XIN_ENG_20051113.0223

DOHA, Nov. 13 , 2005 (Xinhua)

China and Russia split golds at weightlifting worlds

China and Russia split the two gold medals on offer as Liu Chunhong and Zarema Kasaeva won the women's 75kg and 69kg category respectively at the World Weightlifting Championships here on Sunday.

European champion Zarema Kasaeva beat Liu Haixia of China to win the women's 69kg category while breaking the world record of the jerk.

Olympic champion Liu Chunhong, shifting from 69kg to 75kg after the Games, confirmed her supremacy as she beat strong challenge from Russian weightlifters to win the gold medal with a world-record-breaking result at 285kg.

European Champion Natalia Zabolotnaya of Russia and her compatriot Svetlana Podobedova challenged Liu from the very beginning of the competition, but the 20-year-old strongwoman showed her calmness to hoist 126kg in the snatch, 4kg less than Podobedova's and jerked 159kg, 4kg more than the Russians.

Both having a total result of 285kg, Liu won the gold medal due to the body weight advantage.

"My right shoulder was injured in the training last month. I just told myself to go all out in competing with Russian girls," Liu said.

"I did not feel nervous when they challenged me, but I did feel the pressure having arrived here. I competed in the National Games in October, and I was tired after that competition. I was afraid that I would not have a good result here,"she added.

Liu also smashed the jerk world records and levelled the world record with a total of 285kg, which was made by Podobedova in her sixth attempt Sunday.

Zabolotnaya, at the same age with Liu, beat the world record of snatch twice, with her last attempt in the snatch reaching 130kg.

Svetlana Podobedova followed Zabolotnaya at 279kg for the bronze.

In the women's 69kg competition, the 17-year-old Kasaeva, who lifted 265kg at European Championships, did not took the lead in the snatch as she hoisted 118kg, 2kg less than the 25-year-old strongwoman Liu Haixia.

Kasaeva pulled herself under her 157kg world record clean and jerk, for a junior and a senior world record in the last attempt, 3kg more than Liu Haixia's final lift, thus claiming the first gold medal with a total result of 275kg for Russia at the worlds.

"I trained quite hard this year, so I succeeded," Zarema Kasaeva said after the match.

Liu Haixia followed Kasaeva with a total result of 274kg for the silver medal, with Olga Kiseleva of Russia, the silver medalist European Championships, finishing third.

"I have done my best, the result was 9kg more than the weight I lifted in the National Games in October," Liu Haixia said.

Liu's coach Ma Wenhui said that they are going to learn from the Russian weightlifters in this category.

"Russian girls will become a huge threat to China in this category in the Bejing Olympics," Ma said.

Nov. 13 , 2005

Sunday

last month

October

Sunday

this year

October

split

offer

won

beat

win

breaking

shifting

confirmed

beat

win

challenged

beginning

showed

hoist

jerked

won

injured

training

told

go

competing

said

feel

challenged

feel

arrived

competed

tired

afraid

added

smashed

levelled

made

attempt

beat

snatch

attempt

reaching

followed

lifted

took

snatch

hoisted

pulled

clean

jerk

claiming

trained

succeeded

said

match

followed

finishing

done

lifted

said

said

learn

become

said


AFP_ENG_19970423.0618

LONDON, April 23 , 1997 (AFP)

Conservative support dips in new polls

Support for the ruling Conservative Party fell in fresh opinion polls to be published, one week ahead of Britain's general election, with three new polls giving the opposition Labour Party as easy winners.

A survey by the polling group MORI for Thursday's Times newspaper showed support for the opposition Labour Party down one to 48 percent, the Conservatives down five to 27 percent and the Liberal Democrats up four to 17 percent. It gave Labour a 21-point lead.

Earlier Wednesday two polls by Gallup -- the first for Channel 4 News and the second for Thursday's Daily Telegraph -- put Labour's lead at 19 percent and 20 percent.

Both Channel 4 and the Daily Telegraph put Labour on 50 percent of voting intentions.

The figures suggested that a poll by the group ICM and published by the left-of-centre Guardian newspaper Wednesday, which claimed Labour's lead had fallen to just five percent, could have been a rogue result.

Ironically neither Labour nor Tory officials believe the gap between the two parties is as wide as the Gallup and MORI polls suggest, although Labour also feel it is not as slim as five percent.

Both parties would prefer a closer race, the Conservatives to engender hope they could still win, Labour to ensure their supporters turn out to vote.

The Channel 4 poll, which was carried out between Friday and Wednesday, also suggested that up to half the electorate had not firmly decided which way they would vote.

The interviews which formed the basis for the MORI figures were carried out on Tuesday.

April 23 , 1997

one week

Thursday

Earlier Wednesday two

Thursday

Wednesday

Friday

Wednesday

Tuesday

fell

published

election

giving

showed

gave

put

put

suggested

published

claimed

fallen

result

believe

suggest

feel

prefer

engender

win

ensure

turn

vote

carried

suggested

decided

vote

interviews

formed

carried


XIN_ENG_20061111.0053

HARARE, Nov. 11 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Zimbabwe-Botswana ties under spotlight

The 24th session of the Botswana- Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Defense and Security ended in south Zimbabwe city of Masvingo on Friday after intensive deliberations on critical bilateral issues, The Herald reported on Saturday.

The four-day meeting discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest in areas of defense and state and public security between Zimbabwe and Botswana, the newspaper said.

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting held at Great Zimbabwe, the Minister of State for National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement Didymus Mutasa said the commission discussed a wide range of issues that were pertinent to Botswana and Zimbabwe and also of concern to the region.

These included wildlife matters, stock theft, illicit trafficking of drugs, gold, diamonds, firearms and the containment of general crime along the common border, immigration and customs issues.

The commission also applauded the co-operation and communication that exists at provincial and operational levels and urged this interaction to continue, said Mutasa.

Zimbabwe and Botswana's co-operation in wildlife management including the establishment of the Shashe/Limpopo and Kavango/ Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation areas was greatly appreciated by the commission which hailed the move as an indication of close cooperation.

To this end, the commission also hailed the donation of a male black rhino to Botswana by Zimbabwe as a gesture of goodwill that sought to further strengthen existing cordial relations.

Mutasa said the commission also expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the memorandum of understanding on the construction of Kazungula Bridge by Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, especially as the bridge was going to play a pivotal role in the region's socio-economic development.

In response, Botswana Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Phandu Skelemani hailed the joint permanent commission on defense and security between the two countries which he said had been a successful platform to amicably solve any sticking problems between the two countries.

Skelemani said the commission was a platform to come up with developmental initiatives that could benefit the people of Botswana and Zimbabwe. He also extended an invitation to the Zimbabwean delegation to attend the 25th session that will be hosted by Botswana next year.

Nov. 11 , 2006

Friday

Saturday

next year

ended

deliberations

reported

meeting

discussed

said

issued

meeting

held

said

discussed

applauded

urged

interaction

continue

said

co-operation

establishment

appreciated

hailed

move

hailed

gesture

sought

strengthen

said

expressed

understanding

construction

play

development

hailed

said

solve

said

come

extended

invitation

attend

session

hosted


AFP_ENG_19970429.0212

GENEVA, April 29 , 1997 (AFP)

60 adults abducted in eastern Zaire, along with child refugees

Armed soldiers abducted 60 adults along with around 50 hospitalized Rwandan refugee children from a village in eastern Zaire, a UN refugee agency spokeswoman said here Tuesday.

The adults were relatives and individuals caring for the children, who were suffering from malnutrition and other serious illnesses, spokeswoman Pamela O'Toole said.

The victims were reportedly seized early Saturday from a hospital in Lwiro, 30 kilometres (around 19 miles) north of Bikavu in South Kivu province by around 20 soldiers who fired into the air before the kidnapping, warning residents to stay indoors.

"These people have not been seen since and there have been reports that they may have been killed," O'Toole said.

Hospital staff in Lwiro said they recognized among the troops the chief of a rebel Alliance unit in Katana, UNICEF spokesman Patrick McCormick reported Monday, citing a communications officer in Kinshasa. Katana is north of Lwiro.

"We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms," O'Toole said.

"We have already raised this issue with local authorities and have been assured there will be an investigation," she said.

Separately, she said the discovery of some 20 Rwandan refugee corpses at Biaro camp, which was emptied last week of its roughly 30,000 inhabitants, were the latest in a series of human rights abuses in alliance held territory in eastern Zaire.

Some of the bodies, as well as some of the wounded, bore signs of machete attacks, she said.

Up to 10,000 famished refugees have wandered back to the camp, 40 kilometres south of Kisangani, according to the UNHCR.

Rebel Alliance leader Laurent Kabila has given humanitarian agencies on the ground a 60-day ultimatum to repatriate all refugees from eastern Zaire, after which he would complete the task himself.

"While we appreciate the promise of (Kabila) to help us locate and repatriate the refugees, we are receiving increasingly shocking reports of refugees both in the area around Kisangani and elsewhere."

"These killings must stop and an urgent investigation must be launched," she said.

April 29 , 1997

Tuesday

early Saturday

Monday

last week

said

caring

suffering

said

seized

fired

kidnapping

warning

stay

seen

killed

said

said

recognized

reported

citing

condemn

attack

said

raised

assured

investigation

said

said

discovery

emptied

abuses

bore

attacks

said

wandered

according

given

repatriate

complete

appreciate

promise

help

locate

repatriate

receiving

killings

stop

launched

said


XIN_ENG_20061107.0099

HONG KONG, Nov. 7 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Hong Kong shares close fresh high -- Nov. 7

Hong Kong share prices closed fresh high on Tuesday but the speed is slowing down, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index going up only 7.03 points, or 0.04 percent to 18943.58, breaking the previous record of 18,936.69 on Monday.

The Index opened 166.33 points higher to 19102.88 and reached an all-time high at 19,161.38 during the trading, but can not keep the momentum and fell back at closing with a turnover of 51.72 billion HK dollars (6.56 billion U.S. dollars).

Market heavyweights China Mobile fell 2.47 percent to 67.05 HK dollars, while HSBC went up 0.53 percent to 151.20 HK dollars.

