AFP_ENG_19970425.0196

TOKYO, April 25 , 1997 (AFP)

Daiwa and Nikko follow Nomura into the red

Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd. and Nikko Securities Co. Ltd., two of Japan's Big Four stockbrokers, announced Friday net losses for the year to March, joining market leader Nomura Securities Co. Ltd. which disclosed its own net loss of 243 billion yen (two billion dollars) on Thursday.

Daiwa, the country's second-largest broker, said it suffered a net parent company loss of 84.0 billion yen, reversing a net profit of 43.7 billion yen a year earlier. Pre-tax earnings fell 29.2 percent to 44.3 billion yen while operating income fell 3.3 percent to 291.8 billion yen.

Nikko, ranked third, announced a net consolidated loss of 116.7 billion yen, reversing a net profit of 38 billion yen with pre-tax earnings plunging 60 percent from a year earlier to 28.5 billion yen. Group operating income was up 17 percent at 461.1 billion yen.

Following a similar move by NoMura on Thursday, neither company offered profit forecasts for the current year although Daiwa vice president Hiromitsu Sogame said his company's projection was for higher earnings than the year just ended. But he declined to give figures.

Daiwa blamed its poor result on "large losses amid a slack stock market" along with cutbacks in bond-trading activity.

During the year, the company suffered an extraordinary loss of 120 billion yen on the bailout of troubled affiliate Daiwa Finance Co. Ltd., a Tokyo-based company in which the securities firm had a five percent stake.

Sogame said costs were expected to rise further this year due to upgrading ahead of the planned "Big Bang" for the Tokyo financial market, modelled on British deregulatory reforms a decade ago and expected to be in place by 2001.

"We will renew our bond trading room and build a personal computer network and proceed with global risk management projects," he said.

Referring to a recent scandal involving illegal trading by Nomura, Sogame said Daiwa was seeking to set up an operations administration department to strengthen internal supervision. "So far, we have not received a report that illegal trading and transactions have been found," he said.

Asked about trading by individual investors, he said: "I do not expect individual investors to stay away from the market because of Nomura's illegal transactions ... I hope the share will rise, as it has been at a low level."

Nikko vice president Masao Yuki said his company had not detected any incoming transfer of funds from Nomura following the scandal.

Asked whether Nikko had conducted internal investigations, he said: "It is natural to conduct internal investigations, and if any problem emerges, we will disclose it. But we cannot disclose details of client trading."

Nikko said extraordinary losses during the latest year came to 147.5 billion yen, reflecting assistance to three companies within the group.

Yuki said earnings were pressured by declining profits at subsidiaries in Europe, the United States and Asia in the year to March although banking units in the United States and Luxembourg booked firm profits.

"Rising personnel costs such as hiring talented traders ... are pressuring earnings," he added.

Refering to Nikko's lower market share on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Yuji said: "I think the weight of foreign securities has been rising."

Nikko's share of trading on the exchange fell from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent by volume and from 8.5 percent to 8.0 percent by value.

April 25 , 1997

Friday

the year

March

Thursday

a year earlier

a year earlier

Thursday

the current year

the year

the year

this year

a decade ago

the latest year

the year

March

announced

losses

joining

disclosed

loss

said

suffered

loss

reversing

fell

fell

ranked

announced

loss

reversing

plunging

move

offered

said

ended

declined

give

blamed

cutbacks

suffered

loss

said

expected

rise

upgrading

modelled

reforms

expected

be

renew

build

proceed

said

Referring

trading

said

seeking

set

strengthen

received

found

said

Asked

trading

said

expect

transactions

hope

rise

said

detected

transfer

following

scandal

Asked

conducted

said

conduct

emerges

disclose

disclose

said

losses

came

said

pressured

declining

booked

hiring

pressuring

added

Refering

said

think

rising

fell


AFP_ENG_20061213.0712

HARARE, Dec 14 , 2006, 2006

by Fanuel Jongwe

Zimbabwe's veteran ruler Robert Mugabe may be handed two extra years in power this weekend during the annual meeting of his ruling party which is set to recommend he remain at the helm until 2010.

Mugabe, who has led his country since its 1980 independence from British colonial rule, completes his sixth term in 2008, when presidential elections are due.

But his ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) supporters have held a series of meetings to set the agenda for the conference and agreed to pass a resolution to defer presidential elections to 2010.

"There is a feeling in the party that it would be a good thing to merge the parliamentary and presidential elections in order to save money," party spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira was quoted by the state-run Herald daily.

"It makes commonsense that we should do so, but the item is not on the agenda of the conference, but it could come up from the floor again or from the provinces."

Mugabe opens the conference on Friday in the obscure rural centre of Goromonzi although preparatory meetings were beginning on Thursday.

The ruling party's mouthpiece The Voice said in its latest edition that although simultaneous elections were "not on the agenda, it might end up being partly discussed if the provinces raise it in their reports."

Last year, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the government was considering amending the constitution to merge parliamentary and presidential elections before Mugabe's current term expires.

He said ZANU-PF was considering bringing forward the end of the current parliamentary term from 2010 to 2008 to hold both presidential and parliamentary elections that year or stage the presidential elections in 2008 but allow the winner two years and hold presidential polls again two years later.

The third option was for the president to serve seven years from 2008 to 2015 and have concurrent elections from then onwards.

The newspaper said three-day congress, which will debate the theme of "consolidating our independence" will also discuss Zimbabwe's 1,000-percent-plus inflation rate and ravaged economy.

The meeting is also to take stock of the controversial seizure of white-owned farms for redistribution to landless blacks, which critics say has turned the former regional breadbasket into a food-hungry state.

The party conference last year was held against the backdrop of its sweep in elections to a new parliamentary Senate.

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change split over a decision on whether to contest the polls to the newly created upper chamber.

Since then the MDC, which once posed the biggest threat to Mugabe's rule, has become a pale shadow of its former self with supporters divided between the two factions.

This year's party meeting comes as the country is reeling under chronic economic crises including four-digit inflation, crippling shortages of basic goods, food and fuel and skyrocketing unemployment.

The conference is also expected to discuss food security, new laws to give locals a majority stake in mining firms and calls for an extension of price controls among other measures to address the many economic woes.

Price controls were introduced by the government nearly four years ago to snuff out a burgeoning black market of basic commodities and a new law is under discussion for a new commission to be set up to monitor prices and salaries.

Zimbabwe's top union body has held several protests demanding a solution to the plight of workers bearing the brunt of the economic meltdown.

Dec 14 , 2006

this weekend

Friday

Thursday

Last year

that year

two years

two years

last year

nearly four years ago

handed

meeting

ruling

set

recommend

remain

led

completes

ruling

held

meetings

set

conference

agreed

pass

resolution

defer

merge

save

quoted

makes

do

conference

come

opens

conference

meetings

beginning

said

elections

end

discussed

raise

said

considering

amending

merge

elections

expires

said

considering

bringing

hold

elections

stage

elections

allow

hold

serve

have

said

debate

consolidating

discuss

ravaged

meeting

take

seizure

say

turned

conference

held

split

decision

contest

posed

become

meeting

comes

reeling

conference

expected

discuss

give

address

introduced

snuff

burgeoning

discussion

set

held

protests

demanding

bearing


XIN_ENG_20051127.0068

KATHMANDU, Nov. 27 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Nepal

Four people were killed and 15 injured in a road accident in central Nepal on Sunday, local police office said.

The accident occurred when a passenger bus bound for Narayangarh from Pokhara skidded off the road and fell into Trishuli river on the Mugling-Narayangarh road section of Chitwan district, some 200 km west of Kathmandu, local police office said in a statement.

