series of unsolved murders across Asia in the 1970s, was deported from India to France on Tuesday, witnesses said.

The 52-year-old French national, who served 20 years behind bars, left on an Air France flight bound for Paris, escorted by two Indian immigration officials, a witness said.

April 8 , 1997

the 1970s

Tuesday

20 years


AFP_ENG_20061229.0367

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, Dec 29 , 2006, 2006

Brewers, Suppan ink four-year deal

The Milwaukee Brewers signed veteran righthander Jeff Suppan to a four-year contract on Friday, a deal worth a reported 42 million dollars.

Suppan, who will turn 32 next Tuesday, became the latest pitcher to cash in during what has been a lucrative offseason for free agents.

He raised his stock over the last two months after going 1-1 with a 2.49 ERA in four postseason starts with the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

The signing of Suppan came one day after the San Francisco Giants signed Barry Zito to a multi-year deal worth a reported 126 million dollars - the largest contract for a pitcher in major-league history.

The Most Valuable Player of the NL championship series, Suppan went 12-7 with a 4.12 ERA in 32 starts last season for the Cardinals.

The righthander is 44-26 with a 3.95 ERA over the past three years, posting consecutive 16-win campaigns in 2004 and 2005.

"With 44 wins in the last three seasons, Jeff is not only a proven winner, he is also one of the most durable pitchers in baseball," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. "This agreement makes us feel very good about the depth of our rotation. Jeff's experience and durability should have a positive influence on our entire pitching staff."

Suppan will join a Brewers' rotation which includes lefthander Chris Capuano and righthanders Ben Sheets, Dave Bush and Claudio Vargas, who was acquired for starter Doug Davis in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on November 25.

In 12 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Arizona, Pittsburgh and St. Louis, Suppan is 106-101 with a 4.60 ERA in 317 career games. He has made at least 31 starts in each of the last eight years.

Dec 29 , 2006

Friday

Tuesday

the last two months

2.49 ERA

the past three years

the last three seasons

November 25

12 seasons

last eight years


XIN_ENG_20051112.0001

RIGA, Nov. 11 , 2005 (Xinhua)

producers

Ekranas, the only manufacturer of television picture tubes in the Baltic states, has submitted a complaint to the European Commission (EC) over rivals from Latin America and Asia dumping products on the EU market.

Manufacturers of color picture tubes from Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea and Thailand are "dumping" their products on the market of European Union (EU), complained Ekranas, whose headquarters is in Panevezhs, a city in northern Lithuania.

At the end of June this year, Ekranas requested that the EC, the EU's executive arm, investigate unfair competition from manufacturers of 14-inch picture tubes from India and South Korea.

The anti-dumping cases could be Ekranas's last chance of survival, as its turnover stood at 228.6 million litas (79.51 million US dollars) from January to September this year, with a loss of 60.7 million litas (21.11 million US dollars).

Its sales volume and net profit in 2004 were 467.2 million litas (162.5 million US dollars) and 1.3 million litas (452,173 dollars) respectively.

Ekranas holds about 25 percent of the EU market for color picture tubes. It plans to manufacture 5.3 million TV picture tubes this year.

Nov. 11 , 2005

June this year

January

September this year

this year


AFP_ENG_20061214.0411

LONDON, Dec 14 , 2006, 2006

Work underway on London's Olympic Park

Work on London's Olympic Park for the 2012 Games got underway on Thursday.

The site in the east end of England's capital city is being cleared of empty buildings to allow construction of the Park to begin.

A disused sports hall on Eton Manor, to the north of the site, was the first building to be demolished.

The Eton Manor area of the Park will feature a centre that is expected to host tennis and archery during the Paralympic Games and be a training area during the Olympics.

Eton Manor is an historic venue in British sport as it hosted the first athletics meeting in the United Kingdom after the Second World War.

An Olympic Delivery Authority spokesman said: "We will be preserving the proud sporting heritage of this area by knocking down crumbling, disused facilities and replacing them with state of the art sporting venues that will be at the heart of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

"The new facilities we will build, along with the new bridges better linking them into the local community and new walking and cycling routes, will mean that London 2012 will leave a significant sporting legacy in the north of the Olympic Park for generations to come.

"We are planning Games and legacy together now to ensure we only build permanent venues if there is a long-term legacy use."

Dec 14 , 2006

Thursday

now


AFP_ENG_20051206.0705

LONDON, Dec 7 , 2005

ATTENTION - ADDS details on shadow cabinet ///

David Cameron faces his first test Wednesday as Britain's new opposition leader at the weekly prime minister's questions in parliament -- a battle of wits with Tony Blair over burning political issues.

Fresh from his decisive victory Tuesday as Conservative Party leader, the telegenic, eloquent and youthful Cameron will fire the opening shots in a revitalized campaign aimed at returning his party to power.

And newspaper pundits say Cameron -- the fifth Conservative leader to face Blair -- has raised hopes he will produce the first credible opposition to Blair's Labour Party since it swept into Downing Street in 1997.

At 39, he promises to be the upstart that Blair was when he became Labour leader in 1994 at about the same age. Cameron was a virtual unknown six months ago and has spent only four years in parliament.

The first test for Cameron comes at 1200 GMT in parliament when Blair, 51, stands before the House of Commons to answer questions from MPs about a range of topics, including the economy, crime, education, health and foreign policy.

He takes over from the older and more experienced Michael Howard, a former interior minister, at an event which is usually a rowdy, knockabout half-hour in which withering wit is used to stir cheers and jeers in the chamber.

Cameron, who has shown his cool in tough television interviews, has vowed not to play the politics of "Punch and Judy," two British puppet characters who engage in tit-for-tat taunts, but pundits doubt he can stay above the fray.

"What he's got to do (Wednesday) is survive and it will be nerve-wracking," according to Gyles Brandreth, who as a Conservative government whip in the 1990s saw prominent colleagues tremble during the event.

Brandreth told BBC's Newsnight program it will be "very difficult when you're actually performing inside the Punch and Judy tent" to avoid the adversarial dynamic.

Among other upcoming challenges will be naming his shadow cabinet, his team of spokespeople to scrutinize government ministers. He has already promoted Patrick McLoughlin from deputy to chief whip, the main enforcer of party discipline.

But the job Cameron offers to current interior affairs spokesman David Davis, who lost the party leadership runoff on Tuesday, could be crucial to party unity.

Bitter internal splits helped bring about the Conservatives' downfall in 1997 after 18 years in office.

It was the party that had dominated British government during the 20th century under such political titans as former PMs Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.

And battered by three successive election defeats in eight years at the hands of Blair's Labour Party, the Conservatives are hoping Cameron's prescription of compassion and tolerance can revive their fortunes.

The trick will be to keep the party from drifting to the right and move it to the center, just as Blair managed to shift Labour from the left to the middle, pundits say.

The new Conservative leader may have to wait until May 2010 for a general election, when he would likely face Blair's finance minister and heir apparent Gordon Brown.

"It is going to be a huge challenge. We have a vast mountain to climb," Cameron admitted.

He pledged to change the fact that nine out of 10 Conservative MPs are white men and tackle the "scandalous" under-representation of women in the party.

The left-leaning Independent newspaper, which has taken Blair to task over the war in Iraq and its anti-terrorism policies, ran an editorial on Cameron under the headline: "A mandate for change that must not be squandered.

"Britain has been without a serious party of opposition for the best part of a decade now. David Cameron's election as Tory leader gives us hope that we may, finally, get one back," it said.

Dec 7 , 2005

Wednesday

Tuesday

six months ago

four years

Wednesday

Tuesday

18 years

the 20th century

eight years

May 2010

the best part of a decade now


XIN_ENG_20061109.0021

MANILA, Nov. 9 , 2006 (Xinhua)

New tropical depression threatens northern Philippines

A week after typhoon Cimaron lashed the Philippines, a new tropical depression is closing in northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said on Thursday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 10 a.m., tropical depression "Queenie" was estimated at 1,040 kilometers east of northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center.