Hong Kong property companies performed well on the news of bank interests cut this morning, with Cheung Kong up 2.07 percent to 88.75 HK dollars, Henderson Land up 3.81 percent to 46.3 HK dollars and SHK PPT up 3.34 percent to 91.3 HK dollars.

Nov. 7 , 2006

Tuesday

Monday

this morning

closed

slowing

going

breaking

opened

reached

trading

keep

fell

closing

fell

went

performed

cut

PPT


AFP_ENG_19970417.0042

MANILA, April 17 , 1997 (AFP)

ADB forecasts moderate recovery for battered Asian electronics exports

Global demand for high-technology electronics products should make a moderate recovery in 1997 but the boom years of the early 1990s are unlikely to return, the Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Thursday.

The ADB's annual Asian Development Outlook report said the upturn would be good news for Asia, whose export success in the sector helped establish "from virtually nothing" the world's newest economic miracles.

"In the short term, Asia's electronics producers will face a demand upturn following inventory adjustment," it said.

"However, growth is likely to be moderate in the absence of new watershed innovations of the magnitude of the compact-disc player or the PC."

This means the industry "is unlikely to return to its pre-1996 boom years, but with continuing growth in the global economy, demand and supply should come into line with each other and the basis for profitable business should be restored."

"New products like digital video discs may spark a renewed boom and the range of uses of electronic components is continually widening, which will make the industry less dependent on the PC," the report said.

The bank said the slump in world electronics trade last year, particularly the sharp decline in semiconductor prices, took their heaviest toll in Asia.

The "biggest losers" were South Korea, Malaysia, where a third of the world's microprocessor production is tested and packaged, Singapore, which makes 40 percent of the world's disk drives, and Taiwan, which makes eight out of 10 circuit boards and half of all keyboards.

The fall was caused by the interplay of a maturing PC market, a shift toward fewer end-product producers and the fast expansion of production capacity, it said.

The second factor means "many input producers now compete to supply standardized products, rendering the market for inputs subject to instability similar to that of primary commodity markets," it added.

The ADB said the growth of the Internet and the resulting demand for faster processors and network access "will support continuing PC sales, even if there is a decline in new customers."

However, it said Intel Corp.'s launch this year of its MMX chip "may mean the market will be left with large quantities of discounted-price Pentium machines."

April 17 , 1997

the boom years

Thursday

last year

now

this year

make

recovery

return

said

said

upturn

helped

establish

face

said

moderate

return

growth

come

restored

spark

boom

widening

make

said

said

decline

took

tested

packaged

makes

drives

caused

interplay

expansion

said

factor

compete

supply

rendering

added

said

growth

support

sales

decline

said

mean

left


AFP_ENG_20051207.0417

JERUSALEM, Dec 7 , 2005

ATTENTION - ADDS Likud meeting ///

Israel's beleaguered right-wing Likud suffered a new blow Wednesday when its acting chairman, cabinet minister Tzahi Hanegbi, announced his defection to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new Kadima party.

Hanegbi, a minister without portfolio, became the sixth minister to follow Sharon out of Likud as part of the continuing turmoil in Israeli politics in the run-up to a March general election.

"My heart was telling me to stay in Likud but my head told me otherwise and so therefore I am today announcing my resignation from Likud after representing the party for the last 17 years in the Knesset," he told a press conference.

"Prime minister, I am with you," Hanegbi said. "Israel can place its trust in Ariel Sharon, who has always fought mercilessly against terrorism and has never compromised on Israel's security."

Hanegbi said he would stand down as an MP immediately but would remain in the cabinet.

The move came amid reports that police are to recommend Hanegbi's prosecution on charges of cronyism during his time as environment minister.

While the other five Likud ministers to have joined Sharon were seen as close allies of the premier, Hanegbi was regarded as an opponent of his controversial decision to pull troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip.

As interim head of the Likud central committee, the party's main governing body, Hanegbi was to have played a key role in organising the leadership election to replace Sharon due on December 19.

Senior Likud officials met at party headquarters in Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening to discuss their next move, with the head of the party's faction in parliament, Gideon Saar, touted as a possible replacement for Hanegbi.

The defection will be seen as another major blow to Likud which won 38 out of the 120 seats in the Knesset at the last election but is now set to win only a dozen, according to an opinion poll in Wednesday's Haaretz newspaper.

The survey found Kadima was on course to emerge as the largest party with 39 seats after the March 28 election, comfortably ahead of the centre-left Labour with 22.

The findings demonstrate how Kadima has been able to shatter the mould of Israeli politics, which had been essentially a two-party system, since its formation on November 21.

Apart from the Likud defectors, Sharon has also won the endorsement of the former Labour leader Shimon Peres.

Sharon decided to break from the party he was instrumental in founding 32 years ago, fed up with battling hardliners who refused to forgive him for pulling out of Gaza after a 38-year occupation.

In a speech Wednesday by the tomb of the Jewish state's first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, the current premier indicated that Israel must be ready for more pullouts from the West Bank.

"In order to achieve peace, we are ready to give up some of what is rightfully ours," Sharon said during a ceremony in the southern Negev desert.

Former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, who is favourite to regain the Likud leadership, insisted security and military strength would bring peace to Israel as he took a swipe at his arch-rival Sharon.

"Our peace is dependent on our strength ... and not on endless (territorial) retreats," he said in his first press conference since Sharon's split.

Before news emerged of Hanegbi's switch, there were widespread reports that police were about to submit a file on the minister to the state prosecutor which contained enough evidence to justify pursuing a case through the courts.

Police opened an investigation in August last year after a report by state comptroller Eliezer Goldberg found Hanegbi had "trampled on the law" by appointing dozens of political supporters to posts while environment minister.

Asked about the reports of an imminent prosecution, Hanegbi dismissed them as "newspaper speculation."

Dec 7 , 2005

Wednesday

March

today

the last 17 years

December 19

Wednesday evening

now

Wednesday

March 28

November 21

32 years ago

Wednesday

August last year

suffered

announced

defection

became

follow

election

telling

stay

told

announcing

resignation

representing

told

conference

said

place

fought

compromised

said

stand

remain

move

came

recommend

prosecution

cronyism

joined

seen

regarded

decision

pull

played

organising

election

replace

met

discuss

move

touted

replacement

seen

won

set

win

according

survey

found

emerge

demonstrate

shatter

won

decided

break

instrumental

founding

fed

battling

refused

forgive

pulling

occupation

speech

indicated

pullouts

achieve

give

said

ceremony

regain

insisted

bring

took

swipe

said

conference

split

emerged

submit

contained

justify

pursuing

opened

investigation

report

found

trampled

appointing

Asked

prosecution

dismissed


XIN_ENG_20051116.0141

BERLIN, Nov. 16 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Germany's incoming FM rules out change in Iraq policy

Germany will not change its Iraq policy under future Chancellor Angela Merkel, designated Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Wednesday.

"I believe there won't be any fundamental changes," Steinmeier said in an interview with German public television broadcaster ARD.

The grand coalition government of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) had agreed there would be no major changes on the Iraq policy, the future foreign minister said.

Outgoing Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has refused to send any troops to join the US force to Iraq before and after the Iraq war broke out in early 2003.

Merkel, who is to be elected chancellor by parliament on Nov. 22, has indicated she would repair special partnership with the United States, which had been impaired in recent years over Iraq and other issues.

Steinmeier told ARD that he would make some efforts to improve relations with the United States.

"To do nothing would surely not be good advice," said Steinmeier.

However, Steinmeier ruled out any major changes in transatlantic ties.

"People are intelligent enough and know enough on the other side of the Atlantic to see that we are pulling our weight in global engagement and responsibilities," he said.

The future foreign minister noted that the transatlantic partnership and European integration are the two pillars of German foreign policy under the new government.

Steinmeier, Schroeder's close partner in the SPD, will be sworn in on Nov. 22.

Nov. 16 , 2005

Wednesday

early 2003

Nov. 22

recent years

Nov. 22

change

designated

said

believe

changes

said

interview

agreed

changes

said

refused

send

join

war

broke

elected

indicated

repair

impaired

told

make

efforts

improve

do

said

ruled

changes

know

see

pulling

said

noted

sworn


bbc_20130322_1150

2013-03-22

Last 1953 Everest team member George Lowe dies, aged 89

The last surviving member of the team which first conquered Everest in 1953 has died in a Derbyshire nursing home.

George Lowe, 89, died in Ripley on Wednesday after a long-term illness, with his wife Mary by his side.

New Zealand-born Mr Lowe was part of the team that helped Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay to the summit in 1953.

Family friend and historian Dr Huw Lewis-Jones paid tribute to a "gentle soul and fine climber" who shunned the limelight.

Mr Lowe also took part in the trans-Antarctic expedition of 1957-58, which made the first successful overland crossing of Antarctica via the South Pole.

He later made expeditions to Greenland, Greece and Ethiopia.

Speaking to the BBC in 1995, Mr Lowe said of his Antarctic adventure: "We estimated we could do it in 100 days, and we got across on the 99th day.

"There was a great feeling of euphoria from everyone. It had a multiplying effect.

"We were pleased that England and New Zealand knew about it, and we thought that's where it would stop."

He also talked about his "second job" as the group's cameraman, and having to wear four pairs of gloves to work the clockwork camera.

"When there were dramas, there was a split problem. Do you take part in the urgency - or do you record it?" he said.

Dr Lewis-Jones, the former curator at the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, who first met Mr Lowe in 2005, called him a "hero".

"I don't often use that word but then it is not very often that you get to meet one," he said.

A book of memoirs and photographs from the climb by Mr Lowe, which he worked on with Dr Lewis-Jones, is due to be published in May.

He said: "Lowe was a brilliant, kind fellow who never sought the limelight... and 60 years on from Everest his achievements deserve wider recognition.

"He was involved in two of the most important explorations of the 20th Century... yet remained a humble, happy man right to the end... an inspirational lesson to us all."

Before retiring in 1984, Mr Lowe worked as an Inspector of Schools with the Department of Education and Sciences, and he leaves three sons from a previous marriage.

The last British climbing member of the 1953 team, Mike Westmacott, died last June.