The mishap occurred when the bus tried to overtake a mini truck, the police noted.

The injured are undergoing treatment at the Mahendra Adarsha Hospital and College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Bharatpur, the police said, adding, the condition of three is serious.

Nov. 27 , 2005

Sunday

killed

injured

accident

said

occurred

bound

skidded

fell

said

occurred

tried

overtake

noted

undergoing

said

adding


XIN_ENG_20061121.0116

ABUJA, Nov. 21 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Nigeria to host food security summit

Nigeria is to host a summit on food security in Africa from Dec. 4 to 7 to assess the implementation of resolutions on food security taken in the past, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported on Tuesday.

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Malam Adamu Bello was quoted as saying that forthcoming summit was "a follow-up action aimed at assessing the level of implementation of such past resolutions."

According to him, all member countries will be expected to present an update on the implementations of the recommendations of the African Union 2003 Maputo Declaration on food security in Africa.

Bello said "issues about availability, accessibility and affordability of food would feature prominently at the summit."

It will also review national programs and projects that are making significant progress in contributing to the attainment of national food and nutrition security, the minister added.

In 2003, African heads of state and government committed their governments in the Maputo Declaration to allocating at least 10 percent of their national budgets for agriculture and rural development within five years.

Nov. 21 , 2006

Dec. 4

the past

Tuesday

five years

host

summit

assess

taken

reported

quoted

saying

summit

action

aimed

assessing

According

expected

present

said

feature

summit

review

making

attainment

added

committed

allocating

development


AFP_ENG_20051202.0007

LAKE LOUISE, Canada, Dec 2 , 2005

Italy's Recchia crashes during Lake Louise downhill

Italy's Lucia Recchia crashed at high speed in Friday's women's World Cup downhill and was airlifted to hospital.

Starting from the 18th spot, the 26-year-old Recchia apparently lost a ski and hit a gate shortly after starting her run, then before crashed through the safety netting on the side of the course.

She was put on a stretcher and airlifted off the mountain by helicopter to a waiting ambulance.

Recchia was conscious as ski patrol and medical staff assisted her on the mountain.

Dec 2 , 2005

Friday

crashed

airlifted

Starting

lost

hit

starting

crashed

netting

put

airlifted

assisted


AFP_ENG_20061221.0605

HAVANA, Dec 21 , 2006, 2006

by Isabel Sanchez

Interim Cuba leader Raul Castro could signal a passing of the torch to a newer generation of Communist leaders when Cuba's national legislature opens its annual meeting here Friday.

Raul's role as top leader since he took over from his ailing older brother Fidel Castro on July 31 will likely be made clearer at the meeting.

But the probable absence of Fidel, unseen in public since he underwent surgery in July, will spotlight the big question about the future of Cuba and who will lead it, beyond the Castro brothers.

Raul, 75, strongly suggested during a 35-minute speech late Wednesday to the University Students' Federation (FEU) that the time had come for a changing of the guard.

"Whether we like it or not, we're already coming to the end of our duties," he said. "We have to yield to the new generations ... or continue to lead the way for the new generations, gradually of course."

Raul spoke from a table where three generations of Cuban leaders were sitting, including Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, 76, chief of the Organization Department of the Communist Party Central Committee; Vice President Carlos Lage, 55; and his 25-year-old son and FEU chairman Carlos Lage Codorniu.

After the students said in a final statement that they would "defend the martial, Marxist-Leninist, socialist and antiimperialist revolution," Raul replied that he was proud Cuba would be led "by the new generations you represent."

On what style of government they should follow, Raul, also Cuba's defense minister, recommended the leadership should always include exhaustive debate.

He offered a little insight in his own way of doing things: "I confer with a group of 12 generals of one or more stars. They all give their opinions, they all discuss, and in the end, if I don't see a true majority consensus, no conclusion is reached, unless it's an emergency."

With 609 members, the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP) gives some hints at the future leadership. It is presided over by one of the leading figures of the regime, Ricardo Alarcon, 69, Cuba's former representative to the United Nations.

The legislature comprises now three generations of Cuban leaders, all bound together by "Fidelism" -- from the old guard who rose up behind Fidel Castro in the 1959 revolution, to the newest generation of 30-40 year-olds.

In between are rising figures like Lage; Felipe Perez Roque, 41, Cuba's top diplomat; and Francisco Soberon, 61, president of the central bank.

All were named by Fidel Castro to back his brother in the interim.

Since its creation in December 1976, the ANPP has always been Fidel Castro's venue for laying out in detail the country's direction. His long speeches dominated debates and usually led to unanimous votes backing his views.

It will be only the second time in its 30-year history that Fidel will miss a session of the ANPP.

With a more conservative, quieter style, Raul Castro will preside over the second of the two annual ANPP sessions. In December 2002, his absence was attributed to complications from a mosquito bite.

In the days ahead of the meeting, there has been no indication that he will break from the normal routine. The deputies will review, for instance, the state housing construction program and the "revolutionary" program to protect the environment, themes already discussed Monday and Tuesday by ANPP committees.

Even so, all attention will be focused on any signal about Fidel's health and Raul's future. The meeting takes place with Fidel unseen in public for more than four months and questions about the country's future looming.

"We cannot exclude the possibility that Fidel will choose this moment to make important announcements through his brother, such as laying down the formal process for a transition," said a diplomat from a friendly Latin American country.

The diplomat said Fidel Castro's "political wisdom" could inspire an announcement.

However, he cautioned, "His temperament as a fierce fighter doesn't suggest that he would announce his withdrawal from politics prematurely."

With a personal appearance generally ruled out, the country must hold its breath in wait for a surprise move.

Dec 21 , 2006

Friday

July 31

July

Wednesday

now

December 1976

December 2002

the days

Monday

Tuesday

more than four months

signal

opens

meeting

took

made

meeting

underwent

spotlight

lead

suggested

speech

come

changing

like

coming

said

yield

continue

lead

spoke

sitting

said

defend

revolution

replied

led

follow

recommended

debate

offered

confer

give

discuss

see

reached

presided

comprises

rose

rising

named

back

creation

laying

dominated

led

votes

backing

miss

session

preside

attributed

complications

meeting

break

review

protect

discussed

focused

meeting

takes

looming

exclude

choose

make

laying

process

transition

said

said

inspire

announcement

cautioned

suggest

announce

withdrawal

ruled

hold

move


AFP_ENG_19970423.0174

RAMALLAH, West Bank, April 23 , 1997 (AFP)

Arafat determined to crush first Palestinian public sector strike by Hisham Abdallah

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat appeared determined Wednesday to crush the first labor dispute against his self-rule government, using arrests and threats of dismissal to force thousands of striking West Bank teachers back to work.

After ordering the roundup of 23 strike leaders Monday, Arafat's Palestinian Authority reportedly arrested several more teachers overnight and deployed police around schools Wednesday to ensure they remained open.

Teachers in Nablus, where the strike for higher pay and better working conditions had closed virtually all public schools since April 5, told AFP that they had returned to work Wednesday under threat of dismissal.

"We were threatened by education ministry officials and security officers that if we didn't hold classs today we would be fired," said one returning teacher on condition he not be identified.

But in Ramallah, teachers refused to go back to work and despite the presence of large numbers of police and preventive security agents at school exits, pupils refused to remain in their classrooms, witnesses said.

Palestinian sources said around 10 more teachers were detained in Ramallah overnight, although this could not be immediately confirmed. Police also confiscated the film of a cameraman trying to video one schoolyard.

Schools also remained closed in Bethlehem, officials said, but teachers returned to work at some schools in Hebron and Jericho, and classes were reported nearly normal in the other self-rule towns of Tulkarem and Qalqilya.