PAGASA said Queenie was moving west at 19 kph and was expected to be 700 kilometers east southeast of northern Luzon by Friday morning; 330 kilometers east southeast of northern Luzon Saturday morning; and in the vicinity of Aparri, Cagayan by Sunday morning.

Cagayan province was among the hardest-hit areas when Cimaron lashed Luzon last week.

But PAGASA said Queenie is not likely to affect any part of the country within the next 24 hours.

Nov. 9 , 2006

A week

Thursday

Friday morning

Saturday morning

Sunday morning

last week

the next 24 hours


XIN_ENG_20051114.0007

BANGKOK, Nov. 14 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Nation cuddles Olympic mascots

Nation cuddles Olympic mascots

By Zhou Yan

BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- A panda cub waited for 10 weeks to get a name. Newborn babies are named after them. Anxious buyers thronged department stores for cuddly stuffed toys.

Bei Bei, Jing Jing, Huan Huan, Ying Ying and Ni Ni won the hearts of the entire Chinese nation at the very instant they were unveiled as mascots of the 2008 summer Olympiad to be held in Beijing.

The giant panda breeding research base in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, named a 10-week old female panda cub "Jing Jing" on Saturday -- exactly the same name as the mascot giant panda.

The cub was born on Aug. 30 but was never named, said zoologists with the Chengdu base. "We hope she'll grow up healthily and witness the Beijing Olympiad. The mascot will bring her good luck."

Panda researchers at the base said they have archived Jing Jing's pictures and all important data at www.panda.org.cn. "Everyone can send her greetings online," they said.

Jing Jing was born 152 grams and now weighs 4,266 grams. Her mother, 15, was named "Ya Ya (Asia)" because she was born in 1990, the year Beijing hosted the 11th Asian Games. Jing Jing's father, the handsomest "panda prince" at the Chengdu base, was named "Ke Bi" by former International Olympic Committee President Samaranch.

A baby boy born at 8:00 p.m. Friday in Beijing has been named Bei Bei, the name of the Carp, the first of the five mascots.

"My wife and I were watching the televised gala and guessing which candidate would stand out when the doctors said she should have a Caesarean section," said Mr. Hu, the new father. "She was sent back to the ward with the baby at the very moment the five mascots were announced."

Hu and his wife then agreed they would name the baby after one of the mascots.

The Olympic mascots Beijing announced on Friday were cartoon renditions of a panda, a carp, a Tibetan antelope, a swallow and the Olympic flame, each one the color of one of the Olympic rings.

Starting on Saturday, stuffed toys and commemorative coins of the five mascots have opened a marketing blitz.

Saturday morning found anxious crowds waiting outside major department stores in Beijing before the business hours.

"It's a great idea to have five mascots because the Chinese believe in 'wufu' (five happiness)," said a senior citizen surnamed Yu. Yu left his home in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing at 5:00 a.m. to buy a full set of the mascots at one of the city's oldest department stores in the downtown Wangfujing commercial street.

Nanjing, a boom city in east China's Jiangsu Province, has ordered air shipments of the stuffed toys from Beijing to meet the demands of anxious buyers.

"On Saturday and Sunday alone, we sold 400,000 yuan (nearly 50,000 US dollars) of the toy mascots," said Li Qiaosheng, general manager of Xinbai Department Store, one of the biggest in Nanjing.

Yet some citizens' love for the Olympic mascots went irrational. The Beijing Metro decorated all subway trains with dainty pictures of the Olympic mascots on the handrails but by Sunday afternoon, nearly a half of the pictures had gone.

Most of the pictures stolen represented Jing Jing the Panda and Huan Huan the Olympic Flame, said a Beijing Metro employee.

"Of course everyone loves the pretty mascots," said a subway rider who gave only his surname as Zhang. "But it's a shame to steal the pictures. The Olympic Games is an occasion to present China to the world -- we should present our good images."

Nov. 14 , 2005

Nov. 14

10 weeks

2008 summer Olympiad

Saturday

Aug. 30

now

the year

Friday

Friday

Saturday

Saturday morning

Saturday

Sunday afternoon


AFP_ENG_20061202.0540

YEREVAN, Dec 3 , 2006, 2006

=(PICTURE)=

Cut off from world energy markets, the mountainous state of Armenia is making a virtue of adversity and may be leading the world in using cleaner car fuel, officials say.

While the European Union is looking at 2020 before 10 percent of vehicles there will use alternative fuel, in Armenia up to 30 percent of cars already run on clean compressed gas, officials here say.

This statistic includes about 45,000 private cars and 90 percent of public transport.

Such high levels of clean fuel use are due "to the fact that Armenia, which has no energy resources of its own, is trying to use the most affordable alternative fuel," said Pavel Siradegian, a transport ministry official.

In this the ex-Soviet republic appears be leading a trend. Around the world some five million vehicles are run on compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas, according to the United States energy department's Internet site.

Natural gas vehicles are just as safe as conventional petrol and diesel-fuelled ones and produce lower harmful emissions, the department says.

In Armenia, the switch has its origins in the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

Before then, Armenia got petrol from its oil-rich neighbour Azerbaijan, but after the two countries plunged into a war over the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorny Karabakh, Armenia cut ties with both Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Armenia buys its gas from Russia for 110 dollars (77 euros) per 1,000 cubic metres, with 84 percent of the population having access to gas at home.

The gas used for cars is three or four times cheaper than petrol and half the price of diesel fuel "and so people convert to gas of their own accord," Siradegian said.

The gas containers are usually imported from Russia or Italy and are installed in the car's trunk at licensed centres -- an operation that costs the equivalent of 700 to 1,000 dollars (530-760 euros).

"Even with such high installation prices it's cheaper to use gas than petrol. A 20-litre-canister of petrol would cost some 17 dollars, while topping up with gas costs only four dollars," said the head of Yerevan's Ultra taxi service, Aram Hachian, who has converted all his cars.

"If we used petrol, many people here wouldn't be able to afford a taxi," he said.

Armenia currently has 140 filling stations equipped with gas compressing equipment.

"Drivers have no fear of being left without fuel," Siradegian said.

But some admit the choice has been forced on them.

"If I were rich, I'd fill my car with petrol because gas is bad for your engine and it is not very nice carrying an 80-kilogramme container in your trunk," said one Yerevan resident, 37-year-old Artem.

At the country's environment ministry, officials hail the benefits of increased gas use after the damage done to the environment in the 1990s.

"Switching to gas has been a real salvation for... Armenia, whose forests suffered very much during the energy crisis," said environment official Martin Tsarukian.

"Gas-using cars emit half the amount of nitric oxide than petrol-driven cars," he said. "Conversion to gas was an economic necessity, but there have been ecological benefits as a result."

The ministry is aware that the popularity of compressed gas could be time-limited if the country pulls itself out of economic hardship -- the average salary is currently 100 dollars a month.

But it is now looking at ways of ensuring drivers stick to compressed gas -- for example through tax benefits.

Dec 3 , 2006

currently

the 1990s

now


AFP_ENG_20051211.0007

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 , 2005

= (PICTURES) =

Malaysia's former premier Mahathir Mohamad is revelling in the spotlight as the region's leaders come to town, proving old habits die hard after two decades on the international stage.

Although officially retired since 2003, the irrepressible 80-year-old has grabbed attention by accusing Australia of crashing the party and launching a tirade against his former protege Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir, who shaped modern Malaysia during his long term in power and remains a high-profile figure on the political scene, first conceived of the summit, which holds its inaugural gathering Wednesday.

But much to his chagrin, what was intended as a "caucus without caucasians" has now come to include Australia and New Zealand -- as a counterweight to China in the absence of the United States.

"Now, Australia is basically European and it has made clear to the rest of the world that it is the deputy sheriff for America," Mahathir said acidly last week.

"I am afraid that, knowing Asians, who are always very polite and do not like to appear to be recalcitrant, the views of Australia are likely to dominate," he said.