Wednesday

100 days

the 99th day

May

60 years

20th Century

last June

conquered

died

died

illness

helped

paid

shunned

took

expedition

made

crossing

made

expeditions

said

estimated

do

got

had

pleased

knew

thought

stop

talked

wear

work

said

met

called

said

climb

worked

published

said

sought

Everest

deserve

involved

explorations

remained

end

retiring

worked

leaves

marriage

died


AFP_ENG_19970425.0129

COTABATO, Philippines, April 25 , 1997 (AFP)

Philippine government, Moslem rebel truce talks stall

Ceasefire talks between Moslem guerrillas and the Philippine government have stalled here with both sides agreeing to meet again next month, officials said Friday.

The two-day talks which ended Thursday are aimed at forging a truce with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's last remaining major Moslem guerrilla group, to allow negotiations on a political settlement to the civil war to begin.

The two sides scrapped a scheduled news conference Friday after failing to agree on the wording of a joint communique, but agreed to meet again at a Roman Catholic university here on May 13-14 to try to break the impasse.

The MILF, founded in 1978 and which commands around 10,000 guerrillas, wants a ceasefire agreement in place throughout the country's south, known as the Mindanao region, with its forces being allowed to maintain their current positions.

Before any Mindanao-wide truce, the government first wants to put to paper a three-month-old informal truce around the guerrilla stronghold of Buldon, where 4,000 Army units and an equal number of MILF guerrillas are locked in a standoff that has claimed around 60 lives this year.

"We failed to reach further understanding on the positioning of troops in Buldon but we will discuss it further," the chief ceasefire negotiator for the government, Major General Joselin Nazareno, told AFP.

The two sides discussed a "repositioning of forces" in Buldon, "and it was there unfortunately, (that) we failed to reach any agreement."

The rebel panel's legal counsel, Lanang Ali, confirmed the impasse, saying: "We could not agree on the specific (disposition) of our forces in Buldon. We wanted one thing, the (government panel) wanted another thing. Even on compromise, we failed to agree."

As negotiators prepared for this week's talks, an Army spokesman said an MILF unit ambushed a military-escorted crew of a road construction project near the town of Aliosan on Monday, killing one soldier and wounding another.

The attack forced around 2,000 villagers to flee, Captain Noel Detoyato told AFP.

The military deployed a Marine battalion and a "Rapid Deployment Force" of the Army in the area on Wednesday, he added.

The MILF is a splinter of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which last year signed a peace treaty with the government to end a 24-year guerrilla campaign aimed at setting up a separate Moslem state in the country's south.

The MILF, which had refused to join the negotiations, was left out in the political settlement, which installed MNLF chief Nur Misuari as the chief overseer of development funds which the government pledged to pour into Mindanao.

President Fidel Ramos' government believes a peace settlement with the MILF would solve rampant crime in Mindanao, perpetrated by rogue guerrilla units who kidnap local businessmen for ransom, and improve the region's attraction as an investment site.

April 25 , 1997

next month

Friday

Thursday

Friday

May 13-14

this year

this week

Monday

Wednesday

last year

talks

stalled

agreeing

meet

said

talks

ended

aimed

forging

allow

negotiations

war

begin

scrapped

conference

failing

agree

agreed

meet

try

break

founded

commands

wants

agreement

allowed

maintain

wants

put

locked

standoff

claimed

failed

reach

discuss

told

discussed

repositioning

failed

reach

confirmed

saying

agree

wanted

wanted

failed

agree

prepared

talks

said

ambushed

killing

wounding

attack

forced

flee

told

deployed

added

signed

end

aimed

setting

refused

join

negotiations

left

installed

pledged

pour

believes

solve

perpetrated

kidnap

improve


AFP_ENG_20061214.0768

SINGAPORE, Dec 15 , 2006, 2006

Oil prices steady in Asia after gains on OPEC production cuts

Oil prices were steady in Asian trade Friday after sharp overnight gains on news the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would cut output further to shore up the market, dealers said.

At 10:15 am (0215 GMT), New York's main contract, light sweet crude for January delivery, was up four cents to 62.55 US dollars a barrel from New York trade where it had risen 1.14 dollars to 62.51 dollars on the OPEC lead.

Brent North Sea crude for January delivery was steady at 62.12 dollars.

OPEC's decision to cut output by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from February showed the oil cartel's resolve to maintain crude prices at 60 dollars and above, dealers said.

"The indication from OPEC is they are determined to defend the 60-dollar price level," said Victor Shum, an analyst with energy consultancy Purvin and Gertz.

OPEC ministers meeting in Nigeria on Thursday announced the latest round of production cuts which follows a reduction of 1.2 million bpd from November onwards.

"The market reacted bullishly to OPEC's decision," said Phil Flynn at Alaron Trading. "Some people doubted that it would take the decision and OPEC proved that it is very serious in keeping prices in control."

Flynn said that the decision to start the cuts in February "eased some concerns about cutting into the bulk of winter."

The announcement of a second cut in two months followed warnings that a further reduction could spark sharply higher prices in the coming months, the peak time for oil demand during the northern hemisphere winter.

"The key point for us is the risk for OPEC to over-tighten the market," Barclays Capital analyst Kevin Norrish said.

"Oil inventories have eroded substantially over the past few weeks, especially in the US, and in a market going through such a rapid degree of tightening we do not think OPEC should have cut so much."

The US Department of Energy in its latest report said crude oil reserves fell 4.3 million barrels to 335.4 million in the week ended December 8, much more than the decline of 1.3 million barrels expected.

Dec 15 , 2006

Friday

January

January

February

Thursday

November

February

two months

the coming months

winter

the past few weeks

the week

December 8

gains

cut

shore

said

risen

steady

decision

cut

showed

maintain

said

determined

defend

said

meeting

announced

reduction

reacted

decision

said

doubted

take

decision

proved

said

decision

start

eased

cutting

announcement

followed

warnings

reduction

spark

over-tighten

said

eroded

tightening

think

cut

said

fell

decline

expected


AFP_ENG_19970423.0569

WASHINGTON, April 23 , 1997 (AFP)

China diverted US equipment to military plant: White House

A state-owned Chinese company diverted US equipment intended for civilian purposes to a weapons plant but has returned the materiel on US orders, the White House said Wednesday.

Spokesman Michael McCurry said the United States discovered that the machines were moved to an "unapproved" location by the Chinese, after the New York Times reported the equipment was sent to a missile and fighter jet plant.

He declined to elaborate, citing an ongoing investigation, but said "the machines in question are now under the supervision of the original customer -- they're back at a McDonnell Douglas facility."

A year-long investigation using satellite photos suggested that in 1994 CATIC, a state-owned corporation, diverted McDonnell Douglas Corp. equipment designed to build civilian jetliners to a military complex of the Nanchang Aircraft Co, according to the Times.

Pentagon officials earlier feared that the equipment, which includes giant tools used to shape and bend large aircraft parts, could be used for military purposes.

US officials believe that the Chinese intended to use the equipment for military purposes all along. The matter is under criminal investigation.

April 23 , 1997

Wednesday

now

diverted

intended

returned

said

said

discovered

moved

reported

sent

declined

elaborate

citing

investigation

said

supervision

suggested

diverted

designed

build

according

feared

used

shape

bend

used

believe

intended

use


AFP_ENG_20061227.0207

CAIRO, Dec 27 , 2006, 2006

Egypt reports tenth bird flu death

A 26-year-old Egyptian man died Wednesday from the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the health ministry in Cairo said.

Reda Abdel Halim Farid, from the central Nile Delta region of Zifta, is the tenth person to have died in Egypt after contracting the deadly strain, the ministry said.

H5N1 was first diagnosed in birds in Egypt in February, and the first case in humans was announced on March 18. In its most aggressive form, it has killed more than 150 people worldwide, the World Health Organization has said.

Dec 27 , 2006

Wednesday

February

March 18

died

strain

said

died

contracting

strain

said

diagnosed

announced

killed

said


AFP_ENG_20061218.0239

MADRID, Dec 18 , 2006, 2006

=(PICTURE)=

Spanish giants Barcelona will be looking to bounce back, after the disappointment of losing the World Club Cup final to Internacional, by beating Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Thursday.

The game brings an end to the Spanish first division for the year and, having started 2006 on top of the league, Barcelona will want to end it on a high note.

"We've got this game to make sure that we forget about what happened against Internacional," said the Catalan side's star striker Ronaldinho.

"Now we've got to hold our heads up high and get on with fighting for the league and the Champions League," added Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes in the wake of their 1-0 loss to the Brazilians in Yokohama on Sunday.

Barcelona are currently second in La Liga, one point behind Sevilla who took over at the top after a 3-1 win at Recreativo Huelva on Sunday, but the reigning Spanish champions have one game in hand over last season's UEFA Cup winners.

The problem for Barca is that they face Atletico at a time when they are having a good run of form.

They lie in fourth place, the highest position they have been for nearly two seasons.

Atletico have also turned recently into Barca's Black Beast', the Spanish phrase for a bogey team that always haunts you.

Last year, Atletico were the only team to beat Barca in their Nou Camp stadium and also hammered them in the Spanish capital.

"We've done well in the Nou Camp in recent years but we are well aware that things can always change. However, we are going to Barcelona with lots of confidence. We are not afraid of them anymore," said Atletico's Spanish international striker Fernando Torres.

Torres certainly has no reason to be nervous. He has scored against Barcelona on the last four occasions the two teams have met.

Atletico coach Javier Aguirre was also licking his lips, despite Sunday's lacklustre 1-0 win over local rivals Getafe, at the possibility the Beast' can put the bite on Barca once more.

"If we are fourth playing like this then, if we can play well again at Barca, we can take them apart," said Aguirre.

Sevilla can ensure they end the year on top of the Spanish first division if they beat struggling Deportivo La Coruna at home on Wednesday.

The Andalusia side won their one and only previous championship in 1946 but they are starting to feel that the La Liga trophy might come south after a 61 year absence.

"First place is the only place this team should be," said Sevilla coach Juande Ramos on Sunday.