More than 10,000 teachers launched their strike at the start of the month to press demands for a 200 percent pay hike and for the reinstatement of 19 teachers dismissed over a warning strike held the previous month.

Arafat met with strike leaders on Saturday and rejected their pay demands, saying that repeated Israeli security closures of the Palestinian territories over the past year had caused great economic hardship and made such salary increases impossible.

When the teachers voted to continue the strike despite Arafat's appeal, police stepped in and arrested key leaders of the walk-out, which had closed 80 percent of West Bank schools and kept more than 200,000 pupils out of class.

The official teachers' union, affiliated with Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization, has condemned the strike and said the coordinating committee leading the action was an illegal offshoot.

The strike has also drawn criticism from a broad range of Palestinian officials, including some independent members of the legislative council who say economic problems and the current stalemate in the peace process with Israel make this the wrong time for divisive protest actions.

"The difficult situation for our people now cannot tolerate that the education of hundreds of thousands of students be disrupted," said Salah Tamari, a legislative council member, on Voice of Palestine radio.

But civil rights groups expressed alarm at the latest illustration of Arafat's heavy-handed response to dissent against his three-year-old self-rule administration.

"The teachers' arrests make us more worried about the status of democracy and freedom of expression in Palestinian society," said Riziq Shuqair of the Ramallah-based human rights movement Al-Haq.

The group sent Arafat a letter Wednesday calling for the release of the jailed strikers.

"This is not only a message for teachers but is a message from the Palestinian Authority to everyone: 'If you protest, we will crush you,'" said one Nablus worker who asked not to be identified.

Teachers earn an average of 300 dollars a month, while the monthly cost of living for a Palestinian family is estimated at 750 dollars.

They complain that teachers' wages are lower than those in other government ministries, which they say Arafat has bloated with high- paid cronies.

The PA faces a budget deficit totalling more than 100 million dollars, largely due to the impact of the security closures imposed following anti-Israeli attacks.

The closures prevent tens of thousands of Palestinian laborers from reaching their jobs in Israel, costing the occupied territories several million dollars a day in lost revenues.

April 23 , 1997

Wednesday

Monday

Wednesday

April 5

Wednesday

today

the month

the previous month

Saturday

the past year

now

Wednesday

appeared

determined

crush

dispute

using

arrests

force

work

ordering

roundup

arrested

deployed

ensure

remained

closed

told

returned

work

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hold

fired

said

returning

identified

refused

go

work

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said

said

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confirmed

confiscated

trying

remained

said

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work

reported

launched

strike

start

press

dismissed

met

rejected

saying

caused

made

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continue

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appeal

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closed

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said

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drawn

say

make

actions

tolerate

education

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said

expressed

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said

sent

calling

protest

crush

said

identified

earn

estimated

complain

lower

say

bloated

faces

impact

imposed

attacks

prevent

reaching

costing


XIN_ENG_20051101.0139

ANKARA, Nov. 1 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Four killed in armed clash in southeastern Turkey

Two Turkish soldiers and a village guard were killed and four soldiers wounded in a clash between the Turkish security forces and the members of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in southeastern Turkey, an official statement said on Tuesday.

One PKK member was also killed in the shootout on Monday night as the security forces realized that the PKK members were trying to infiltrate in Uludere town in Sirnak province, Sirnak governor' s office said.

The PKK has intensified landmine and remote-control bomb attacks in Turkey over the past few months.

At least 200 Turkish soldiers have been reportedly killed in clashes with PKK this year.

More than 37,000 people have been killed since the rebel group took up arms against the government forces for an independent Kurdish state in the mainly Kurdish southeastern area in 1984.

Violence resurged after the group called off a unilateral five- year ceasefire in 2004.

Nov. 1 , 2005

Tuesday

Monday night

the past few months

this year

year

killed

wounded

clash

said

killed

shootout

realized

trying

infiltrate

said

intensified

attacks

killed

clashes

killed

took

resurged

called


AFP_ENG_20061204.0140

LONDON, Dec 4 , 2006, 2006

Oil prices fall, though Brent crude holds above 64 dollars

World oil prices dropped on Monday after striking two-month high points the previous week on supply concerns.

In London, Brent North Sea crude for January delivery slid 52 cents to 64.10 dollars in electronic trading.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January, lost 45 cents to 62.98 dollars per barrel in electronic deals before the official opening of the US market.

World oil prices had risen sharply last week, mainly owing to data that revealed falls in US energy stocks and expectations that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will decide later this month to cut further its oil output.

Dec 4 , 2006

Monday

January

January

last week

this month

dropped

striking

slid

lost

deals

opening

risen

owing

revealed

falls

decide

cut


XIN_ENG_20051115.0359

ATHENS, Nov. 15 , 2005 (Xinhua)

UN official urges Greece to protect rights of minors

A UN senior official has warned Tuesday that some 2,000 children are drawn into child sex rings in Greece each year, adding that the Greek government must implement a national policy to protect the rights of minors.

"Greece has made significant progress in the area of human rights during the last decade, but this has to be continued, especially as far as children's rights are concerned," said Juan Miguel Petit, the special rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, quoted by the local English-language daily Kathimerini.

Concluding a six-day trip to Greece, the UN official highlighted shortcomings in Greece's protection of minors, such as the conditions in which Gypsy children live near the center of Athens.

The district is to be redeveloped into a new football stadium as home to Athens Panathinakos club, despite concerns of human rights groups over the forced relocation of families living in the area.

The conditions children had to endure were unacceptable. Most of the 400 children who left Albania on their own last year ended up in Greece, often with the help of traffickers, Petit said.

The UN official recommended that the Albanian and Greek governments should cooperate more closely over the issue.

He also advised the creation of a central body that would oversee the creation of a coherent policy on children's rights in Greece, so the current overlapping between state organizations would be avoided.

Meanwhile, Lambros Kanellopoulos, head of UNICEF's office in Greece, revealed that research had shown some 2,000 children are being sexually exploited by organized gangs in various parts of the country.

Nov. 15 , 2005

Tuesday

each year

the last decade

last year

warned

drawn

adding

implement

protect

made

continued

said

sale

quoted

trip

highlighted

redeveloped

relocation

endure

unacceptable

left

ended

help

said

recommended

cooperate

advised

creation

oversee

creation

overlapping

avoided

revealed

shown

exploited


XIN_ENG_20051118.0132

TIANJIN, Nov. 18 , 2005 (Xinhua)

China sees decline of computer virus infection ratio

About 80 percent of China's computers have been infected with virus in 2005, 8 percent lower than last year.

This is the first time of drop for the PC virus infection ratio in China over the past five years, said sources with the Eighth International Conference of the Association of Anti Virus Asia Researchers (AVAR) here Friday.

According to a latest survey conducted by the Ministry of Public Securities, China's companies, institutions and government offices have more access to the information technology this year.

They all strengthened the work concerning information network safety and are rewarded with a drop of virus infection ratio, said Zhang Jian, deputy director of the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center.

The survey also said that China is not hit by serious virus so far this year.

According to the analysis of types of computer virus, the worm virus infection ratio is obviously higher than others, accounting for 74 percent.

Zhang said that China still lacks professionals of network safety maintenance.

He urged the governments at all levels to provide more training chances for the related workers and specialists and increase investment for the development of anti-virus technologies and software.

Nov. 18 , 2005

last year

the past five years

Friday

this year

this year

infected

said

According

survey

strengthened

rewarded

drop

said

said

hit

According

accounting

said

lacks

urged

provide

increase

development


AFP_ENG_20061213.0531

FRANKFURT, Dec 13 , 2006, 2006

Bundesbank sees German economy growing by 2.75 pct in 2006

The Bundesbank expects the German economy to grow by around 2.75 percent this year, thereby providing "substantial impulses" for the 12-country eurozone as a whole, the German central bank's president Axel Weber said on Wednesday.