His jab at Australia, whose then-premier Paul Keating dubbed him "recalcitrant" for refusing to attend a 1993 regional summit, apparently hit the mark.

Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Saturday lashed out at a reporter who relayed the suggestion that his country would act as a proxy for America in a new 16-nation bloc.

"I think even you could move beyond the puerile allegations of a 'deputy sheriff,'" he snapped at a reporter.

It was left to Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar to defend Canberra's presence, saying the summit had moved beyond a geographical definition that would have excluded Australia.

Mahathir handed over to current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi two years ago, but the new administration is still trying to step out of the shadow of the long-time leader who remains one of Asia's best-known political figures.

He held court again over the weekend, issuing a new broadside against his one-time deputy Anwar, who was sacked in 1998 and jailed on corruption and sodomy charges.

Anwar was freed in September 2004 after six years behind bars, and is now storming back onto Malaysia's political landscape with new leadership ambitions.

But Mahathir maintained Saturday that although Anwar's sodomy conviction has been overturned, he was still not in the clear and should accept that his political days are over -- just like his own.

"The judge said he was involved in homosexual acts but not on that day. He is not fully innocent," he said.

"It is time for younger leaders now. There may be in the future an opportunity for him to make a comeback. But he will be old by then. His chances are very slim."

Mahathir said he hoped that the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) that has produced every Malaysian prime minister since independence from Britain in 1957 would not take Anwar back.

"I would be sorry if UMNO were to agree to his comeback," he said. "(But) Anwar is quite capable of doing things you do not expect of him ... it would not be surprising if he joined UMNO."

Once considered an Asian political star, Anwar was famously beaten up by the then-police chief after his arrest, a saga that made world headlines.

The row is still being fought in the courts, and Anwar was this year awarded 1.2 million dollars in damages over a book that aired the sodomy allegations.

He also won a public apology over the beating as well as undisclosed damages, a result he hailed as a step forward for human rights in the country.

Dec 11 , 2005

two decades

the international stage

Wednesday

acidly last week

Saturday

two years ago

the weekend

September 2004

six years

now

Saturday

that day

now

the future

this year


XIN_ENG_20051117.0193

HONG KONG, Nov. 17 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Jobless rate in Hong Kong hits 4-year low

Seasonally adjusted jobless rate in Hong Kong fell to a four-year low of 5.3 percent in the August-October period, the Census  Statistics Department said Thursday.

The figure was down from 5.5 percent in the July-September period, the department said in a report, adding that the underemployment rate also dropped, from 2.6 percent to 2.5 percent.

During past three months, the number of unemployed dropped by 12,700 to 193,000 -- the first time in four years the number has fallen below the 200,000 mark. The number of underemployed also dropped, from 95,000 to 90,000.

Meanwhile, total employment grew by 24,400 to an all-time high of 3,416,000, with total labor force rising to 3,609,000 from 3,597,300.

The department said a drop in unemployment was seen in the restaurant, hotel, manufacturing, decoration and maintenance, and transport sectors, while underemployment rate falls were mainly seen in foundation and superstructure construction, restaurant and miscellaneous personal-services sectors.

The jobless situation improved because employment growth continued to outstrip labor-force growth, the department added.

In the first 10 months, the Labor Department received 356,878 private-sector vacancies, up 20 percent over the full-year figure of 297,186 in 2004.

In the same period, the department placed 93,029 job-seekers into jobs, up 8 percent over the full-year figure of 86,257 in 2004.

The near-term outlook will depend on the state of business activity and job creation in the corporate sector in the run-up to the Christmas and New Year holidays, the report said.

Nov. 17 , 2005

Thursday

past three months

four years

the first 10 months

the same period


AFP_ENG_19970416.0029

BANGKOK, April 16 , 1997 (AFP)

Thailand's Bank of Ayudhya ratings cut by Standard and Poor's

US ratings agency Standard and Poor's Corp. Wednesday said it had cut to A-3 from A-2 the short term counterparty rating of Thailand's Bank of Ayudhya but affirmed a BBB long-term counterparty rating.

Bank of Ayudhya's rating has now been removed from CreditWatch, where it was placed on March 18, the agency said in a statement, but added the outlook was negative.

An "A" rating is defined as a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal in a timely manner but susceptible to outside negative factors.

Standard and Poor's said it had some concerns about the deteriorating condition of Thailand's finance sector, which has come under pressure with the downturn in the property market and the economic slowdown.

"The extent of the downturn is expected to be more significant and prolonged than is currently expected by both the regulators and the individual banks," it said, reiterating concerns made earlier this month.

"Recent initiatives announced by the Bank of Thailand may not be sufficient to contain problems within the property sector, resulting in a substantial rise in the current level of non-performing loans," it said.

The downgrade of the short-term counterparty rating recognises system- wide liquidity concerns and the banks higher vulnerability here relative to other commercial banks, the agency said.

The announcement came a week after Moody's Investors Services said it was lowering foreign currency ceilings for Thai bonds and bank deposits from A2 to A3 on concerns about the country's current account deficit.

April 16 , 1997

March 18

earlier this month

week


AFP_ENG_19970424.0028

BEIJING, April 24 , 1997 (AFP)

Taiwan PC giant to launch cellular phone production in China: report

Taiwan-based personal computer giant Acer Inc. will begin producing GSM cellular telephones in eastern China's Suzhou next month, the China Daily reported Thursday.

The rollout by 30-million-dollar venture Acer Peripherals (Suzhou) Co. will mark the firm's first mainland production of GSM (global system for mobile communications) handsets, it said, quoting a company official.

Though it is already deeply involved in the Chinese PC market, Acer plans to strengthen its presence in the country's booming telecom market.

It is developing a new cellular phone using Chinese-developed technology, the report said.

Acer, the world's seventh largest computer maker, reported last month that its net profit slumped 44 percent from a year earlier to 3.06 billion Taiwan dollars (111.1 million US) in 1996.

April 24 , 1997

next month

Thursday

last month

a year earlier


XIN_ENG_20061115.0185

BAGHDAD, Nov. 15 , 2006 (Xinhua)

toll rises to three

The death toll rose to three and 12 others were wounded when a suicide car bomb struck a funeral ceremony in a southern Baghdad district on Wednesday, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

"A suicide bomber drove his explosive-laden car into mourners of a funeral in the al-Saha neighborhood, killing three people and wounding 12 others," the source said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, local police said that two people were killed and 12 others wounded.

In another incident, a car bomb parking near the Gailani gas station in Bab al-Sharji area exploded Wednesday, killing eight people and wounding 32 others.

Nov. 15 , 2006

Wednesday

Wednesday


AFP_ENG_19970415.0197

NEW DELHI, April 15 , 1997 (AFP)

21 Hindu pilgrims die in Indian road crash

At least 21 Hindu pilgrims were killed and several injured when a truck and a tractor collided head-on in the central Indian district of Basti, the United News of India said Tuesday.

Ten women and six children were among those killed in Monday night's collision, it said, adding that 17 of the victims, who were travelling on the tractor trailer, died instantly.

The pilgrims were heading to the holy Hindu town of Ayodhya to attend a religious ceremony.

April 15 , 1997

Tuesday

Monday night


XIN_ENG_20051116.0008

BUSAN, South Korea, Nov. 16 , 2005 (Xinhua)

APEC ministers committed to achieve Bogor Goals

The Asian-Pacific Rim foreign and trade ministers on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by 2010 for developed members and 2020 for developing members as stipulated in the Bogor Declaration.

After wrapping up a two-day meeting in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan prior to an Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the ministers expressed the need of APEC to adapt its focus accordingly and to continue to deliver concrete and business relevant outcomes in the years ahead to realize the Bogor Goals.

The Bogor Goals, named after the city in Indonesia where they were declared in 1994, specify APEC objectives for eliminating developed members' trade and investment barriers by 2010, and those of developing members by 2020.

Ban Ki-moon, South Korea's minister of foreign affairs and trade who chaired this year's APEC Ministerial Meeting, said considerable progress has been made toward APEC's central Bogor Goals.