The big problem for Sevilla is suspensions. They will lose Aitor Ocio, Antonio Puerta and Jose Luis Marti for the visit of Deportivo, who languish in 15th, just three places above the relegation zone, after their 2-0 home defeat by Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

There have been widespread calls for the sacking of Deportivo coach Joaquin Caparros but at least he will be assured a warm welcome in Sevilla.

Caparros was the Sevilla coach for five years before moving to Deportivo in 2005 and he steered the club out of the second division in 2001.

Real Madrid are third, just two points in arrears of Sevilla and one behind their bitter rivals Barca.

The 29-times Spanish champions play host to Recreativo Huelva on Wednesday and hope to have Italy's World Cup captain and central defender Fabio Cannavaro available to play.

Cannavaro was sent off after receiving a second yellow card during Real's 1-0 win at Espanyol on Sunday because the referee judged that he had handled the ball but television pictures support the player's claim that it only hit him in the face.

If Real are successful in their appeal then Cannavaro will play but otherwise Alvaro Mejia is likely to take his place.

Tuesday (Kick off in GMT)

Valencia v Real Mallorca (2000)

Athletic Bilbao v Real Zaragoza (2000)

Wednesday

Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad (1900)

Getafe v Espanyol (1900)

Gimnastic Tarragona v Real Betis (1900)

Osasuna v Levante (1900)

Racing Santander v Villarreal (1900)

Real Madrid v Recreativo Huelva (2000)

Sevilla v Deportivo La Coruna (2000)

Thursday

Barcelona v Atletico Madrid (2100)

Dec 18 , 2006

Thursday

the year

Now

Sunday

Sunday

last season

nearly two seasons

Last year

recent years

Sunday

Wednesday

61 year

Sunday

Saturday

five years

Wednesday

Sunday

Tuesday

Thursday

looking

bounce

losing

beating

brings

started

want

end

got

make

forget

happened

said

got

hold

get

fighting

added

loss

took

win

face

lie

turned

haunts

beat

hammered

change

going

said

scored

met

licking

win

put

playing

play

take

said

ensure

end

beat

struggling

won

starting

feel

come

said

lose

visit

languish

defeat

sacking

assured

moving

steered

play

hope

have

play

sent

receiving

win

judged

handled

support

hit

successful

appeal

play

take

Kick


WSJ891101-0032
 = 891101
 891101-0032.
 International Brief -- Coates Brothers PLC:
@  Orkem Bids $7.43 a Share
@  For Stake It Doesn't Own
 11/01/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 F.ORK EUROP U.CTB
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)
CHEMICALS, PLASTICS (CHM)

   Orkem S.A., a French state-controlled chemical manufacturer, is making a friendly bid of 470 pence ($7.43) a share for the 59.2% of U.K. specialty chemical group Coates Brothers PLC which it does n't already own, the two sides said.

   The offer, which values the whole of Coates at #301 million, has already been accepted by Coates executives and other shareholders owning 12.4% of the company.
The acceptances give Orkem a controlling 53.2% stake in the company.

   Orkem and Coates said last Wednesday that the two were considering a merger, through Orkem's British subsidiary, Orkem Coatings U.K. Ltd.

   Orkem, France's third-largest chemical group, said it would fund the acquisition through internal resources.
The takeover would be followed by a restructuring of Orkem's U.K. unit, including the addition of related Orkem businesses and possibly further acquisitions.
Orkem said it eventually would seek to make a public share offering in its U.K. business.

last Wednesday

making

bid

own

said

offer

accepted

acceptances

give

stake

said

considering

merger

said

fund

acquisition

takeover

restructuring

addition

acquisitions

said

seek

make

offering

already

already

followed by


WSJ891102-0034
 = 891102
 891102-0034.
 Business Brief -- Tony Lama Co.:
@  Equus Investment II Seeks
@  To Change Offer for Firm
 11/02/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 TLAM
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)

   Tony Lama Co. said that Equus Investment II Limited Partnership  has proposed changing the offer for the company to $13.65 in cash and stock from an all-cash transaction.

   Under terms of the new proposal, Equus, managed by Equus Capital Corp., Houston, would pay $12 cash and one new preferred share with a liquidation preference of $1.65 a share for each of Tony Lama's 2.1 million shares outstanding.
Previously, it offered $13.65 a share in cash, or $29 million.

   The El Paso, Texas, maker of Western boots and leather accessories said the preferred stock would accrue dividends at a 12% rate, but would n't  be paid for the first two years.
The stock would  be redeemed in five years, subject to terms of the surviving company's debt.

   Neither Equus nor Tony Lama gave a reason for the changed offer and Tony Lama could n't  be reached for comment.
However, Tony Lama said it would  promptly submit the offer to a special committee of the company's board.

Previously

the first two years

five years

said

proposed

changing

offer

transaction

proposal

pay

offered

said

accrue

paid

redeemed

gave

changed

offer

comment

said

submit

offer

in


WSJ891026-0031
 = 891026
 891026-0031.
 Business Brief -- Sotheby's Holdings Inc.:
@  Third-Period Loss Narrowed
@  On Operating Revenue Gain
 10/26/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 BID
 EARNINGS (ERN)

   Sotheby's Holdings Inc., the parent of the auction house Sotheby's, said its net loss for the seasonally slow third quarter narrowed from a year earlier on a leap in operating revenue.

   The New York-based company reported a third-quarter net loss of $5.1 million, or 10 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier net loss of $6.2 million, or 12 cents a share.
Operating revenue surged 54% in the latest period to $42.9 million from $27.7 million.

   The company said 80% of its auction business is usually conducted in the second and fourth quarters, with the current quarter having begun " extremely well."

third quarter

a year earlier

third-quarter

year-earlier

the latest period

second

fourth quarters

the current quarter

said

loss

narrowed

leap

reported

loss

loss

surged

said

conducted

begun


WSJ891102-0167
 = 891102
 891102-0167.
 Duty-Free Status Cleared
@  For Certain Watch Imports
 11/02/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 MONETARY NEWS, FOREIGN EXCHANGE, TRADE (MON)
 EXECUTIVE (EXE)
 WASHINGTON

   The White House said President Bush  has approved duty-free treatment for imports of certain types of watches that are n't produced in "significant quantities" in the U.S., the Virgin Islands and other U.S. possessions.

   The action came in response to a petition filed by Timex Inc. for changes in the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences for imports from developing nations.
Previously , watch imports  were denied such duty-free treatment.

   Timex  had requested duty-free treatment for many types of watches, covered by 58 different U.S. tariff classifications.
The White House said Mr. Bush decided  to grant duty-free status for 18 categories, but turned down such treatment for other types of watches "because of the potential for material injury  to watch producers located in the U.S. and the Virgin Islands."

   Timex is a major U.S. producer and seller of watches, including low-priced battery-operated watches assembled in the Philippines and other developing nations covered by the U.S. tariff preferences.

   U.S. trade officials said the Philippines and Thailand would be the main beneficiaries of the president's action.

   Imports of the types of watches that now will be eligible for duty-free treatment totaled about $37.3 million in 1988, a relatively small share of the $1.5 billion in U.S. watch imports that year, according to an aide to U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills.

now

said

approved

treatment

produced

action

came

filed

denied

treatment

requested

said

decided

grant

turned

treatment

producer

seller

said

beneficiaries

action

eligible

totaled

according

Previously


AFP_ENG_19970426.0106

DUSSELDORF, Germany, April 26 , 1997 (AFP)

Kurds demonstrate in favour of peace with Ankara

Some 50,000 Kurds calling for a peaceful resolution to the bloody battle with Ankara for an independent Kurdish homeland, were expected Saturday in Dusseldorf, western Germany, organisers said.

The Kurds were converging here on Saturday from all over Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium for the demonstration, in 450 coaches and two special trains.

At least 10,000 had arrived early Saturday morning, police said. They were due Saturday afternoon to stage a rally at a public space on the banks of the river Rhine.

Some 1,000 police were called in to Dusseldorf to monitor the demonstration.

No incidents were signalled by police.

April 26 , 1997

Saturday

Saturday

early Saturday morning

Saturday afternoon

calling

battle

expected

said

converging

demonstration

arrived

said

due

stage

rally

called

monitor

demonstration

incidents

signalled


AFP_ENG_19970429.0522

WASHINGTON, April 29 , 1997 (AFP)

Peterson sworn in as ambassador to Vietnam

Former congressman Douglas "Pete" Peterson, who spent six and half years in a Vietnamese prison camp, was sworn in Tuesday as Washington's first ambassador to Hanoi.

Peterson took the oath of office at a State Department ceremony attended by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, a US official said.

He is scheduled to arrive in Hanoi on May 9.

Peterson's confirmation "sends a very strong message that it is important to put the war behind us and get on with a friendly relationship," State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said.

Burns said the new ambassador will "try to heal the wounds" of the Vietnam War that ended in communist victory in 1975. The conflict claimed the lives of about three million Vietnamese and nearly 60,000 Americans.

But the State Department also put Hanoi on notice that Peterson will press Washington's view that human rights should be upheld by the Vietnamese government.

"We encourage US investment in Vietnam but it is still a communist country and we are disturbed by human rights problems there," Burns said.

"We intend to make it (human rights) part of the relationship," he added.

The US Senate approved Peterson's appointment on April 10 after a lengthy delay due to lingering Republican opposition to Washington's restored ties with former enemy Vietnam.

Republican lawmakers also questioned the constitutionality of the appointment as Peterson served in Congress when the decision to open an embassy in Hanoi was made, thus raising conflict of interest issues.

Even after those issues were resolved, Republican Senator Bob Smith, a staunch opponent of President Bill Clinton's 1995 decision to normalize relations with Vietnam, again sought to delay his despatch to Hanoi.

"We are delighted that he is sworn in after such a long wait," Burns commented. "He is a terrific choice," he added, stressing his experience as a prisoner of war.

Peterson was the 66th American taken prisoner during the bitter conflict.

April 29 , 1997

Tuesday

May 9

April 10

spent

sworn

took

ceremony

attended

said

scheduled

arrive

sends

put

war

get

said

said

try

heal

ended

victory

conflict

claimed

put

press

upheld

encourage

disturbed

said

intend

make

added

approved

appointment

delay

lingering

restored

questioned

appointment

served

decision

open

made

raising

resolved

decision

normalize

sought

delay

delighted

sworn

commented

added

stressing

was

conflict


XIN_ENG_20051126.0191

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 1998 and secured a second term in office in April 2004.