The German economy, the biggest in the single currency region, "has developed very positively this year," Weber said in a speech prepared for delivery at an economic forum in Hamburg.

A copy of the speech was made available by the Bundesbank in Frankfurt.

After expanding by 0.8 percent and 1.1 percent respectively in the first two quarters of this year, area-wide gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.8 percent in the third quarter.

"The economic uptrend continued at a rapid pace in the third quarter," Weber said.

The annual growth rate for the whole of 2006 "should therefore stand at around two-and-three-quarter percent, well above potential. That means Germany is providing substantial impulses for the euro area," the German central bank chief said.

Exports and domestic demand were contributing to growth.

"Nevertheless, there is still no sign of a deep recovery in consumption, even if there have been improvements on this front recently. In the traditional retail sector, developments are still weak," Weber said.

Looking ahead to next year, Weber said he was projecting the current upturn to weaken "but not break down altogether."

"The fundamental trend will remain intact, even if the rise in value-added tax (VAT) on January 1 will have a substantial braking effect on the economy," he said.

The German government has decided to raise VAT or sales tax by three full percentage points to 19 percent from next month, the biggest-ever single VAT rise.

Turning to the state of Germany's public finances, Weber said that given the country's strong economic performance, the public deficit was to set to fall back within EU limits for the first time since 2002 this year.

Under the European Stability and Growth Pact, eurozone countries are not allowed to run up public deficits in excess of 3.0 percent of GDP.

However, Germany, the pact's main architect, has been in breach of the 3.0-percent rule every year since 2002.

Weber said the Bundebank was pencilling in a deficit ratio of "around two percent this year."

And given the tax measures due to come into effect from 2007, the deficit ratio would likely fall further next year, Weber continued.

However, Germany should not rest on its laurels, "there is still room for further substantial consolidation," Weber said.

"A deficit ratio of less than 3.0 percent is just an interim goal. And much of what has been achieved is cyclical," he said. "The medium term goal is to achieve a balanced budget. Additional consolidation must follow in economically good times."

Weber warned against excessive euphoria.

"The current favourable economic developments and the related increase in tax revenues must not be interpreted as an indication of improved growth perspectives in the long term," he said.

More structural reforms would have to be implemented to improve the low potential growth rate of the German economy and reduce unemployment on a lasting basis, Weber argued.

Dec 13 , 2006

this year

Wednesday

positively this year

the first two quarters of this year

the third quarter

the third quarter

recently

next year

January 1

next month

2002 this year

every year

this year

next year

expects

grow

said

developed

said

speech

prepared

delivery

speech

made

expanding

grew

continued

said

stand

providing

said

demand

contributing

growth

recovery

improvements

said

said

projecting

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break

remain

rise

have

said

decided

raise

rise

Turning

said

set

fall

allowed

run

said

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given

come

fall

continued

rest

said

achieved

said

achieve

consolidation

follow

warned

developments

increase

interpreted

said

implemented

improve

reduce

argued


XIN_ENG_20051115.0131

CHANGSHA, Nov. 15 , 2005 (Xinhua)

case

Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and China's Ministry of Public Health praised the Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital here Tuesday for its successful cure of a suspicious case of pneumonia.

A nine year old boy and his sister developed symptoms of pneumonia in xianggang county, central-south Hunan province, last month after eating a chicken that had died of bird flu. A 36-year-old male was also diagnosed with pneumonia at around the same time. Only the boy and the man survived.

Both brother and sister were sent to the Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital. The twelve-year-old girl died on her second day in the hospital. Her brother surnamed He, left hospital on November 12.

"We must congratulate the hospital on curing the nine-year-old boy. That is really an exciting piece of news," said Julie Hall, WHO's permanent inspector in Beijing, who led a five-member panel to Hunan.

Hall said the panel together with Chinese experts from the Ministry of Public Health will collect disease samples and data from the other two pneumonia patients.

"We will upload the treatment and some related information into the database of the WHO for further studies," she said.

China's Ministry of Public Health reported on Nov. 6 that the pneumonia among the three had unknown causes, and that H5N1 virus could not be ruled out.

Nov. 15 , 2005

Tuesday

nine year

last month

second day

November 12

Nov. 6

praised

developed

eating

died

diagnosed

survived

sent

died

surnamed

left

congratulate

curing

said

led

said

collect

upload

said

reported

ruled


XIN_ENG_20051116.0324

BERLIN, Nov. 16 , 2005 (Xinhua)

German stocks end lower

German stocks ended lower Wednesday in the Frankfurt Stock Exchange for the first day in six.

The 30-share benchmark DAX Index fell 0.57 percent to 5,081.46 points with 19 stocks falling.

The fall was led by Europe's third-largest utility RWE AG after reporting poor earnings. RWE fell 2.2 percent to 56.55 euros.

The index of medium-sized firms, MDAX, slipped 0.31 percent to 6,976.49 points.

The index of high-tech stocks, TecDAX, was down 0.86 percent to 574.82 points.

Nov. 16 , 2005

Wednesday

ended

fell

falling

led

reporting

fell

slipped


XIN_ENG_20051123.0314

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Christie considering retirement because of sore left ankle

The Dallas Mavericks guard Doug Christie is considering retirement because of his recurring sore left ankle, reports from Dallas said.

Christie went home to Seattle last week to have the surgically repaired ankle examined by his personal physician. He missed the final 24 games last season for Orlando because of bone spurs in his ankle that were removed.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Tuesday that he expects to know within a few days what Christie will do. Retirement is an option, he said.

The 35-year-old Christie, in his 14th NBA season, signed a three-year contract with Dallas in August, but only the $3.15 million for the first season is guaranteed.

Christie played the first seven games this season for Dallas, averaging just 3.7 points and 2.0 assists a game. He got permission to go home and hasn't been with the team the last three games, including Tuesday night's 102-93 victory over Houston.

Nov. 23 , 2005

last week

last season

Tuesday

August

Tuesday night

guard

considering

said

went

have

examined

missed

spurs

removed

said

expects

know

do

said

signed

guaranteed

played

averaging

assists

game

got

go

victory


AFP_ENG_19970402.0390

ROME, April 2 , 1997 (AFP)

Pressure mounts to get multi-national force into Albania

International pressure mounted Wednesday to deploy the Italian-led, 5,000-strong multi-national force to Albania on the ground "quickly," as food stocks there dwindle to dangerously low levels.

"It has to be done quickly," the head of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) humanitarian mission to Albania, Franz Vranitzky, said after talks in Rome with Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini.

Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino, speaking after a meeting with his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi in the rebel-held southern Albanian town of Gjirokaster, said: "Albania is ready, the other countries are ready, we must not waste any more time. Each day lost damages Albania."

However Dini said the force's deployment, which "not yet been decided, will be decided in common."

Their comments came before a meeting in Rome of the countries which will supply the force's troops, whose mission is to protect humanitarian aid channels in the chaos-torn country.

In Brussels, EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Emma Bonino added to the calls, warning that food supplies in Albania had reached alarming levels.

"There is no famine yet but we are are concerned that stocks have been reduced below safety levels," she told the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee.

Bonino said EU food and medical aid could be sent to Albania quickly using logistical structures established in the former Yugoslavia. "But only if we can solve the protection problem."

The proposed international force's role would be strictly confined to protecting the humanitarian convoys, Bonino noted. "There is no mandate for disarming rebels or anything else of that nature," she said.