"The results of the mid-term stocktaking of progress toward the Bogor Goals show that APEC has made great strides in liberalizing trade and investment during the past 16 years," he told a press conference after concluding the ministerial meeting.

"The ministers agreed that, while the APEC agenda should be revitalized to keep pace with the new international trade environment, APEC must ensure that the achievement of the Bogor Goals," said a joint statement issued following the APEC Ministerial Meeting.

In order to accelerate progress toward the Bogor Goals, the ministers also emphasized the Busan Roadmap to the Bogor Goals, which outlines key priorities and frameworks, such as support for the multilateral trading system, strengthening collective and individual actions, promotions of high-quality regional trade agreements and free trade agreements (RTAs/FTAs), the Busan Business Agenda, said the joint statement.

The ministers also reaffirmed their deep commitment to the multilateral trading system and their support for the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"APEC economies would continue to make contribution toward the successful outcome of the WTO DDA negotiations and that the APEC Geneva Caucus must redouble its collective efforts to advance the negotiations in all areas of the Doha Development Agenda," the ministers said.

"Once the results of the DDA negotiations were known, APEC members would need to consider what further liberalization steps would be needed to help reach the Bogor Goals," the ministers said in the joint statement.

The ministers agreed that Individual Action Plans (IAPs) and Collective Action Plans (CAPs) were the major vehicles in achieving the Bogor Goals.

The APEC ministers agreed that high-quality RTAs/FTAs maximized the contribution of those agreements to APEC-wide progress toward the Bogor Goals.

Ministers agreed that APEC would develop by 2008 comprehensive model measures as many commonly accepted RTA/FTA chapters as possible for trade facilitation, said the joint statement.

During their two-day meeting, the APEC ministers finalized the wording of statements for the Economic Leaders'Meeting slated on Nov. 18-19.

Since its inception in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies, APEC has become a formidable regional forum acting as the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic and technical cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

APEC account for more than one-third of the world's population (2.6 billion people), about 60 percent of world GDP and nearly half of world trade. It represents the most economically dynamic region in the world, having generated nearly 70 percent of global economic growth in its first 10 years.

APEC currently has 21 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The chairmanship rotates among its members, with South Korea holding the chair this year.

Nov. 16 , 2005

Wednesday

the years

this year

the past 16 years

Nov. 18-19

first 10 years

currently

this year


AFP_ENG_19970408.0074

HO CHI MINH CITY, April 8 , 1997 (AFP)

Communist party chief meets US treasury secretary in former Saigon by Frederik Balfour

In a rare meeting between one of the driving forces of the capitalist world and one of Asia's main communist leaders, US Secretary Treasury Robert Rubin held talks Tuesday with Vietnamese communist party chief Do Muoi.

The 55-minute meeting was described by Rubin as "very focused on the economic development in Vietnam."

Muoi "stressed the 4,000 year history of the country and the fact that much of it has been a troubled history and a proud history. What he would really like to see now is for Vietnam to grow economically," Rubin told reporters after the meeting.

Rubin, who is the first US treasury secretary to ever visit Vietnam, said the meeting was similar to Monday's talks with Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet in Hanoi when they discussed moving ahead on full economic normalisation and impediments faced by US businesses in Vietnam.

Rubin said Muoi told him he "hoped we could move on the various aspects of economic normalisation at a good pace."

But the communist leader also said "he understood that each of these things involves complications."

Rubin said there was clearly warm feelings between Vietnam and the United States.

"He said he had the impression that there is a lot of goodwill towards Vietnam in the congress and the United States, though there were some people that were more reluctant," Rubin said.

The US Congress is expected to ratify the nomination of the first US ambassador to Hanoi, Douglas Peterson later this week.

Rubin added that he had raised impediments faced by American businesses in Vietnam. "He said has discussed those with the prime minister and he is trying to work on those, but this country has done a lot in a short time and things take time.

"I told him things take a lot of time in our country too," Rubin said.

Rubin said his talk with Muoi touched briefly on politics, while Muoi had stressed his focus on education.

"We had a brief conversation about democracy. He greatly valued our values and our democratic position," Rubin said.

Rubin said he told Muoi he had been enormously impressed with the Vietnamese people, as hardworking and energetic.

During his two and a half day visit in Vietnam Rubin has stressed the importance of Vietnam improving its climate for foreign businesses.

"Many companies have found lots of difficulties, and that has slowed foreign investment flows," Rubin told a group of Vietnamese students at the Harvard-funded Fullbright Centre.

"It seems like there are excessive licencing requirements, bureaucratic difficulties, the absence of a clear legal framework and the difficulty of enforcing contracts," hesaid.

Negotiators from the two countries will sit down next week to work on a draft trade agreement that will eventually pave the way for Vietnam to receive most favoured nation status with the US.

Both sides recognise however that there is still a long way to go.

According to one official familiar with talks, the trickiest issue will be the US insistence of national treatment for its companies.

"Maybe the sound of it bothers them. The idea of treating US companies like Vietnamese companies is really tough for them," the official said in Hanoi on Monday.

Rubin met with Muoi in the Independence Palace, the former presidential palace of the Saigon regime, a sprawling building in central Ho Chi Minh City.

In the grounds sits a north Vietnamese tank which crashed through its gates on April 30, 1975, symbolizing the end of the Vietnam war.

Earlier in the day Rubin visited a primary school where the World Bank is funding new classrooms and materials.

Rubin was to meet with the chief of the Ho Chi Minh City Communist Party and acting mayor Truong Tan Sang for a courtesy call before flying back to Washington on a US Airforce jet.

April 8 , 1997

Tuesday

4,000 year

Monday

later this week

next week

Monday

April 30, 1975


XIN_ENG_20051105.0135

RAMALLAH, Nov. 5 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Recast: Four Palestinians wounded by Israeli gunfire in W.Bank

Four Palestinians were wounded by Israeli troops' gunfire on Saturday night in the village of Qabatia, near the northern West Bank town of Jenin, Palestinian medics and security sources said.

The sources said Israeli soldiers opened fire at a group of Palestinian teenagers in a raid on the village for wanted militants and injured four of them.

An Israeli army spokesman said the troops opened fire at a group of stone- and firebottle-throwing Palestinian young men, aged between 13 and 15, and lightly wounded four of them.

Meanwhile, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, armed wing of the ruling Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for launching two short-range homemade mortars from the Gaza Strip at Israel.

The group said its militants fired the two mortar shells at the Israeli town of Kfar Azza, east of Gaza, in revenge for the Israeli assassination of the group's commander in northern Gaza last week.

There is no immediate report on any casualties.

Nov. 5 , 2005

Saturday night

last week


AFP_ENG_20051215.0080

GENEVA, Dec 15 , 2005

Swiss central bank raises key interest rate

Switzerland's central bank said Thursday it was raising its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to a range of 0.50 percent to 1.50 percent.

The Swiss National Bank said in a statement that its first interest rate change since June 2004 was aimed at keeping the outlook for inflation under control amid the expected recovery in the Swiss economy.

Dec 15 , 2005

Thursday

June 2004


XIN_ENG_20061127.0236

ROME, Nov. 27 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Writethru: Italy to complete troop withdrawal from Iraq within days

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said on Monday that Italy will complete its troop withdrawal from Iraq by Dec. 2 after the last soldiers turn over their base in southern Iraq to Iraqi forces.

In an interview with local television Telelombardia, Prodi said that Italy currently has only 60 to 70 troops left in Nassiriyah and they will be back home between Dec. 1 and 2.

Prodi added that he talked about the pullout with U.S. President George W. Bush and the latter voiced regret about it.

Pulling all Italian troops out of Iraq by the year-end was a campaign pledge made by Prodi, whose party narrowly won the April parliamentary election.

Italy dispatched 3,000 troops to Iraq in 2003 after the U.S.-led invasion of the Gulf state.