Nov. 26 , 2005

Saturday

Sunday

March 1937

April 2004

went

experiencing

said

received

sent

examined

said

quoted

saying

said

attend

summit

planned

born

elected

secured


AFP_ENG_20061203.0391

SANTIAGO, Dec 3 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - INCORPORATES Chile-politics-health-Pinochet ///

Chile's former strongman Augusto Pinochet was reported to be gravely ill Sunday, after a massive heart attack.

"His fate is in the hands of God and his doctors," said the former dictator's youngest son, Marco Antonio Pinochet Hiriart.

Juan Ignacio Vergara, a doctor treating the retired general, said Pinochet's life is "in danger."

A family spokesman, Guillermo Garin, said Sunday that a Catholic priest had given Pinochet the last rites administered when a gravely ill person is in imminent danger of death, adding that Pinochet remains conscious and in stable condition.

Pinochet, 91, was brought to Santiago Military Hospital shortly after 2:00 am (0600 GMT) on Sunday, and immediately underwent angioplasty -- a procedure desiged to widen a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel.

The elderly ex-dictator, who has been under house arrest off and on for the past few years, was again placed under house arrest last week by a judge investigating the disappearance of two of the thousands of people who went missing under his regime.

Pinochet ruled Chile for 17 years after seizing power in a 1973 military coup. Accused of fraud and human rights abuses during his 1973-1990 regime, Pinochet was first ordered under house arrest in late October on other charges only to be released on parole a few days later in deference to his advanced age and ill health.

The latest arrest warrant by judge Victor Montiglio is linked to the disappearance of two security guards of socialist president Salvador Allende, who committed suicide during the September 1973 military coup.

The guards disappeared during the notorious "Caravan of Death," an effort by a band of Chilean soldiers to purge the country of regime opponents shortly after the coup, killing 75 people.

Montiglio's arrest warrant was issued two days after Pinochet's 91st birthday celebrations, at which his wife read a message saying that the former dictator held "no grudge against anyone," despite all the "persecutions and injustices" against him.

During his birthday celebration, the ailing ex-dictator sat in a wheelchair outside his home, managed a faint smile and lifted his hand to wave to scores of followers gathered outside his house in La Dahesa, one of Santiago's poshest neighborhoods.

"I will gladly withstand all the humiliation, persecution and injustices my family and I have suffered in the name of peace and harmony, which should reign among Chileans," said the message.

But Pinochet was unapologetic for toppling the elected Socialist government of Salvador Allende, saying that thanks to the courage and decisiveness of the armed forces, "Chile avoided the totalitarian threat and found true democracy, which we re-established, and which all our countrymen enjoy."

Dozens of Pinochet's men are behind bars in Chile for killing and torturing some 3,000 persons, by official count, under his rule

But Pinochet has yet to face trial for any crime. His lawyers have so far persuaded the Supreme Court in each case that the retired general was unable to defend himself because he suffered a "mild dementia," the only condition available to him that Chilean courts accept to avoid trial.

Last month, Pinochet was charged with alleged crimes at Villa Grimaldi, a secret jail where Michelle Bachelet, now president of Chile, was once tortured, along with her mother, for a month in 1975.

Pinochet has also been charged in connection with Operation Colombo, an international effort to murder 119 regime opponents and spirit the bodies to other South American countries ruled by military regimes in July 1975.

His eldest daughter, Lucia Pinochet Hiriart, 67, said on November 16 that Pinochet "feels the pain" of victims under his regime, but was not ready to ask for their pardon publicly.

She and her mother are not allowed to leave Chile because of investigations of a hundred bank accounts that members of the Pinochet family opened in the United States and other countries, prosecutors say, to avoid taxes.

The accounts came to light after a US Senate investigation of Riggs Bank in Washington.

Chileans remain deeply divided over the dictatorship, which ended when Pinochet lost a 1988 referendum on his continued rule and handed over power in 1990 to a transitional government.

Dec 3 , 2006

Sunday

Sunday

Sunday

the past few years

last week

17 years

late October

a few days

September 1973

two days

Last month

now

a month

July 1975

November 16

reported

attack

said

treating

said

said

given

administered

adding

remains

brought

underwent

angioplasty

widen

narrowed

arrest

placed

arrest

investigating

disappearance

went

missing

ruled

seizing

coup

ordered

arrest

released

linked

disappearance

committed

suicide

coup

disappeared

effort

purge

coup

killing

issued

read

saying

held

persecutions

sat

managed

lifted

gathered

withstand

injustices

suffered

said

toppling

saying

avoided

found

re-established

enjoy

killing

torturing

face

persuaded

defend

suffered

accept

avoid

trial

charged

crimes

tortured

charged

murder

ruled

said

feels

ask

allowed

leave

investigations

opened

say

avoid

came

light

investigation

divided

ended

lost

referendum

handed


AFP_ENG_19970415.0517

LONDON, April 15 , 1997 (AFP)

EBRD warns of fragility of economic reforms in eastern Europe By Henry Meyer

The annual conference of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) held here Monday and Tuesday warned of the fragility of economic reforms in some parts of the former Communist bloc, pointing to events in Albania and Bulgaria.

But the more advanced countries of the region, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic, which have sped away from the others on the road towards capitalism, complained that the bank was giving them the cold shoulder as it swung eastwards.

EBRD President Jacques de Larosiere said that the chaotic events in Albania -- where the collapse of pyramid investment schemes in January sparked near civil war -- were "a tragic illustration of how hard-won progress in transition can be lost with frightening speed."

Denouncing the situation there as a "disaster," de Larosiere warned that serious obstacles to a market economy remained in many countries, referring in particular to the ex-Soviet republics such as Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.

The EBRD president criticized the uncertain legal and taxation systems in the region, and the problem of corruption, crime and bureaucratic meddling in the private sector.

"The conduct of good business requires a level playing field, and the rules of the game must be universally known, transparent and fairly applied," de Larosiere said.

He said this unstable business environment was discouraging long-term foreign investment and prompting massive capital flight of billions of dollars a year.

In the background of the meeting, though, a dispute simmered over the downgrading in the bank's role in the top-performers of eastern and central Europe.

The EBRD was set up in 1991 to assist the transition to a market economy in eastern and central Europe and the former Soviet Union.

The Czech Republic, which has been one of swiftest in the region to implement free-market reforms, complained bitterly about the EBRD's lack of activity in the country during 1996.

"Unfortunately, we were rather disappointed with the bank's achievements last year... not a single new project was signed in my country in 1996," said the governor of the Czech central bank, Josef Tosovsky.

Hungary also joined her voice to the protests. The Hungarian Secretary of State for Finance, Tibor Draskovics, said that his country "expects further support from the EBRD during this challenging phase," as Budapest prepares for membership of the European Union around the year 2000.

According to EBRD figures, new projects approved for Hungary plunged from 406 million ECUs (485 million dollars) in 1995 to 133 million ECUs in 1996. The Czech Republic's financing dropped by half, and Slovenia's allocation fell almost as much.

The EU and some European countries made it clear they supported a continued strong role for the EBRD in these richer eastern European countries, as they prepare for EU membership around the turn of the century.

The EU's commissioner for economic affairs, Yves-Thibault De Silguy, said the EBRD could still fill serious financing gaps in infrastructure and in the small and medium-sized business sector.

But the United States, which a year ago advanced the concept of "graduation" -- the staged withdrawal of the EBRD from the most prosperous ex-Communist states, which already have access to private capital -- firmly reiterated this viewpoint.

All joined, however, in urging de Larosiere, whose term expires in September, to stay on at the helm of the bank, especially since the vice-president, American Ron Freeman, is leaving the EBRD in June.

De Larosiere, 67, who has been asked by the board of governors to serve a second four-year term, said he was "still hesitating" because of the health problems of his wife, injured in an accident a year and a half ago.

April 15 , 1997

Monday

Tuesday

January

a year

the year 2000

the century

a year ago

September

June

a year and a half ago

conference

warned

pointing

sped

complained

giving

swung

said

events

sparked

war

lost

Denouncing

warned

remained

referring

criticized

requires

applied

said

said

discouraging

meeting

dispute

simmered

set

assist

transition

implement

complained

disappointed

achievements

signed

said

joined

protests

said

expects

support

prepares

According

approved

plunged

financing

dropped

fell

made

supported

role

prepare

said

fill

advanced

staged

withdrawal

reiterated

joined

urging

expires

stay

leaving

asked

serve

said

hesitating

injured


XIN_ENG_20061126.0139

NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Snow storm claims two in India-controlled Kashmir

A heavy snow storm claimed two lives Sunday at a mountain pass in India-controlled Kashmir, Indo- Asian News Service reported.

Eyewitnesses said two among forty people were swept away by snow storm and killed when they were trying to cross the Zojilla Pass in the Himalaya Mountains, the local police said.

The police sent a team to search the bodies.

The national highway linking the region's winter capital Srinagar to mountainous region Leh has been closed for all vehicular traffic since Nov. 15 due to snowfall but some people chose to walk all the way across the Zojilla Pass.

The local authorities have instructed the police to stop these trekkers as crossing the pass on foot is highly dangerous in the extreme cold weather.

Nov. 26 , 2006

Sunday

Nov. 15

claimed

pass

reported

said

swept

killed

trying

cross

Pass

said

sent

search

closed

snowfall

chose

walk

Pass

instructed

stop

crossing

pass


AFP_ENG_19970418.0499

WASHINGTON, April 18 , 1997 (AFP)

Lee wins assurance of Clinton support in Hong Kong handover by Gretchen Cook

President Bill Clinton Friday assured Hong Kong's Democratic party leader Martin Lee that the United States will defend democratic freedoms in the territory once China takes it over.

The president told Lee during their meeting that "there would be consequences if there are democratic erosions" after the July 1 transition of the British colony to China rule, White House spokesman Michael McCurry said.

Lee, Hong Kong's chief China critic, said Clinton gave him a warm reception despite a White House decision to downgrade the meeting to a "drop-by."