"The United Nations have given us three months," Vranitzky, Austria's former chancellor, told journalists, adding that the soldiers should be on the ground "in the space of 10 or 14 days."

Italy is expected to provide 2,000 soldiers; France said Tuesday it was sending 1,000; Greece has promised up to 700 troops; Turkey, 500; Romania, 400. Hungary on Wednesday ruled out sending troops, but Slovenia, Spain and Portugal are considering doing so.

The force's mission, approved by the UN Security Council March 28, involves securing roads, junctions, warehouses and aid depots, as well as in distributing the aid.

Military sources in Rome said it was unlikely Italian troops would be sent into southern Albania, where rebels are most active, although Dini said "there were clear signals Tuesday that Italian forces would be well-received."

Last Friday, a collision between an Italian warship and an Albanian refugee boat killed four people and left 83 missing.

Albania itself would set up a volunteer force of 3,000 "well armed" and "well paid" soldiers to support the European soldiers, Albanian Deputy Defence Minister Alfred Moisiu told AFP in Tirana on Wednesday.

Vranitzky also told journalists "we have a chance to avoid" the errors committed in the former Yugoslavia, where there was an initial lack of international coordination.

"If we're not in agreement this time, it will be impossible to convince the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to give us their support," he added.

"Albania has need of aid, of restoring public order, of economic reconstruction and in restoring confidence in its political system," Vranitzky said.

April 2 , 1997

Wednesday

three months

10 or 14

Tuesday

Wednesday

March 28

Tuesday

Last Friday

Wednesday

mounted

deploy

dwindle

said

talks

speaking

meeting

said

waste

lost

said

deployment

decided

decided

came

meeting

supply

protect

added

warning

reached

reduced

told

said

sent

using

established

solve

confined

protecting

convoys

noted

disarming

said

given

told

adding

expected

provide

said

sending

promised

ruled

sending

considering

doing

approved

involves

distributing

said

sent

said

killed

left

set

paid

support

told

told

avoid

committed

impossible

convince

give

added

need

restoring

restoring

said


AFP_ENG_20061204.0442

MOSCOW, Dec 4 , 2006, 2006

Russia hopes next US ambassador to UN less 'severe'

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

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

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

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

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

Dec 4 , 2006

Monday

August 2005

the end of the year

hopes

said

announced

supported

quoted

saying

like

express

overcome

preserve

develop

added

appointed

announce

leave


AFP_ENG_20061218.0011

WASHINGTON, Dec 18 , 2006, 2006

by Maxim Kniazkov

Newly-minted US Defense Secretary Robert Gates takes control of the Department of Defense Monday, facing deepening divisions among government officials and policy experts about handling violence-torn Iraq.

Gates, a 63-year-old seasoned Washington insider who owes much of his career to president George Bush, the father of the current US leader, will be sworn in at a Pentagon ceremony just three days after his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld, who is blamed for the current mess in Iraq, was given a full-honors send-off.

The former Central Intelligence Agency director, known for his professionalism more than political skills, was offered the job one day after US voters, angry over the gruesome Iraqi carnage, stripped the Republican Party of its majority in both chambers of Congress in the November 7 elections.

Shortly thereafter, the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel of foreign policy luminaries, declared that the situation in Iraq was "grave and deteriorating" and recommended wrapping up US combat operations there by early 2008.

President George W. Bush, who has withheld a wholesale endorsement of the report, is expected to announced a new Iraq policy early next year.

Gates, who was confirmed in his new job by an overwhelming 95-2 US Senate vote on December 7, is likely to be involved in shaping this new strategy, but how much exactly remains unknown.

"There are a lot of people who are going to be involved in the process," White House spokesman Tony Snow said evasively when asked on Friday about Gates's future role.

"But, ultimately," added the press secretary, the president "is the one who has to make the important decisions."

Options under consideration reportedly include boosting the number of US soldiers in Iraq by between 20,000 and 50,000 to secure its chaotic capital, forge an alliance between moderate Iraqi Shiites and Sunnis at the expense of radicals on both sides, or even throwing the US lot with majority Shiites.

But advocates of the "victory-still-possible" approach received a bucketful of cold water Sunday from one of the chief architects of the allied victory in the 1991 Gulf War, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell.

Powell, who later went on the become secretary of state when the United States invaded Iraq, said that "we are losing" the war because US troops have been unable to quell the insurgency and stave off sectarian violence.

"If victory means you have gotten rid of every insurgent, you have peace throughout the country, I don't see that in the cards right now," the retired general told CBS News.

And he dismissed as unrealistic plans for throwing more troops into Iraq, arguing that "the American army isn't large enough to secure Baghdad."

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid for his part indicated he would be willing to support a troop increase only as a stop-gap measure tied to "a program to get us out of there ... by this time next year."

Supporters of sending more troops to Iraq, which also include Republican Senator John McCain, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, also face rising public opposition.

A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg opinion pull conducted on December 8-11 found that 59 percent of Americans believed that Bush should adopt the Iraq Study Group's recommendation of reducing American troops by early 2008.

A similar survey conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post showed that only 17 percent of respondents supported the idea of boosting troop levels while 52 percent opposed it.

Some of non-governmental policy experts, meanwhile, have come to the conclusion the United States has now simply run out of good options.

"US policy in Iraq must come to grip with two realities: Iraq is in a civil war, and Iraq is a failed state," Carlos Pascual and Kenneth Pollack, two top Brookings Institution foreign policy experts wrote earlier this month.

Dec 18 , 2006

Monday

current

three days

one day

November 7

early 2008

early next year

December 7

Friday

Sunday

now

next year

December 8-11

early 2008

earlier this month

takes

facing

handling

owes

sworn

ceremony

blamed

given

offered

stripped

elections

declared

deteriorating

recommended

wrapping

combat

withheld

expected

announced

confirmed

vote

involved

shaping

remains

involved

said

asked

added

make

decisions

boosting

secure

forge

throwing

received

went

invaded

said

losing

war

quell

insurgency

stave

violence

means

gotten

see

told

dismissed

throwing

arguing

secure

indicated

willing

support

increase

tied

get

sending

face

rising

conducted

found

believed

adopt

reducing

showed

supported

boosting

opposed

come

run

come

war

wrote


XIN_ENG_20061122.0252

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 , 2006 (Xinhua)

U.S., Colombia sign trade promotion agreement

The United States and Colombia signed a trade promotion agreement Wednesday, eliminating tariffs and other barriers to trade in goods and services between the two countries.

Still, the agreement, signed at InterAmerican Development Bank in Washington by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative John Veroneau and Colombian Commerce Minister Jorge Humberto Botero, will require a final approval by the U.S. Congress.

"The agreement will deepen and strengthen our trade ties by providing new opportunities for U.S. businesses, manufacturers, farmers and ranchers to export their goods and services to one of Latin America's most robust economies," said Veroneau in a statement.

"For Colombia, this agreement will provide permanent access to the U.S. market, which will aid in sustaining real growth, creating more jobs, and attracting new investment," Veroneau said.

Colombia is currently the 31st largest U.S. goods trading partner. In 2005, U.S. goods exports to Colombia totaled nearly 5. 5 billion dollars. Two-way goods trade between the two countries during 2005 amounted to 14.3 billion dollars, according to the statement.

The statement said that many products from Colombia already enter the U.S. market duty-free under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) which expires on Dec. 31, 2006. This new agreement helps Colombia to expand its current access and lock in duty-free treatment for Colombian products.

Building on ATPA, the agreement will ensure that U.S. products exported to Colombia likewise benefit from duty-free treatment, the statement said.