Nov. 27 , 2006

Monday

Dec. 2

Dec. 1 and 2


AFP_ENG_20061222.0242

PARIS, Dec 22 , 2006, 2006

Iran vote unlikely Friday: France

The French foreign ministry said that a vote at the UN security council on sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme is unlikely to take place Friday, as originally envisaged.

"The indications which I have lead me to think there will not be a vote today," spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said.

"We are going to assess the situation to see when the conditions are right (for a vote)," he said.

Divisions remain between the six countries -- the five UN permanent security council members plus Germany -- over the scale of sanctions to impose on the Islamic government in Teheran.

Dec 22 , 2006

Friday

today


XIN_ENG_20061122.0258

BELGRADE, Nov. 22 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Serbian president released from hospital after operation

Serbian President Boris Tadic went home from a hospital on Wednesday following a gall bladder operation, his office said.

Tadic, 48-year-old, was feeling well after undergoing surgery at Belgrade's Military Academy Hospital on Monday, said the office, adding that Tadic would remain at home for several days.

Elected as president in 2004, Tadic will face a crucial test as he is leading the pro-Western Democratic Party to contest the parliamentary elections scheduled for Jan. 21 next year.

In 2004, Tadic was hospitalized for more than two weeks with a lung infection.

Nov. 22 , 2006

Wednesday

Monday

Jan. 21 next year

more than two weeks


XIN_ENG_20061130.0252

BEIJING, Nov. 30 , 2006 (Xinhua)

China launches mid-term examination of rubber dumping measures

China's Ministry of Commerce issued a bulletin on Thursday to launch a mid-term examination of measures against dumping by a petro-chemical company in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The examination into the alleged dumping of styrene butadiene rubber was scheduled to end within a year, according to the ministry.

ROK-based Kumbo Petrochemical Co., Ltd. submitted an application to the ministry in September for a mid-term examination, asking China to lower its 10 percent tariff rate.

Styrene butadiene rubber is a chemical material used in the manufacture of tires and other rubber products. China levied an anti-dumping tax on imported rubber from Russia, the ROK and Japan in September 2003.

Nov. 30 , 2006

Thursday

a year

September

September 2003


XIN_ENG_20061116.0337

NEW YORK, Nov. 16 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Victim families renew call for federal help in search for human remains

Family members of World Trade Center victims and residents of Lower Manhattan expressed opposition on Thursday to New York City's latest plan to search for human remains at the site.

The city outlined its plans to expand the search to encompass buildings, rooftops, and other streets that have not been searched before, including the Millennium Hotel.

"I certainly disapprove of this latest aspect of the plan," said Sally Regenhard who lost her son on Sept. 11 terror attacks, arguing that they still need a comprehensive assessment of the entire site, and overall plan, instead of making up plans as construction goes along.

In a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg Wednesday, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler outlined a year-long planned search of buildings, rooftops and streets for human remains.

City officials say any debris removed from the sites will be taken to a location in Brooklyn for further analysis. The Department of Environmental Protection also plans to test all the debris for toxins before it is transported there.

But at a community board meeting Wednesday night, some Lower Manhattan residents and victims' family members renewed their call for the military to supervise the search. Many want the city to bring in JPAC, the joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, a U.S. Army elite unit that specializes in searching for remains.

But the city insists it will do the job itself with assistance from the city's police department and fire department.

More than 200 remains have been found since crew from Con Edison, the city's major power supplier, stumbled upon some remains while doing routine work in a manhole last month. That discovery led to an expanded search.

The remains of over 40 percent of the victims from the World Trade Center attack have never been identified.

Nov. 16 , 2006

Thursday

Sept. 11

Wednesday night

last month


XIN_ENG_20051123.0205

BEIJING, Nov. 23 , 2005 (Xinhua)

cut-off (2)

The city's normal water consumption for residential use is estimated at 700,000 tons a day, noted Liu Yuzhu, a senior executive manager of the Harbin Water Supply and Drainage Group. Co. Ltd., saying that a sizeable proportion of the water supply was consumed by such commercial service sectors, such as car washing and bathing, which have been temporarily closed on the order of the government. Water for domestic use use has been placed as priority by the government.

Before the execution of water stoppage at wee hours Wednesday, said Liu, 90 percent of local residents stored up water enough for three-day use. The total amount of water stored by local residents is estimated at 300,000 tons, according to the company's research.

Luan Xizhong, manager of Walmart Northeast China Region, said that frenzy shoppers nearly emptied Walmart's chainstore located in Zhongshan Avenue in downtown Harbin two days ago. But now it has been refilled with sufficient food and beverage stuff.

"Our order of 30,000 boxes of bottled mineral water arrived today , and there is no need for buying spree," Luan told Xinhua.

But there are some stores speculating on the public fears of water shortage.

A student with the Harbin Industrial University told Xinhua that some stores are raising prices of mineral water. "The price of a dozen bottles of a brand mineral water rose from 12 yuan (1.5 US dollars) to over 20 yuan (2.5 US dollars) in two days," said Zhao Yingqiang, a Harbin resident.

In response to the public complaint, Wang Lianjia, an official of provincial pricing authorities, said that price rises were separated cases. As long as the government ensures sufficient market supply of drinking water, the price would ebb and return to the normal level in a couple of days.

As part of its bid to stabilize the market price of drinking water, the municipal government has allocated 5 million yuan (625,000 US dollars) to set up five water stations in the city to provide barreled water at standard market price.

Li Gang, a Harbin resident, seen standing in a line outside a public toilet, told Xinhua his family members would use the public toilet in the next few days so as to save water for toilet flushing.

"It is not a big problem for just a few days and it is of little troubles in daily life," he said.

Nov. 23 , 2005

wee hours Wednesday

two days ago

now

today

two days


AFP_ENG_19970409.0126

MOSCOW, April 9 , 1997 (AFP)

URGENTYeltsin to take two weeks' holiday in April

Russian President Boris Yeltsin will take two weeks' holiday after his visit to Germany in mid-April, the Kremlin told AFP.

The holiday will be spent in Sochi, on the Black Sea. Yeltsin is expected to be in Germany on April 17-18.

April 9 , 1997

two weeks' holiday

April 17-18


WSJ891027-0104
 = 891027
 891027-0104.
 Norwood May Offer
@  To Acquire Phoenix
@  Technologies Shares
 10/27/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 PTEC
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)
 WASHINGTON

   Norwood Partners Limited Partnership of Boston said it may make a tender offer for some or all of Phoenix Technologies Ltd.'s common shares.

   Norwood, Mass.-based Phoenix, a once-high-flying maker of software for personal computers, has had substantial losses in the past two quarters.
Its stock, which was as high as $18.75 a share, has been trading under $4 a share recently.
Yesterday it closed at $4.375 a share, up $1.125, in national over-the-counter trading.

   In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Norwood said it's part of a group that holds 525,546 Phoenix Technologies common shares, or a 5.3% stake.

   Norwood has made "no detailed plans," but it has engaged in talks with other shareholders, the filing said.
Phoenix declined to comment.

   Norwood is controlled by Daniel L. Barnett and Paul A. Reese, both officers of Boston-based Oasis Capital Management Inc., a small Boston money management firm.
Also involved in the group is Robert F. Angelo, formerly Phoenix's senior vice president, field operations, who left Phoenix at the beginning of October.
Mr. Angelo was described in the filing as a consultant to Oasis.

the past two quarters

recently

Yesterday

the beginning of October


WSJ891027-0135
 = 891027
 891027-0135.
 Norton Net Declined
@  6% in Third Quarter
 10/27/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 NRT
 EARNINGS (ERN)
INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT, MACHINE TOOLS (IND)
 WORCESTER, Mass.

   Norton Co. said net income for the third quarter fell 6% to $20.6 million, or 98 cents a share, from $22 million, or $1.03 a share.

   Operating profit for the abrasives, engineering materials and petroleum services concern was $19.2 million, or 91 cents a share, up 3% from $18.7 million, or 87 cents a share.