"I have no doubt at all after this meeting ... that the US government will defend Hong Kong's freedoms," Lee said following his 25-minute talks with Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.

He said Clinton supported his view that the 1984 Joint Declaration between Britain and China was an "international agreement," a stand likely to irk China which insists it is a domestic matter that US leaders should stay out of.

McCurry said Clinton also shared Lee's concerns about the replacement of Hong Kong's elected legislature with a China-appointed body, calling it "contrary to the commitments" of the agreement on the transition.

Lee said he asked Clinton to extend a White House invitation to Hong Kong's future leader, Tung Chee-hwa, which McCurry said was under consideration.

Tung on Wednesday cancelled a US visit reportedly to avoid embarrassment should he be denied a White House meeting.

Friday's talks were specially choreographed to minimize tensions with China, with an official meeting between Gore and Lee which Clinton dropped in on while it was "in progress."

Tung had warned Lee Friday to be careful during his own trip to Washington, saying "please bear in mind that whatever he says it will be carefully read and interpreted. The worst thing is, at this juncture, to give people in the United States a wrong impression."

Lee said he also urged Clinton to extend China's Most Favored Nation trade status again this year, saying that revoking the benefits would hurt Hong Kong the more than Beijing.

Though the US administration has been issuing daily warnings about preserving democracy in Hong Kong, it has not threatened any concrete measures should China go ahead with plans to crack down on freedoms of expression and assembly.

McCurry acknowledged the US threats were mostly lip service but defended the method.

"A large measure of it is just jawboning but that's important to the Chinese leadership," he said.

He pointed to this week's mammoth effort by Beijing to block a UN resolution on condemning China's human rights record, saying: "They clearly are sensitive to those in the international community who raised concerns."

As part of the US vigilance over the handover, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will attend the ceremony in Hong Kong, where there are 40,000 American citizens and some 13 billion dollars in investments.

April 18 , 1997

Friday

July 1

Wednesday

Friday

Friday

this year

this week

assured

defend

takes

told

meeting

transition

said

said

gave

decision

meeting

meeting

defend

said

following

talks

said

supported

irk

insists

said

shared

replacement

calling

transition

said

asked

extend

said

cancelled

visit

avoid

denied

meeting

talks

choreographed

minimize

meeting

dropped

warned

careful

trip

saying

please

bear

says

read

interpreted

give

said

urged

extend

saying

revoking

hurt

issuing

threatened

go

crack

acknowledged

defended

jawboning

said

pointed

effort

block

resolution

condemning

saying

raised

handover

attend

ceremony


AFP_ENG_20061214.0704

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 , 2006, 2006

EU deplores Rafah rampage

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana deplored the deadly violence at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Thursday in which one of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya's bodyguards was killed and his son and political adviser hurt.

"We hope very much that the situation will get clarified and the Rafah crossing will be open to everybody in the coming hours," he told a press conference during an EU summit in Brussels.

"We deplore the events that are taking place in Rafah," he added.

Hamas gunmen went on the rampage waiting for Haniya to cross back into the strip after being detained by an Israeli closure, an AFP correspondent said.

The gunmen, mostly youths, smashed windows and furniture inside the terminal -- Gaza's only border crossing that bypasses Israel -- while shots were fired into the air and at the building itself.

Israel had closed Rafah earlier Thursday to prevent Haniya from returning to the coastal strip with a reported 35 million dollars in cash.

Haniya returned safely but "the money he was carrying is not across the border, it is now in a bank in Egypt," Solana said.

Five people were injured in the shoot-out, one of them seriously, which occurred as the Palestinian premier left the Gaza border terminal where he had been blocked for several hours, a government source said.

Hamas called the incident an assassination attempt by the Palestinian presidential guard.

Dec 15 , 2006

Thursday

the coming hours

Thursday

now

deplored

violence

crossing

killed

hurt

hope

get

clarified

crossing

told

conference

summit

deplore

taking

added

went

waiting

cross

detained

said

smashed

crossing

fired

closed

prevent

returning

reported

returned

carrying

said

injured

occurred

left

blocked

said

called

incident

attempt


AFP_ENG_20061229.0165

MOSCOW, Dec 29 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - UPDATES on talks ///

Belarus dispatched a senior energy official Friday to Moscow to join talks on defusing a row over Russian natural gas imports that threatened to disrupt energy supplies to the European Union from Monday.

"An additional delegation is flying to Moscow, headed by Eduard Tovpenets, first deputy energy minister," Andrei Zhukov, an aide to Belarus' energy minister, told AFP in Minsk. "We are flying to reach final agreement. I think the issue will be resolved."

Russian state gas monopoly Gazprom is threatening to switch off natural gas supplies to Belarus at 10:00 am (0700 GMT) Monday, New Year's day, if the ex-Soviet republic fails to agree to a more than doubling of price.

Belarus, which lies between Russia and the European Union, threatens to retaliate by refusing to allow transit of Russian gas to Europe, potentially hitting supplies in Germany, Lithuania and Poland.

Belarus says that without a contract for its own supplies, there can be no contract on transit.

Gazprom vice-president Alexander Medvedev told France's Le Figaro daily on Friday that this amounted to "grotesque blackmail" and warned that European clients could face shortfalls.

Although daily talks have so far ended without compromise, both sides on Friday expressed cautious optimism as Gazprom executives in Moscow met with Dmitry Kazakov, the head of Belarus' gas pipeline company Beltstransgaz.

The situation is "tense, but there is still a chance, of course," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said.

If no deal is struck, the stage will be set for a New Year's crisis similar to a cut-off of Russian gas 12 months ago to Ukraine during a similar pricing dispute, with knock-on effects through western Europe.

Gazprom insists that its price increases -- already imposed on Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova -- are part of a legitimate move to end Soviet-era subsidies and charge accepted international rates.

However the Kremlin-connected gas giant's rough tactics against Russia's smaller neighbours has damaged Moscow's image abroad and caused alarm in Europe about what the European Union sees as overreliance on Russian energy supplies.

The EU Commission says it is following the situation "very closely" and has called for a rapid settlement.

Belarus serves as the transit point for roughly 20 percent of Russian gas flowing to Europe, amounting to about five percent of Europe's total gas needs. The other 80 percent of westward Russian exports are piped via Ukraine.

Ukraine announced on Thursday its readiness to increase the transit of Russian gas through its territory in case of possible disruptions on the Belarus route.

"We could increase transit with the volume needed to ensure stable functioning of the economies of our European neighbours," Ukraine's Energy Minister Yury Boyko said.

Currently, Belarus pays Gazprom 46.68 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres of gas.

Gazprom originally demanded an increase to 200 dollars, which is closer to western European prices, unless Belarus agreed to sell 50 percent of its domestic pipeline operator Beltransgaz.

Gazprom has since reduced that demand to 105 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres -- 75 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres in cash payments, plus the equivalent of another 30 dollars in shares of Beltransgaz.

Dec 29 , 2006

Friday

Monday

Monday

Friday

Friday

12 months ago

Thursday

dispatched

join

talks

defusing

threatened

disrupt

flying

headed

told

flying

reach

agreement

think

resolved

threatening

switch

fails

agree

doubling

threatens

retaliate

refusing

allow

says

told

amounted

warned

face

talks

ended

compromise

expressed

met

said

deal

struck

set

crisis

dispute

insists

increases

imposed

move

end

charge

accepted

damaged

caused

sees

overreliance

says

following

called

settlement

serves

flowing

amounting

piped

announced

readiness

increase

disruptions

increase

ensure

said

pays

demanded

increase

agreed

sell

reduced


AFP_ENG_20061213.0683

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 13 , 2006, 2006

Microsoft, HP target business market with 300-mln-dollar alliance

Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard said on Wednesday they would jointly invest 300 million dollars in a three-year partnership to become the go-to source for business computer systems.

Microsoft software expertise would be combined with HP hardware savvy to tailor networks to meet individual company needs from e-mail and voice mail to video conferencing and infrastructure, executives said at a news briefing.

"It's a perfect time to go to market as one single stack of the best combination of hardware and software available today," said HP senior vice president John McCain. "It is a great opportunity."

Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner said the partnership was aimed at winning a major share of the business network market, which is predicted to exceed 50 billion dollars in 2007.

"We are very excited about this partnership and where we can take it," Turner said. "It is about driving hardware sales and services for HP and selling more Microsoft technology."

The partnership was an extension of a decades-old relationship between Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft and California-based HP, according to the executives.

"This builds on 20 years of successful partnering by the companies," said HP executive vice president Ann Livermore. "Our sales forces are ready. We could begin tomorrow."

The alliance announced on Wednesday made HP the first "global partner" in a Microsoft People-Ready Business program that was described as being focused on giving people technology tools needed to excel at their jobs.

"We ought to be able to cover almost the whole world between the resources we have and what Microsoft has," Livermore said.

"In some cases the solution might be a simple server and some software, and in others more complex software. The power is we can come at this from many different standpoints."

Dec 13 , 2006

Wednesday

today

20 years

tomorrow

Wednesday

said

invest

become

combined

tailor

meet

said

briefing

go

market

said

said

aimed

winning

predicted

exceed

take

said

extension

according

builds

partnering

said

begin

announced

made

described

focused

excel

able

cover

said

come


XIN_ENG_20051103.0169

MANILA, Nov. 3 , 2005 (Xinhua)

2nd Ld-Writethru: 5 US marines accused of raping Filipino woman at Subic Bay

Five US marines have been accused of gang raping a 22-year-old Filipino woman at the former US navy base of Subic Bay earlier this week, throwing shadow over the annual joint military exercises between the United States and the Philippines held under a visiting force agreement.

The five US marines were prevented from boarding their amphibious warship, USS Essex, to leave the Philippines on Thursday after a Filipino woman accused them of gang raping her in a van in Olongapo City near Subic Bay on Nov. 1, the All Saints' Day which is an important Catholic festival here for mourning the dead.

The US marines, who were from the US military bases in Okinawa, Japan, were later turned over to the US embassy here by the Philippine authorities, according to Philippine officials in charge of supervising the just-concluded military exercises named "Talon Vision" held at the Subic Bay, in which 4,500 US marines and navy sailors participated.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said in a statement that he has asked the US Embassy to make sure that the accused soldiers do not leave the country and that they be made available to Philippine police and judicial authorities.