Nov. 22 , 2006

Wednesday

Dec. 31, 2006

signed

eliminating

signed

require

approval

deepen

strengthen

providing

export

said

provide

aid

sustaining

creating

attracting

said

totaled

amounted

according

said

enter

expires

helps

expand

lock

Building

ensure

exported

benefit

said


AFP_ENG_19970407.0354

BEIJING, April 7 , 1997 (AFP)

China thanks French president for not backing human rights censure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

April 7 , 1997

the past year

May

Sunday

June 4, 1989

Monday

presidency

every year

thanked

supporting

move

censure

told

decision

support

criticize

told

visiting

appreciate

decision

reported

added

cooperate

arrange

promoting

see

made

told

start

meeting

appreciate

placed

said

adding

looking

visit

visit

started

wants

open

visit

established

invited

study

called

visits

visit

visits

stormed

fired

killing

agreed

go

criticising

failing

reach

move

overcame

standoff

threatened

meeting

blocked

sponsored

pursue

dialogue

seek

confrontation

supported

go

lifted

believe

motivated

jeopardise

expected

clinch

visits


XIN_ENG_20061124.0042

BEIJING, Nov. 24 , 2006 (Xinhua)

cooperation

A three-day symposium on Respecting and Promoting Human Rights and Constructing a Harmonious World ended on Friday with a wide-ranging consensus for more cooperation to develop human rights.

More than 70 delegates from 19 countries submitted papers and delivered speeches covering almost every aspect of human rights, including basic concepts, national practices, individual freedoms, rights of different social groups, political rights and rights relevant to daily life.

"The symposium set an example for exchanges and dialogue as delegates from different countries and cultures shared views with mutual respect," said Jin Jian, vice-director of the China Society for Human Rights Studies.

Jin said delegates to the Beijing event clarified standpoints of their respective countries. They all expressed the wish to safeguard and promote human rights by all countries and peoples.

Delegates from China proposed the principle that the universal character of human rights must be implemented proceeding from the specific conditions of each country. The right to subsistence and development was the human right of paramount importance. All countries should promote dialogue and oppose antagonism.

All delegates believed all people were entitled to human rights, irrespective of race, gender, religious belief and language. The elimination of poverty, and economic and social development were of special importance to the development of human rights.

Jin said some countries promoted rights through their constitutions, some protected rights with the help of non-governmental organizations, and some promoted political democracy through eliminating illiteracy.

Delegates hoped the United Nations Commission of Human Rights played a positive role in promoting international cooperation.

Jin said the concept of a harmonious world was worthy of the joint efforts of all humanity. Insufficient respect and guarantees for human rights led to wars, increasing poverty, the widening of south-north disparities, terrorism, environmental degradation and other problems.

Dong Yunhu, vice-director and general-secretary of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, said controversies were left unresolved after the meeting, and exchanges of different views would continue.

"We all hoped that nations could strengthen international cooperation on both governmental and non-governmental levels," he said.

Nov. 24 , 2006

Friday

Constructing

ended

develop

submitted

delivered

covering

practices

set

dialogue

shared

said

said

expressed

safeguard

promote

proposed

implemented

proceeding

development

promote

dialogue

oppose

believed

elimination

development

development

said

promoted

help

promoted

eliminating

hoped

played

promoting

cooperation

said

worthy

efforts

led

wars

increasing

said

left

meeting

continue

hoped

strengthen

cooperation

said


AFP_ENG_19970413.0013

SINGAPORE, April 13 , 1997 (AFP)

Financing curbs seek to stem speculation in Singapore public housing

Singapore is to fine-tune its much-envied public housing system by tightening financing procedures to curb speculation on the heavily subsidised flats which are home to nine out of 10 citizens.

The new rules unveiled Saturday are aimed at deterring the use of subsidised loans to buy and sell the simple but comfortable flats to reap capital gains.

The regulations also intend to endure that flat-buyers borrow within their means, officials and analysts said.

"The basic policy of public housing is to provide a roof over your head, not to help you make a profit," Chan Hiap Kong, senior director of the property consultancy Colliers Jardine, told the Sunday Times.

"It will introduce more prudence into the market and extract the speculative element," Chan said of the measures announced by National Development Minister Lim Hng Kiang.

The new mortgage financing policy will make flats built by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) more expensive for those who already own property.

The government said a "credit assessment" criteria would be imposed on buyers to ensure that they are not tempted by low interest rates and rising resale prices to borrow beyond their means.

Buyers of HDB flats will now be entitled to only two subsidised mortgage loans which come with an interest rate of 3.5 percent per annum, below the market rate of 5.75 percent.

The loan amount will depend on the age and household income of borrowers. Buyers will have to use up the money in their pension-fund accounts before they are granted mortgage loans.

The maximumn loan amount will be worked out in such a way that borrowers' monthly repayments do not exceed 40 percent of the household income.

Buyers of resale flats will have to pay market interest rates if they earn more than 8,000 Singapore dollars (5,714 US) a month, or if they own private property.

"The objective of this latest revision in mortgage financing policy for HDB flats is to bring it closer to market practice and to rationalise the subsidies for the purchase of HDB flats," the ministry of national development said.

The measures would check rampant "upgrading" by Singaporeans who put pressure on their budgets by seeking to move to more spacious flats, analysts said.

The steps come on the top of credit-tightening and tax measures introduced in May last year against excessive speculation in private property which have softened real-estate prices.

Market speculation Friday sent property stocks reeling, with the Stock Exchange of Singapore Property Index ending down five percent -- the largest one-day fall since the May curbs.

Analysts said the steps were less stringent than had been speculated about in the market.

"The new measures will not affect the selling prices of new flats. There might be some downward pressure on the resale flat prices. However the impact is difficult to assess at this moment," a government spokesman said.

"I think definitely the home market will be affected but to what extent nobody can tell," said a property agent, adding that property stocks were expected to stabilise Monday given the week-end selling bout.

The HDB, set up in 1960 as the sole public housing authority in the island state of three million people, has built some 650,000 subsidised flats that house about 90 percent of Singaporeans.

Most of them were able to buy their own flats by drawing on hefty compulsory social security savings in the Central Provident Fund and low-interest mortgage loans.

But demand for new HDB flats and financing has risen sharply since 1993 following measures which made it easier for owners to sell their units on the open market, causing resale prices to increase.

Annual demand has since averaged at 70,000 new HDB flats, compared to the 30,000 the HDB builds.

April 13 , 1997

Saturday

Sunday Times

May last year

Friday

Monday

fine-tune

tightening

procedures

curb

unveiled

aimed

deterring

use

buy

sell

reap

intend

endure

said

provide

help

make

told

introduce

extract

said

announced

make

own

said

imposed

ensure

tempted

rising

come

depend

use

granted

worked

exceed

pay

earn

own

revision

bring

rationalise

purchase

said

check

put

seeking

move

said

come

introduced

softened

sent

reeling

ending

said

speculated

affect

impact

assess

said

think

affected

tell

said

adding

expected

stabilise

given

set

built

able

buy

drawing

risen

made

sell

increase

averaged

builds


XIN_ENG_20051130.0047

MACAO, Nov. 30 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Delegation of Shenzhou-6 space mission starts Macao tour

The delegation of Shenzhou-6 manned space mission arrived in Macao Wednesday for a three-day visit and academic exchange at the invitation of Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR).

The 30-strong delegation, including taikonauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, disembarked the ferry jetboat at the Macao Ferry Terminal at noon.

A large crowd waving China's miniature national flags and MSAR flags welcomed the space heroes.

The taikonauts smiled, accepted bouquets, shook hands with fans and signed autographs.

The delegation was greeted by Wang Jinxiang, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR and Ao Man Long, secretary for transportation and public works.