   The company had a tax credit of $1.4 million.
In the year-earlier quarter, the tax credit was $3.3 million.
Sales rose 8% to $368.5 million from $340.7 million.

   Operating profit in the company's abrasives segment rose 16% while operating profit in the engineering materials segment rose 2%.
However, the company's petroleum services segment, while profitable, was hurt by high financing costs associated with the company's buy-out of a 50% stake in Eastman Christensen Co. from Texas Eastern Corp. last June.
Norton and Texas Eastern had each held a 50% stake in Eastman in a joint venture.

   Norton announced earlier this month that it was exploring the possible sale of all or part of Eastman Christensen.

   For the nine months, Norton had net of $81.2 million, or $3.87 a share, and a tax credit of $4.4 million.
In the year-earlier period, the company had net of $77.2 million, or $3.68 a share, and a tax credit of $7.7 million.

   Norton had operating profit of $76.8 million, or $3.66 a share, up 11% from $69.5 million, or $3.31 a share.

   Sales rose 8% to $1.15 billion from $1.06 billion.

the third quarter

the year-earlier quarter

last June

earlier this month

the nine months

the year-earlier period


XIN_ENG_20061124.0070

BEIJING, Nov. 24 , 2006 (Xinhua)

chemical plant

The State Council has named senior executives of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and environmental officials who were responsible for the Songhua River pollution in northeast China's Jilin Province in November last year.

Duan Wende, deputy general manager of the state-owned CNPC and senior vice president of the New York and Hong Kong-listed PetroChina Company Limited, received a "demerit" on his personal record.

Nine other executives, including Yu Li, board chairman and general manager of the Jilin branch of PetroChina, and Shen Dongming, head of the Shuangben Chemical Plant of the Jilin branch, received disciplinary punishments ranging from serious warnings to demotions and dismissal.

Wang Liying, director of the Jilin provincial environmental protection department, received a "serious demerit" on his record. Wu Yang, director of Jinlin city environmental protection bureau, received an administrative warning.

The nitrobenzene fractionating tower of a chemical plant of Jilin branch of PetroChina Company Limited, controlled by CNPC, exploded on Nov. 13 last year. The accident killed eight people and injured 60 others and caused 69.08 million yuan of direct economic losses.

Nov. 24 , 2006

November last year

Nov. 13 last year


XIN_ENG_20051114.0243

HARARE, Nov. 14 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Zimbabwe builds dams to tackle water problems in Harare

Construction of the Kunzvi Dam is the panacea to the water problems plaguing Harare and its dormitory towns, Zimbabwean Water Resources and Infrastructure Development Minster Munacho Mutezo said on Monday.

"Harare has been facing a major water shortage and implementation of Kunzvi Dam is the solution," he said this while addressing a Chinese delegation from Jiangxi Province which is on a five-day visit to the country to explore areas of possible cooperation.

"We hope the project will be able to work shortly so that the people in Harare and surrounding areas do not have to suffer."

Mutezo said time was ripe for implementation of the project, which had been on the cards for the past eight years.

Suburbs in Harare have been going for weeks without water supplies with satellite towns such as Chitungwiza going for more than two months without supplies.

While aging water infrastructure has been singled out as a major contributor to the woes, declining water levels in major supply dams have been cited as contributory to the problem.

According to Mutezo, the contractors had completed projects such as the Valley Dam and Irrigation scheme in Kezi district, Masvingo Rural, Runde and Mawere water schemes.

And the Marowa Nyathi Dam in Manicaland was being implemented, he said.

Nov. 14 , 2005

Monday

the past eight years

weeks

more than two months


AFP_ENG_20051210.0277

OSLO, Dec 10 , 2005

ATTENTION - ADDS other Nobel prizes awarded in Stockholm ///

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency Mohamed ElBaradei Saturday received the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize and called for a world free of atomic weapons, saying existing nuclear states should lead by example.

"If we hope to escape self-destruction, then nuclear weapons should have no place in our collective conscience, and no role in our security," ElBaradei said in his acceptance speech at a ceremony in Oslo's City Hall.

"We must ensure, absolutely, that no more countries acquire nuclear weapons: that nuclear weapon states take concrete steps towards nuclear disarmament; and we must put in place a security system that does not rely on nuclear deterrence," he added.

ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), represented by the chairman of its board of governors, Yukiya Amano, were jointly honored on Saturday for "their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes".

They received their distinction from the chairman of the Nobel Committee Ole Mjoes 60 years after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945, the world's only nuclear attacks.

"At a time when the threat of nuclear arms is again increasing, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to underline that this threat must be met through the broadest possible international cooperation," Mjoes said.

In his acceptance speech, ElBaradei emphasized that the threat of nuclear proliferation was closely linked to inequalities in the world.

"In regions where conflicts have been left to fester for decades, countries continue to look for ways to offset their insecurities or project their power ... They may be tempted to seek their own weapons of mass destruction, like others who have preceded them," he said.

Fifteen years after the Cold War came to an end, the IAEA chief lamented that "we may have torn down the walls between East and West, but we have yet to build the bridges between North and South, the rich and the poor."

To rid the world of the threat of nuclear weapons, "a good start would be if the nuclear weapons states reduced the strategic role given to these weapons," he said.

"Today, eight or nine countries possess nuclear weapons. Today we still have 27,000 warheads in existence. To me, this is 27,000 too many," he added.

The IAEA and its chief have most recently been instrumental in thorny nuclear negotiations with Iran, threatening to take the country before the UN Security Council for violating nuclear non-proliferation rules.

Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is merely designed to meet domestic energy needs, while the United States, Israel and others have charged it is a cover for a programme to develop an atom bomb.

On Saturday, ElBaradei said that to avoid such ambiguity, he planned to set up a "reserve fuel bank" under IAEA control.

"This assurance of supply will remove the incentive, and the justification, for each country to develop its own fuel cycle," he said.

Ending his speech on an upbeat note, ElBaradei asked the audience to "imagine what would happen if the nations of the world spent as much on development as on the machines of war."

"Imagine that the only nuclear weapons remaining are the relics in our museums. Imagine the legacy we could leave to our children. Imagine that such a world is actually within our grasp," he concluded.

The agency and its director received their award, consisting of a Nobel diploma, a gold medal and 10 million Swedish kronor (1.3 million dollars, 1.1 million euros) to be split between them, in a brightly decorated City Hall, decked with yellow orchids and carnations, and in the presence of Norway's King Harald.

At a separate ceremony on Saturday, the anniversary of the death of prize founder Alfred Nobel, the winners of this year's literature, medicine, physics, chemistry and economics prizes received their awards from King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm's Concert Hall.

That ceremony was to be followed by a gala banquet at Stockholm's City Hall for 1,300 guests.

Dec 10 , 2005

Saturday

60 years

August 6 and 9, 1945

Fifteen years

Today

Saturday

Saturday


AFP_ENG_19970421.0411

DALLAS, Texas, April 21 , 1997 (AFP)

Texas Instruments sells software division for 165 million dollars

Texas Instruments is selling its software division for 165 million dollars in cash to Sterling Software of Dallas, Texas, the two firms reported Monday.

The transaction includes the sale of all Texas Instruments Software assets, including the stock of certain European subsidiaries, and the assumption of various liabilities related to the business.

Sterling Software expects to merge this business with its existing applications development business upon completion of the purchase, which is expected to be in mid June, Texas Instruments said.

The software of the computer and semiconductor maker has operations in 30 countries around the world.

Sterling Software produces software and services for applications management and systems management, as well as technical professional services for the US government.

In 1996 Sterling Software reported revenue of 439.2 million dollars. Texas Instruments Software reported revenue of about 250 million last year.

April 21 , 1997

Monday

June

last year


bbc_20130322_1600

2013-03-22

Landslip body found as weather bites

Heavy snow is causing disruption to transport across the UK, with heavy rainfall bringing flooding to the south-west of England.

Rescuers searching for a woman trapped in a landslide at her home in Looe, Cornwall, said they had found a body.