"I am deeply concerned by this report and I have instructed the VFACOM (Visiting Forces Agreement Committee) to fully assist the victim of this crime and to support all efforts by our authorities to investigate, prosecute and try this case," said Romulo.

"The perpetrators of this heinous crime shall be brought to justice," he added.

The VFACOM is a US-Philippine joint institution charged with supervising the annual US-Philippine military exercises being held under a mutual defense agreement and a visiting forces agreement.

The acting US embassy charge d'affaires Paul Jones said the five US marines are under the responsibility of the embassy but assured they will be made accessible to local authorities.

"They are under American responsibility. I conveyed how seriously the US takes this accusation. We have an important agreement we make them available to Philippine investigators," he told local media.

But he said the US authorities are conducting separate probes into the case and justice will be done if the Americans are found guilty.

"While the charges are very serious, they are innocent unless proven guilty. If they are proven guilty, we obviously find this an outrageous crime," he said.

In a separate statement, the US embassy said the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) , signed in 1998 between the Philippine and US governments to allow US troops return to the Philippines after they pulled out in 1993, provides the mechanism for US and Philippine authorities to work together to determine the facts of the case and to ensure that accused individuals are available to both Filipino and US investigators.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said the alleged victim was invited by the Americans to go with them in a rented van after they met in a video-OK bar, where people drink and sing. A few hours later, the woman was seen dumped unconscious on a road from the van.

Under the VFA, US troops who take part in joint exercises in the Philippines are provided with special legal protection for actions taken as part of the war games but are given less protection for crimes committed while on leave.

US troops pulled out of the Subic Bay and Clark airfield military bases in 1993 after the Philippine Senate voted to take back the bases built during US rule in the Philippines from the beginning of 20th century until World War II.

Nov. 3 , 2005

this week

Thursday

Nov. 1

A few hours

leave

the beginning of 20th century

accused

raping

exercises

held

agreement

prevented

boarding

leave

accused

raping

mourning

turned

according

supervising

named

held

participated

said

asked

make

leave

instructed

Visiting

assist

support

efforts

investigate

prosecute

try

said

brought

added

charged

supervising

exercises

held

visiting

said

assured

made

conveyed

takes

have

make

told

said

conducting

done

found

proven

proven

find

said

said

signed

allow

return

pulled

provides

work

determine

ensure

accused

said

invited

go

met

drink

sing

seen

dumped

take

provided

given

committed

pulled

voted

take

built

War


PRI19980115.2000.0186
 NEWS STORY

 Former savings and loan chief, Charles Keating,  is facing more legal
 troubles in California.
 A federal appeals court  has reinstated his state convictions
 for securities fraud.
 NPR's Elaine Corey has more from San Francisco.

 In nineteen ninety-one Charles Keating  was convicted in state court of
 helping  to defraud thousands of investors who bought high risk
 junk bonds sold by Keating's employees at Lincoln savings and
 loan.
 The bonds became worthless when the bankrupt thrift  was seized
 by government regulators.
 Keating's convictions  were thrown out in nineteen ninety-six on a
 technicality.
 And on that basis Keating  was released from prison before he
 was eligible for parole.
 Now the ninth US circuit court of appeals  has ruled that
 the original appeal  was flawed since it brought up issues that
 had not  been raised before.
 That means the convictions stand, a ruling likely  to send
 Keating's lawyers back to state court where they must  start over with a new appeal.
 Elaine Corey, NPR news, San Francisco.

Former

nineteen ninety-one

nineteen ninety-six

Now

facing

troubles

reinstated

convictions

fraud

has

convicted

helping

defraud

bought

sold

became

bankrupt

seized

convictions

thrown

released

eligible

parole

ruled

appeal

flawed

brought

issues

raised

means

convictions

stand

ruling

send

start

appeal

In

when

in

before

before


WSJ891030-0048
 = 891030
 891030-0048.
 Sun Microsystems Debentures
 10/30/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 SUNW
 BOND MARKET NEWS (BON)
 MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.

   Sun Microsystems Inc., a computer maker, announced the effectiveness of its registration statement for $125 million of 6 3/8% convertible subordinated debentures due Oct. 15, 1999.

   The company said the debentures are being issued at an issue price of $849 for each $1,000 principal amount and are convertible at any time prior to maturity at a conversion price of $25 a share.

   The debentures are available through Goldman, Sachs amp Co.

Oct. 15, 1999

announced

effectiveness

due

said

issued

convertible

maturity

prior to


XIN_ENG_20061123.0054

NANJING, Nov. 23 , 2006 (Xinhua)

China's new Schmidt telescope's test observation successful

Tests on China's Schmidt telescope, which is designed to detect near-earth objects (NEO) that could threaten the planet were successful.

The telescope, measuring one meter in diameter, was tested by scientists at the Mount Zijin Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the suburb of Huai'an city of east China's Jiangsu Province.

It is the fist telescope in China specialized in NEO observation and one of only six, one-meter NEO observation telescopes in the world, said Yang Jiexing, a researcher with the observatory.

Near-earth objects are comets and asteroids that have been nudged by the gravitational pull and may collide with earth.

Using the most sensitive CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) detectors, the telescope can take pictures of the high-orbit satellites, spatial debris, nebula and variable stars.

After the test observation, the telescope will help astronomers document all NEOs, including unknown ones, for further study, and enable astronomers to know in advance whether an NEO poses a threat to the earth, said Yang.

Once the danger is found, astronomers will exchange the information within the global observation network, Yang said .

A global observation network has been set up to prevent the NEOs from colliding with earth.

So far, more than 800 near-earth asteroids have been discovered by scientists, including nearly 100 with a diameter of more than 1,000 meters.

Nov. 23 , 2006

designed

detect

threaten

successful

measuring

tested

specialized

said

nudged

collide

Using

take

help

document

enable

know

poses

said

found

exchange

said

set

prevent

colliding

discovered


AFP_ENG_19970413.0153

NEW DELHI, April 13 , 1997 (AFP)

India's reform budget faces fresh crisis by Jay Shankar

India's tax-cutting reform budget faced fresh trouble Sunday when a communist partner in the ousted coalition challenged the caretaker government's right to pass it in parliament.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said the United Front, which was voted out Friday and holds office in a caretaker capacity, had no constitutional authority to pass the budget for the year to March 1998.

"Once the government is ousted, then its budget proposals become defunct," said Ashok Mitra, a senior CPI-M member.

"President Shankar Dayal Sharma should ask the government to instead approve a vote-on-account.

"This is my party's view," he added.

A vote-on-account is a constitutional alternative to a fully-fledged budget and will help parliament to approve the government's expenditure.

Indian officials said on Saturday parliament would ratify the budget later this month despite the dramatic fall of the country's coalition government.

They said major political parties had agreed to set aside their differences and pass the budget during a special three-day parliamentary session beginning April 21. India's financial year begins April 1.

But Mitra insisted a vote-on-account was the only solution.

"The caretaker government cannot oppose or amend the budget proposals," said Mitra, a former finance minister in the communist- ruled state of West Bengal.

The CPI-M is a key constituent of the centre-left United Front and has been a constant critic of New Delhi's free-market economic reforms.

Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram's widely-acclaimed pro-reform budget, unveiled in parliament on February 28, slashed taxes and promised to reduce the fiscal deficit.

The personal tax rate was slashed from 40 to 30 percent, to the cheers of the rich, while corporate tax for domestic firms was reduced from 40 to 35 percent.

Chidambaram's proposals delighted Indian stock markets, with the barometer 30-share index on the Bombay Stock Exchange shooting up 6.3 percent on the same day.

The index has been on a rollercoaster ride since March 30 when the Congress (I) party withdrew support for the government, sparking the chain of events which culminated with the fall of Deve Gowda's United Front coalition Friday.

Deve Gowda has been asked by the president to continue as caretaker prime minister until further notice.

The speaker of the Indian lower house of parliament has warned the country would be plunged into a financial crisis if the budget was not passed before the deadline of May 14.

Under Indian law, the budget has to be ratified in parliament within 75 days of being unveiled. If that does not happen, the provisions of the previous budget remain in force.

Meanwhile, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian People's Party) said it would form a three-member panel to suggest amendments to Chidambaram's tax proposals in the budget.

"We cannot support the budget blindly," BJP treasurer V.P. Goel said.

A BJP ideologue, Jay Dubashi, said: "The panel will meet next week to thrash out an agenda to suggest changes in the finance bill. And we will ask the caretaker government to comply.

"We will not mind being voted down on these suggestions. The idea is to present our viewpoint," Dubashi said.

April 13 , 1997

Sunday

Friday

the year

March 1998

Saturday

this month

April 21

April 1

February 28

the same day

March 30

Friday

May 14

75 days

next week

faced

challenged

pass

said

voted

had

pass

ousted

become

said

ask

approve

added

help

approve

said

ratify

said

agreed

set

pass

session

beginning

begins

insisted

oppose

amend

said

reforms

unveiled

slashed

promised

reduce

slashed

reduced

delighted

shooting

ride

withdrew

sparking

culminated

asked

continue

warned

plunged

crisis

passed

ratified

unveiled

happen

remain

said

form

suggest

amendments

support

Goel

said

said

meet

thrash

suggest

changes

ask

comply

mind

voted

present

said


XIN_ENG_20061106.0203

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 , 2006 (Xinhua)

U.S. mourns death of former Turkish PM

The United States expressed sadness on Monday over the death of five-time Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit who died over the weekend at the age of 81.

"We were saddened to learn of the death of former prime minister Bulent Ecevit," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said at a briefing.

"His commitment to Turkey's secular democratic institutions was something that we very much respected and, I think, was respected throughout the world," Casey said.

Ecevit, whose final term in office ended in 2002, was once a strong U.S. ally.

Nov. 6 , 2006

Monday

the weekend

the age of 81

expressed

death

died

saddened

learn

death

said

briefing

commitment

respected

think

respected

said

ended


AFP_ENG_20051216.0176

WASHINGTON, Dec 16 , 2005

by Stephanie Griffith

The US Congress ends the year divided as never before, over issues ranging from the Iraq war, to immigration reform and a series of ethics scandals.