During its stay, the delegation is to meet local students, give lectures and attend a grand evening gala hosted by the MSAR government.

Fei Junlong, 40, and Nie Haisheng, 41, went into space on Oct. 12 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and returned to Earth on Oct. 17. They conducted a series of unprecedented experiments on the spacecraft.

China's maiden space flight in 2003, conducted by taikonaut Yang Liwei, made the nation the third to put human into space following Russia and the United States.

Nov. 30 , 2005

Wednesday

Oct. 12

Oct. 17

manned

arrived

invitation

disembarked

waving

welcomed

smiled

accepted

shook

signed

greeted

works

stay

meet

give

attend

gala

hosted

went

returned

conducted

conducted

made

put


XIN_ENG_20051113.0001

ABU DHABI, Nov. 12 , 2005 (Xinhua)

US urges OPEC members to raise oil output

US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman urged OPEC on Saturday to take measures to increase production at its next meeting on Dec.12 in Kuwait, hoping that the Gulf countries would expand their output capacity.

High oil prices appeared to have caused "some dampening in demand." "I would hope that the (OPEC) ministers would see fit to continue supplying the market," Bodman told reporters in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He is on a tour of the Gulf members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

"We encourage producers -- both members of OPEC members and non members -- to make maximum product available to the market," he said.

He urged Gulf states to issue a joint statement detailing plans to increase oil output and refining capacity.

"The goal is to have a more stable pricing environment where you do not get big spikes, either up or down," Bodman added. "That enables companies or countries to make more rational decisions on whether they should expand and if so how rapidly."

He lauded the UAE for taking steps toward increasing capacity, revealing the Emirates had briefed him about new plans for raising production.

"There seems to be evidence that certainly here (UAE) there is significant investment in and interest in expanding capacity ... and I hope that this is what we find when we visit other countries," he said.

Bodman said that signing free trade agreements with the UAE and other countries of the energy-rich Gulf Cooperation Council would help US oil and gas companies make more investment in the energy sector of the region.

At its last meeting, OPEC maintained its official production quota at 28 million barrels per day (bpd). The UAE is currently OPEC's fifth largest producer, with output of just under 2.4 million bpd.

Oil prices fell to below 58 US dollars per barrel Friday, the lowest since July, as swelling fuel stocks eased consumer fears of tight winter supplies.

US oil prices are more than 13 dollars below a late-August record of 70.85 dollars.

Nov. 12 , 2005

Saturday

Friday

July

urged

take

increase

meeting

hoping

expand

appeared

caused

hope

see

fit

continue

supplying

told

tour

encourage

make

said

urged

issue

increase

have

get

added

enables

make

decisions

expand

lauded

taking

increasing

revealing

briefed

raising

hope

find

visit

said

said

signing

help

make

meeting

maintained

fell

eased


VOA19980305.1800.2603
 NEWS STORY

 International Women's Day is this coming Sunday, March eighth.
 A major focus of International Women's Day is the plight of Afghan women.
 Special events are being organized by the European Commission and
 individual nations in Europe, North America, and other parts of the world.
 Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.

 Afghanistan has been at war for twenty years, leaving a large part of the
 country's male population dead or in exile. The United Nations says women
 and children make up about seventy-five percent of the Afghan population. An Afghan
 refugee in Switzerland, Homira Atimadi, is a senior official of a group called the
 International Working Group on Afghan Women. The group has branches in
 Pakistan, Iran, Europe, Australia, and North America. Ms. Atimadi says
 Afghan women have been victims of severe violations of human rights for the past twenty
 years and she says she sees no end to the misery. She says security under
 the fundamentalist Taleban government is better, but everything else is worse.

 Women do not become victims of armed attack, but they do not have the
 right to work. And today, the right to work is equal to r- the right to survival.

 Ms. Atimadi says the war has created a nation of widows. Women have become
 the sole support of their families. Yet, the Taliban have forbidden them to
 work. She says this puts the very existence of women's families at risk.
 She says the plight of women in urban areas is greater than that which exists
 in rural parts of the country. In cities, such as the capital Kabul, women
 are totally dependent on international aid for survival. Ms. Atimadi says the
 women of Kabul symbolize the suffering of all the women in Afghanistan.

 The aim is to bring in not only the focus on women's right to education,
 access to work, but look beyond that and look at the roots of, uh of these
 problems. These are only the symptoms of the problems that are facing
 Afghanistan. For women in Afghanistan to be able to realize their rights,
 there have to be conditions of peace and justice.

 Ms. Atimadi says that is the primary focus of her group, peace and
 justice. She says her group is appealing to individuals, to the international
 community, and to the combatants and people of Afghanistan to stop the
 bloodletting which has torn the country apart.
 Lisa Schlein for VOA News, Geneva.

this coming Sunday, March eighth

twenty years

the past twenty
 years

today

Day

plight

events

organized

at

leaving

dead

in

says

make

says

victims

violations

says

sees

end

misery

says

better

worse

become

victims

attack

right

work

equal

says

war

created

become

support

forbidden

work

says

puts

at

says

plight

greater

dependent

aid

survival

says

symbolize

aim

bring

look

look

facing

able

realize

conditions

says

focus

says

appealing

stop

bloodletting

torn

for


XIN_ENG_20061114.0059

GUIYANG, Nov. 14 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Power station plan at SW China scenic spot sparks controversy

Plans to build a hydropower station in a national scenic spot in southwest China have fired a debate on the precedence of economic development over natural conservation.

A foundation-laying ceremony was held last month for the Zhaojiadu Hydropower Station near the Malinghe river canyon scenic site, at Xingyi City in Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in the rather underdeveloped province of Guizhou.

The facility would produce 355 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, bringing revenues of more than 81 million yuan (10 million U.S. dollars), the prefecture government has predicted.

But some local residents and officials have expressed deep concern over the project, fearing the dam would split the famous canyon into three parts and flood the most beautiful areas.

"The canyon is a gift of nature and belongs to the world. It is not worth destroying a scenic spot for temporary profit," said Peng Dianji, a political advisor to the prefecture government.

The station would seriously damage local tourism, he warned.

The provincial government has invested 56 million yuan (seven million U.S. dollars) in tourism facilities in the 450-sq-km Malinghe River Canyon Scenic Area.

The area received 800,000 visitors so far this year and is expected to bring a total revenue of 300 million yuan (38 million U.S. dollars) for the year, said an official with the scenic area.

"In the long run, tourism will bring far more benefits than a power plant," the worker said, calling the power station plan "shortsighted".

Despite the controversy, the local government seems determined to build the station.

The hydropower station has passed assessments in geological damage, water and soil conservation and environmental effects.

"A comprehensive use plan for the Malinghe River was drawn up a long time ago," said Chen Xianglin, an official with the autonomous prefecture.

"A power station would bring direct economic benefit," he said. "Tax revenue alone would be 14 million yuan (1.7 million U.S dollars) a year."

An artificial lake would form after the power station was completed, which would also be a visitor attraction, Chen argued.

"Protection is important for a state-level scenic site, but the law does not preclude the comprehensive use of water resources," said Zhang Dingshu, deputy head of the prefecture.

Zhang admitted the project was yet to be officially approved by the Ministry of Construction, but preparatory work was underway.

Nov. 14 , 2006

last month

this year

the year

build

fired

development

ceremony

held

produce

bringing

predicted

expressed

fearing

split

flood

destroying

said

damage

warned

invested

received

expected

bring

said

bring

said

calling

controversy

seems

build

passed

assessments

drawn

said

bring

said

form

completed

argued

preclude

use

said

admitted

approved

underway


XIN_ENG_20061110.0141

LONDON, Nov. 10 , 2006 (Xinhua)

30 terror plots being planned in Britain: MI5

The British security service has identified 30 major terrorist plots being planned in Britain and is tracking more than 1,600 individuals actively engaged in promoting attacks here and abroad, according to local media reports on Friday.