Over 200,000 Belfast customers were affected by a blackout but power is starting to be restored.

Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier with Russia has been postponed until 15:00 GMT Saturday due to heavy snow.

There are 12 flood warnings in the South West, with Met Office warnings for snow covering much of the UK.

This comes just over a week before the start of British Summer Time.

BBC forecasters said the snow would cause travel disruption across northern parts of the UK on Friday, with some 20cm-40cm (8in-16in) falling in places. Atrocious conditions could be expected on high ground, they said.

Roads in northern parts of Wales, the Midlands into the Pennines, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland would be the worst affected, while gale force winds would blow snow and drifts across trans-Pennine routes, they added.

15:00 GMT Saturday

a week

Friday


XIN_ENG_20051129.0287

MOGADISHU, Nov. 29 , 2005 (Xinhua)

IGAD holds regional meeting in Somalia

The Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Tuesday had a meeting in Jowhar town, the temporary base for the Somali transitional government.

The meeting which was held at the presence of members from the United Nations and the European Union, is the first international meeting that is taking place inside Somalia since the horn of Africa nation plunged into civil war 15 years ago.

The arrival in Jowhar of the delegates started yesterday when forces controlling the town tightened the security to a maximum never seen before. Dozens of battle wagons and hundreds of heavily armed militiamen have been put in place and the traffic circulation to and from Jowhar town has been restricted to the maximum.

The one-day meeting discussed how the international community and the regional governments can help the new Somali government even though it has been having internal problems.

Italian envoy to Somalia Mario Rafaegli, who spoke on behalf of the donor countries has expressed how his government and the Europeans as a whole are determined to help Somalia.

"Now it is time we help the new Somali government, the time for the reconciliation is over," said Rafaegli.

Nonetheless, the United Nations representative for Somalia, Francio Fall, has made a different comment.

"It is now time for Somalia when peace and reconciliation is needed," said Fall in his short speech.

In a statement, the IGAD countries asked that the Security Council of the United Nations to lift its weapons embargo against Somalia for what is called the interest of Somalia. The UN weapons embargo was put in place in 1992.

Somalia's Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Geddi who also spoke on the occasion asked the international for more help so that Somalia can stand on its feet once again. Meanwhile Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed has said that this meeting is a significant and a historic one for the whole region.

Nov. 29 , 2005

Tuesday

15 years ago

yesterday

now


XIN_ENG_20061126.0195

ABUJA, Nov. 26 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Roundup: Israel, Palestinians trying to sustain ceasefire

by Zhu Jianhui

JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant factions went into effect in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Israel promised restraint, while the Palestinians showed resolution.

The Israel Defense Forces pulled out troops from the Gaza Strip overnight, whereas several rocket barrages hit southern Israel hours after the ceasefire went into effect, causing no damage or injury. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) claimed responsibility.

Despite the Palestinian violation of the truce, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel would display "patience and restraint."

He said he hoped the ceasefire will take effect in the West Bank as well and consequently may facilitate the revival of peacemaking that collapsed six years ago before a Palestinian uprising began.

"All of these things ultimately could lead to one thing -- the opening of serious, real, open and direct negotiations between us, " Olmert said. "So that we can move forward toward a comprehensive agreement between us and the Palestinians," he added.

For his part, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas ordered security forces to ensure that Gaza militants respect the truce.

PNA security forces began deploying along the strip's border with Israel on Sunday to prevent militants from firing Qassam rockets at Israel.

Israeli security officials believed that increased military pressure applied on armed groups and deaths of more than 400 Palestinians, about half of them militants, in Israeli offensives forced militant groups to agree on a ceasefire.

A senior military source said that in the past 96 hours, 25 Palestinian militants had been killed, and military pressure had shown them they were losing people and assets and making only small gains, even though they were hitting Israelis.

The truce was made at a time of growing U.S. pressure on Olmert and the Palestinians to curtail spiraling violence and make progress toward ending decades of conflict.

U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are scheduled to visit Jordan on Wednesday for talks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iraq.

Progress in ending bloodshed between Israelis and the Palestinians could provide relief for Washington from troubles in Iraq. Also, U.S. envoy Elliot Abrams will be in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a ceasefire could ease domestic pressure on Olmert, whose popularity ratings are already low following Israel's inconclusive 34-day war on Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon in summer.

Israeli government sources said that if the ceasefire sustains, it would bring forward a meeting between Olmert and Abbas. Olmert and an aide to Abbas said that they hoped the truce could also include the occupied West Bank.

Adherence to the agreement could help end months of Palestinian political deadlock and make Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas finalize talks on forming a unity government, which the Palestinians hope might ease the West's sanctions imposed since the Islamist group took office in March.

However, prospect of the truce remains uncertain. Israel has had some bad experiences with ceasefires with the Palestinians in the past, particularly those announced unilaterally.

Some of the ceasefires only held up for a few hours and others for a few days, some Israeli analysts said. Hamas was instrumental in bringing about the latest truce, but the Islamic group is formally dedicated to destroying Israel.

A cessation of Israeli attacks on Gaza militants could backfire. Some military officials fear that Palestinian militant groups will take the opportunity to rearm, warning of an increase in the quantity of arms being smuggled into the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

They fear that militants will be stocking up for a major confrontation, emboldened by Hezbollah's ability to fight Israel.

In Sderot, southern Israeli town which is frequently targeted by Palestinian rockets, there is skepticism. "There is no ceasefire," Mayor Eli Moyal said, when he was dashing for a shelter as a rocket attack warning came on Sunday.

Nov. 26 , 2006

Nov. 26

Sunday

six years ago

Sunday

the past 96 hours

Wednesday

Tuesday

summer

March

Sunday


AFP_ENG_20061204.0004

BEIJING, Dec 4 , 2006, 2006

use: report

China's own technology for "third generation" cellphones is ready for large-scale commercial use, the Financial Times said Monday, citing ZTE, the country's second largest telecom equipment maker.

Equipment based on the Beijing-backed TD-SCDMA standard for 3G telecoms services could now operate comparably with that of the rival European-led WCDMA standard and the US-favored CDMA2000, ZTE President Yin Yimin told the newspaper.

"Can TD-SCDMA now operate as an independent network? ... We reckon that is no problem. Are there suitable handsets? ... We reckon we can provide the handsets," Yin told the FT. "Now it is up to the state and the operators."

Commercial readiness for China's TD-SCDMA technology could clear the way for Beijing to issue long-awaited 3G licences to home telecom operators, the newspaper said.

ZTE declined to comment on the report when approached by AFP Monday.

Even as China seeks to push its own technologies, it says it remains committed to opening its information and communication technology (ICT) industries to foreign investors.

Wu Bangguo, China's top lawmaker, said in Hong Kong that multinationals who want to enter the mainland market are welcome to establish research and development centers, the Hong Kong-based Standard newspaper reported.

"China will persist with its basic state policy of opening up and continue to enhance ICT cooperation with all other countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Dec 4 , 2006

Monday

now

now

AFP Monday


XIN_ENG_20051102.0114

CANBERRA, Nov. 2 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Australian stock market closes lower

The Australian stock exchange market closed lower Wednesday as the benchmark S/ASX200 decreased 18.4 points to 4,456.3 while the all ordinaries weakened 16.2 points to 4408.8.

Market turnover was 1.01 billion shares worth 3.54 billion Australian dollars (2.63 billion US dollars), with 430 stocks rising, 545 falling and 314 unchanged.

In the resources sector, BHP Billiton slid 19 cents to 20.70 dollars while Rio Tinto added 11 cents to 57.11 dollars.

Among the banking stocks, ANZ lost 25 cents to 23.39 dollars, National Australia Bank dipped 17 cents to 32.93 dollars, Westpac reversed seven cents to 20.51 dollars and Commonwealth Bank lifted eight cents to 39.33 dollars.

In the media sector, News Corp rose eight cents to 20.22 dollars.