Many political observers now say relations between ruling Republicans and rival Democrats on Capitol Hill are the worst they have ever seen. They predict the wrangling will not improve as the United States heads toward mid-term elections in November.

"People naturally disagree about who is responsible for the partisan tone and tactics in Washington DC these days, but most agree on this -- its worse, its more intense, and its nastier," said Nancy Roman, vice president at the New York based Council on Foreign Relations.

Much of the bickering is over Iraq, which has caused sparring between the two political parties and among factions within them.

The Republicans dominate the Senate and House of Representatives.

It has been weakened by a number of scandals, particularly involving House leader Tom DeLay. But the rift in the party became evident when the Senate last month voted 79-19 in favor of a resolution calling on President George W. Bush's administration to show clearer signs of progress in Iraq.

Republicans were also divided over support for an anti-torture proposal that Republican maverick Senator John McCain has forced the White House to accept.

The Democrats have also struggled to find a common voice on Iraq, torn between the public disenchantment with the US military campaign and the need to offer a viable alternative to the administration's "stay the course" approach -- particularly after Democratic Representative John Murtha last month called for an immediate troop pullout.

On most other issues, however, the political battles in Congress have been drawn along traditional lines -- with Republicans and Democrat squaring off against each other.

Senator Lindsey Graham told US television this week that Iraq more than any other issue has given parties on both sides ammunition to attack each other.

"There is no political consensus in this country. Democrats or Republicans are struggling. We've lost our national unity when it comes to Iraq," he said.

"I wish we would quit running ads against each other and try to find consensus."

In a letter to fellow lawmakers this month, leading Republican, Senator Richard Lugar, lamented the negative tone and called for greater comity.

"The quality of congressional debate has an impact on events in Iraq and our prospects for success," wrote Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"We should continually strive to elevate our debate by studying thoughtful sources of information and embracing civility in our discourse," he said.

The Council on Foreign Relations concluded in a study that the Congress wars were even weakening the United States on the world stage.

"People in both parties are complaining that they do not know what the other side thinks on critical foreign policy issues. They say there is generally less engagement and ideas are not being sharpened through debate -- the tough questions are not being probed," the report concluded.

"The job is to diminish and destroy any chance at political success before the guts of the policy are even contemplated," the document continued.

"Over time, the political game has overtaken the deliberative-policy process, which results in a dumbing-down of policy."

Still, some in Congress said the complaints are overblown.

"The people in this country think that everything that is done in this Congress is always so partisan -- Republicans and Democrats never get along, we never talk to each another, we never agree on anything," Republican Chuck Grassley said on the Senate floor Tuesday.

"As a practical matter, nothing gets done in the United States Senate that isn't somewhat bipartisan," Grassley said.

Dec 16 , 2005

the year

now

November

last month

last month

this week

this month

Tuesday

ends

divided

ranging

war

say

ruling

seen

predict

improve

elections

disagree

agree

said

bickering

caused

sparring

dominate

weakened

involving

became

voted

calling

show

divided

proposal

forced

accept

struggled

find

torn

offer

stay

approach

called

pullout

drawn

squaring

told

given

attack

struggling

lost

comes

said

wish

quit

running

try

find

lamented

called

impact

wrote

strive

elevate

studying

said

concluded

weakening

complaining

know

thinks

say

sharpened

debate

probed

concluded

diminish

destroy

contemplated

continued

overtaken

results

said

think

get

talk

agree

said

said


XIN_ENG_20061102.0408

BEIJING, Nov. 3 , 2006 (Xinhua)

African reporters expecting more "China voices"

Stepping on the turf of Beijing is exciting for Axmed Saggar. Like many of his country folks, the reporter of Puntland TV from Somali had only sciolistic knowledge of China, mostly from the roads and hospitals built with assistance from Chinese expatriates.

"Somalians don't know much about China. We have very limited access to information of the modern country, " said Saggar who came to Beijing to cover a historical summit to be attended by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed of Somali.

Leaders of more than 40 African countries have been invited to participate in the Beijing Summit of Forum on Sino-Africa Cooperation scheduled for Nov. 4-5, which is described as the grandest diplomatic event in China since 1950s.

Recalling a photo show featuring Chairman Mao Zedong staged in Somali while he was young, Saggar said in the eyes of most Somalians, "China has always been a friend."

The relationship between China and Africa is time-cemented. Six hundred years ago, famous mariner Zheng He (1371-1435) of the Ming Dynasty led the then largest fleet in the world and made voyages to Africa. He brought there tea, chinaware, silk and technology, and took back spice and local specialties. Not an inch of land was ever occupied.

"Zheng He and Jackie Chan (a contemporary Hong Kong movie star) are both quite well-known in Somali," said Saggar.

Over the past 50 years, China has offered economic aid to 53 African countries and canceled 10.9 billion yuan (1.36 billion U.S. dollars) worth of debt. By the end of 2005, China had over 800 enterprises in Africa, involving a total investment of 6 billion dollars, official data revealed.

"Somalians and Chinese expatriates have got along well. A raft of infrastructure facilities including roads and hospitals were built with aid from China," said Saggar.

He hoped President Yusuf's visit to Beijing would "bring more trips between Somali and China".

"Somalians would like to have more cooperation and exchanges with the Chinese in a variety of sectors, especially education, science, technology and economy," he said.

As so much is going on in the world's fourth largest economy, Saggar said Somalians were not only interested in China's history but also appealed by its robust development.

Saggar's view was shared by many African reporters. Kato Jacob from President Press of Uganda said, "We wish to hear more voices from China, especially stories about China told by the Chinese."

Nearly 300 African reporters were expected to cover the two- day summit highlighting "friendship, peace, cooperation and development".

Nov. 3 , 2006

Nov. 4-5

Six hundred years ago

the past 50 years

the end of 2005

Stepping

had

built

know

said

came

cover

attended

invited

participate

scheduled

event

show

staged

young

said

led

made

brought

took

occupied

Zheng

said

offered

canceled

involving

revealed

got

built

said

hoped

visit

bring

like

have

said

going

said

appealed

development

shared

said

wish

hear

told

expected

cover


XIN_ENG_20051124.0104

HONG KONG, Nov. 24 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Taiwan share prices close down 0.19 percent -- Nov. 24

Taiwan share prices ended down 0.19 percent with a thicker traded volume on Thursday, according to sources reaching here from Taipei.

The weighted index, a key barometer of Taiwan Stock Exchange, went down 11.63 points to close at 6,111.89.

The bourse opened at 6,122.97 and fluctuated between 6,143.87 and 6,104.11 during trading.

A total of 3.19 billion shares changed hands on a market turnover of 77.84 billion new Taiwan dollars (2.33 billion US dollars), up from Wednesday's turnover of 77.48 billion new Taiwan dollars (2.31 billion US dollars).

Three of the eight major stock categories gained ground, with textile stocks moving up at 1.5 percent and machinery and electronics shares and construction issues both gaining 0.1 percent.

The other five major stock categories lost ground, with banking and financial shares moving down the most at 1.1 percent, followed by plastics and chemicals shares and paper and pulp issues both at 0.4 percent, and cement stocks and foodstuff issues both at 0.1 percent.

Gainers outnumbered losers 509 to 444, with 236 stocks remaining unchanged.

Nov. 24 , 2005

Thursday

Wednesday

ended

according

reaching

went

close

opened

fluctuated

changed

gained

moving

lost

moving

outnumbered


AFP_ENG_20061209.0246

RAMALLAH,   West Bank, Dec 9 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS Hamas reax, quotes, details, background ///

The executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization recommended Saturday that president Mahmud Abbas call early parliamentary and presidential elections to resolve a spiraling political crisis, PLO officials said.

"The executive committee, chaired by Abbas, decided to call on Abbas to hold early parliamentary and presidential elections," executive committee member Saleh Rafaat told AFP.

"This decision came after the failure of the dialogue to form a national unity government with the Hamas movement and is the result of the ongoing political and economic siege against the Palestinian people," he added.

The ruling Islamist Hamas movement, which won a stunning upset in a parliamentary vote less than a year ago, slammed the decision, calling it "a clear coup against democracy."

"The goal of this decision is to kick Hamas out of the Palestinian political scene," the chief of the Hamas bloc of lawmakers, Khalil al-Hiyya, told AFP. "This decison is not in the national interest and will only make the situation more tense."

Officials said Abbas would formally announce his decision to call for early elections in an address to the Palestinian people in the coming days.

But Abbas said that if Hamas were to soften its stance and agree to form a unity government, early elections would not be necessary, according to PLO executive committee member Mustapha Barghuti.

"If they form a national unity government they can end the siege against the Palestinian people, and in that case there will be no need for early elections," Barghuti told AFP.

Palestinian basic law does not address the issue of early elections.

Hamas in recent days has said the absence of such a provision prohibits holding early polls, while Abbas's entourage says that such an election can be held since there is no passage specifically prohibiting it.

The European Union and the United States have frozen aid to the Palestinian Authority ever since the Hamas-led government took power in March two months after its upset parliamentary election victory.

Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas labored for months to reach a power-sharing agreement that would meet international conditions to lift the siege and end the spiraling crisis, but those talks failed late last month.

Dec 9 , 2006

Saturday

a year ago

recent days

March two months

late last month

recommended

call

resolve

said

chaired

decided

call

hold

elections

told

decision

came

failure

form

result

siege

added

won

slammed

decision

calling

coup

decision

kick

told

make

said

announce

decision

call

elections

said

soften

agree

form

elections

according

form

end

siege

elections

told

address

elections

said

prohibits

says

held

passage

prohibiting

frozen

took

labored

reach

meet

lift

siege

end

crisis

talks

failed


AFP_ENG_19970424.0041

ALGIERS, April 24 , 1997 (AFP)

URGENT Paper reports new massacre of 42 people in Algeria

A total 42 people were slain in a village in the Medea region south of the capital overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, the daily El Watan newspaper said on Thursday.

April 24 , 1997

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

slain

said