Telecommunication giant Telstra lost three cents to 4.20 dollars.

Nov. 2 , 2005

Wednesday


XIN_ENG_20061127.0086

TOKYO, Nov. 27 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Dollar crawls back to 116 yen range in Tokyo

The U.S. dollar crawled back above the 116 yen line on short-covering buying in Tokyo on Monday following its drop to a three-month low earlier in the day, while the euro hit a new high against the yen on the prospect of higher euro-zone rates.

At 5 p.m., the dollar was quoted at 116.04-06 yen against Friday's 5 p.m. quotes of 115.81-91 yen in New York and 116.32-35 yen in Tokyo.

It traded between 115.40 yen, its lowest local level since Aug. 21, and 116.23 yen during the day, most often at 115.65 yen.

The euro fetched 1.3125-3127 dollars and 152.31-35 yen, against Friday's 5 p.m. quotes of 1.3088-3098 dollars and 151.64-74 yen in New York and 1.2969-2972 dollars and 150.88-92 yen in Tokyo.

Nov. 27 , 2006

Monday

Friday

Aug. 21

Friday


XIN_ENG_20051129.0168

KAMPALA, Nov. 29 , 2005 (Xinhua)

African Union delegation visits Uganda

An African Union (AU) delegation is currently paying a five-day visit to Uganda to discuss with their Ugandan counterparts on security in the region.

According to a press release from the Ugandan Foreign Ministry, The AU delegation, consisting of 25 military officers arrived in Uganda on Saturday on a reconnaissance mission in the countries of the Great Lakes region.

"The purpose of the mission is to gather experiences from the region and information on the common security threats," the release said, adding that "the AU mission is expected to pave the way for eventual deployment of an AU force to forcefully disarm armed groups in eastern DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo)."

"During their five-day stay in Uganda, the AU mission are expected to hold discussions with their Ugandan counterparts on security threats posed by the negative forces in eastern DRC, the role that the AU can play in addressing the region's security concerns and the possible support that Uganda can render to the AU intervention," it said.

The AU mission has already been in DRC and Rwanda and will be proceeding to Burundi after visiting Uganda.

The decision for the AU intervention was made at the summit of the AU peace and security council held on January 9 in Libreville, Gabon.

The AU reconnaissance mission to the Great Lakes region comprises officers from South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Guinea, Angola, Algeria and the African Union Commission.

Nov. 29 , 2005

Saturday

January 9


XIN_ENG_20061127.0179

GUIYANG, Nov. 27 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Three days of colliery disasters leave 85 Chinese workers dead

Seven people were killed in a colliery accident in Southwest China on Monday, bringing the death toll in coal mine tragedies to 85 over the past three days.

Eleven workers who were sorting impurities from a coal heap were buried when the heap collapsed at 9:47 a.m. at the Shuicheng Coal Mine Group colliery, in mountainous Guizhou province.

Seven workers died and four were rescued, said the work safety administration in Liupanshui city, where the group is located.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

The past weekend has been tragic with three mine disasters leaving at least 78 people dead.

Twenty-two miners were confirmed dead and five missing in Saturday's gas blast in Yuanhua Coal Mine in Jixi, a city in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

Three managers responsible for the blast have been arrested, said local police. An investigation has shown at the end of August, the mine was forced by the local government to halt production due to outdated certificates of work safety, but the owners continued operations.

In another tragedy, 32 miners were killed and 28 injured in a colliery gas explosion at Changyuan Coal Mine in Fuyuan, a county in southwestern Yunnan Province.

A third gas blast on Sunday hit Luweitan Colliery in Linfen city, North China's Shanxi Province, killing all 24 miners underground, the local government said on Monday.

Nov. 27 , 2006

Monday

the past three

9:47 a.m.

The past weekend

Saturday

the end of August

Sunday

Monday


XIN_ENG_20051111.0153

BEIJING, Nov. 11 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Beijing unveils 2008 Olympic mascots

Beijing unveiled a set of five doll mascots for the 2008 Olympic Games Friday evening, exactly 1,000 days before the event's opening ceremony.

The long-anticipated mascots, which embody the natural characteristics of four of China's popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame, were presented at a televised grand ceremony inside the Workers' Gymnasium.

Nov. 11 , 2005

Friday evening, exactly 1,000 days


XIN_ENG_20061124.0135

HONG KONG, Nov. 24 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Hong Kong shares close lower - Nov. 24

Hong Kong shares fell from the record high Friday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 5.02 points, or 0.03 percent, to 19,260.30 after trading between 19,195.90 and the record intraday high of 19,315.73 during the session.

A pullback of Hong Kong property shares led the city's stock market slightly lower Friday after the index hit a record intraday high, but traders said the market was likely taking a pause before continuing to rise.

Cheung Kong finished 1.2 percent lower at 94.15 Hong Kong dollars, Hang Lung Properties fell 1 percent to 17.30 Hong Kong dollars, while Sun Hung Kai Properties was down 1 percent at 90.60 Hong Kong dollars.

China Merchants Bank was down 2.8 percent at 15.38 Hong Kong dollars, and China Construction Bank fell 1.9 percent to 4.21 Hong Kong dollars.

But Hong Kong banks with increasing China exposure shone. Bank of East Asia climbed 3.8 percent to 43.65 Hong Kong dollars, and was the top blue-chip gainer.

Orient Overseas ended 22 percent higher at 45.20 Hong Kong dollars after hitting an intraday record high of 46.00 Hong Kong dollars, on the sale of ports in North America and expectations that investors will receive a special dividend.

The finance sub-index rose 95.63 points or 0.30 percent to 31, 863.41.

Among local banks, Bank of East Asia rose 3.8 percent to 43.65 Hong Kong dollars, while BOC Hong Kong soared 2.71 percent to 18.94 Hong Kong dollars.

HSBC was up 0.07 percent at 146.10 Hong Kong dollars and Hang Seng Bank was down 0.1 percent at 103.30 Hong Kong dollars.

The properties sub-index plunged 194.42 points or 0.86 percent at 22,347.68.

The commerce and industry sub-index went down 4.09 points or 0.04 percent to 10,124.27.

New World Development was down 0.81 percent at 14.74 Hong Kong dollars, while Wharf Holdings was down 0.73 Hong Kong dollars at 27.2 Hong Kong dollars.

China Mobile dropped 0.29 percent to 67.8 Hong Kong dollars. China Unicom rose 3.52 percent to 9.11 Hong Kong dollars.

Nov. 24 , 2006

Friday

Friday


AFP_ENG_19970416.0491

WARSAW, Poland, April 16 , 1997 (AFP)

Laotian students protest in front of US embassy in Poland

More than 50 Polish and Laotian students demonstrated in front of the US embassy here Wednesday to protest the "occupation of Laos by Vietnamese troops," reported the news agency PAP.

The students also called for free elections to be held in Laos.

Chanting "Free Laos, down with communists," the Laotian students handed US ambassador Nicholas Rey a petition demanding the United Nations set up a commission to examine human rights violations in their country.

According to the demonstrators, the United States is the only large country who can oppose civil rights violations in Laos.

The demonstration ended peaceful without police intervention.

April 16 , 1997

Wednesday


XIN_ENG_20061123.0389

KATHMANDU, Nov. 24 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Nepali gov't constitutes a peace fund

The Nepali government has constituted a peace fund to generate resources from internal and external assistance to move ahead the ongoing peace process in the country, local Kantipur daily reported on Friday.

"The meeting of Council of Ministers on Tuesday decided in this regard," the daily reported referring to an official at the Ministry of Finance.

"The government needs 85,714 million U.S. dollars immediately, the source said."We aim to generate that much amount through the peace fund," the official added.

As per plan, the works including physical infrastructure development, election to constituent assembly, rehabilitation, employment and security of displaced people will be carried out through this fund.

"We are planning to request internal and external donors soon to assist for the fund," the official said.

The government has put 1.4 million dollars as seed money in the fund.

Nov. 24 , 2006

Friday

Tuesday