Addressing to a small audience of academics at Queen Mary College in London on Thursday evening, British MI5 Director General Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller said the 30 plots are the most serious of many more planned by some 200 British-based "networks" involved in terrorism, the reports said.

"We are aware of numerous plots to kill people and damage our economy. What do I mean by numerous? Five? Ten? No, nearer thirty -- that we know of," Manningham-Buller said.

"These plots often have links back to Al-Qaida in Pakistan and through those links Al-Qaida gives guidance and training to its largely British foot soldiers here on an extensive and growing scale," she added.

She also said that five further major conspiracies in Britain had been thwarted since the 7 July terror bombings in London in 2005.

"Today, my officers and the police are working to contend with some 200 groupings or networks, totaling over 1,600 identified individuals who are actively engaged in plotting or facilitating terrorist acts here and overseas," she said.

Manningham-Buller warned that the terrorist threat was "serious" and "growing," and would be "with us for a generation."

The number of cases being pursued by security services had risen by 80 percent since January, she said.

"Today we see the use of home-made improvised explosive devices. Tomorrow's threat may include the use of chemicals, bacteriological agents, radioactive materials and even nuclear technology," she said.

"More and more people are moving from passive sympathy towards active terrorism through being radicalized or indoctrinated by friends, families or organized training events here and overseas," she added.

She said television and Internet have played a part in attracting greater numbers of terrorist recruits.

"It is the youth who are being actively targeted, groomed, radicalized and set on a path that frighteningly quickly could end in their involvement in mass murder of their fellow UK citizens," she said.

"Chillingly, we see the results here. Young teenagers groomed to be suicide bombers," she said.

Nov. 10 , 2006

Friday

Thursday evening

the 7 July

Today

January

Today

identified

tracking

engaged

promoting

according

Addressing

said

involved

said

aware

kill

damage

know

said

links

gives

added

said

conspiracies

thwarted

bombings

working

contend

totaling

engaged

plotting

facilitating

said

warned

growing

pursued

risen

said

see

use

improvised

include

use

said

moving

radicalized

indoctrinated

added

said

played

attracting

targeted

groomed

radicalized

set

end

involvement

murder

said

see

groomed

said


XIN_ENG_20061114.0406

HANOI, Nov. 15 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Chinese joint venture to build power plant in northern Vietnam

A joint venture between Vietnam and China will invest 28 million U.S. dollars in constructing a hydroelectric plant in northern Lao Cai province, local newspaper Vietnam News reported Wednesday.

The plant to be built by the joint venture between the Power Company No. 1, affiliated to the state-owed Electricity of Vietnam, and China's Yunnan Power Grid Company is expected to contribute around 98.5 million kWh to the national grid annually when it goes online at the end of next year.

The two companies have recently agreed to extend their two existing contracts on purchasing Chinese electricity via the 110- kV power grid for the next four years, ensuring power supplies for the five Vietnamese provinces of Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Yen Bai and Tuyen Quang.

Vietnam has purchased 588 million kWh each year under the contracts since they were signed in 2004, said the report.

Nov. 15 , 2006

Wednesday

the end of next year

the next four years

each year

venture

invest

constructing

reported

built

affiliated

expected

contribute

goes

agreed

extend

purchasing

purchased

signed

said


XIN_ENG_20061113.0148

BEIJING, Nov. 13 , 2006 (Xinhua)

report

China's economy will continue to grow at around 9.5 percent in 2007, with fixed asset investment up 20 percent on 2006, according to the latest report from the State Information Center (SIC).

According to the SIC, a think tank under the National Development and Reform Commission, the three main engines driving Chinese economic growth -- exports, consumption and investment -- will all slow down a little.

Fixed asset investment is expected to hit 13.45 trillion yuan (1.68 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2007, up 20 percent, but 6.5 percentage points lower than the figure predicted for 2006.

China's fixed asset investment rose to 7.19 trillion yuan in the first nine months of this year, up 27.3 percent from the same period of 2005, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Meanwhile, the volume of retail sales will reach 8.59 trillion yuan in 2007, a nominal growth of 12.5 percent, but again 1.1 percentage points lower than the predicted whole-year growth rate for 2006.

Exports will jump 15 percent in 2007, which is 9.5 percentage points slower than in 2006. The trade surplus is expected to reach 177 billion U.S. dollars, 30 billion U.S. dollars more than in 2006.

To achieve a balance in international payments, the think tank suggested adjusting the tax system and speeding up the standardization of corporate income tax for domestic and overseas-funded companies.

It said that China could use its ample foreign reserves to buy in reserves of strategic resources like crude oil and major metal products when prices on the international market are low.

The SIC also suggested the government institute heavier taxes on fossil energy such as coal, oil and natural gas, in order to improve energy efficiency.

China should follow a slightly more stringent monetary policy in 2007, restricting newly increased loans to three trillion yuan, said the report.

Sizzling fixed asset investment needed to be curbed, but more work should also be done to regulate investment structure, and government should put more money into public service sectors like education, public sanitation, resource conservation and environmental protection.

China's 11th five-year plan (2006-2010) projects continued high economic growth based on higher domestic consumption.

According to the latest statistics, China's consumer price index, the key inflation indicator, rose by 1.4 percent year-on-year in October, 0.2 percentage points higher than a year ago.

Nov. 13 , 2006

the first nine months

this year

the same period of 2005

October

a year ago

continue

grow

investment

according

According

growth

slow

expected

hit

predicted

rose

according

reach

growth

jump

expected

reach

achieve

suggested

adjusting

speeding

said

use

buy

suggested

institute

improve

follow

restricting

increased

said

curbed

regulate

put

continued

growth

According

rose


XIN_ENG_20051102.0217

BAGHDAD, Nov. 2 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Day 5 roundup: Liu Xiang-mania sweeps Macao

By Sportswriter Cao Jianjie

MACAO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Liu Xiang's coach pled on a television network on Wednesday, asking overzealous supporters to leave the Olympic champion alone.

Liu's gold medal in the 110m hurdles was one of 26 won by China on Wednesday at the East Asian Games (EAG).

China remains a runaway leader with 74 golds, with Japan in a distant second place with 10, one over arch rival South Korea.

The 22-year-old Liu defended his EAG title in 13.21 seconds, beating teammate Shi Dongpeng (13.36) and Japan's Kota Kumamoto ( 13.89).

Liu became one of China's biggest celebrities when he tied the world record of 12.91 seconds and won the gold medal in the Athens Olympics last year.

Liu soon felt the weight of being famous.

"We are very grateful to our supporters," Liu's mentor Sun Haiping said on Macao's television TDM. "But overzealous fans disrupt his training and distract him from the ultimate goal: the 2008 Olympic Games.

"So, please, please let him do his job."

Spectators in the Macao Stadium looked on races indifferently until Liu showed up. Girls shrieked when the big screen flashed a shot of Liu taking off his trousers.

Liu cleared all the hurdles smoothly and slowed at the finish.

His winning clocking was 0.16 seconds behind his top time this year and a further 0.08 behind this season's best 12.97 set by Frenchman Ladji Doucoure, who beat Liu into second place in the world championships.

Liu said he fared well in this season, in which he competed in 18 meets.

"I didn't fall out of the top three in the international meets I entered and has won all the domestic races," he said.

China also won nine athletics titles on Wednesday: the men's 20m walk (Yu Chaohong, 1:23:51), high jump (Huang Haiqiang, 2.23m); the women's 200m (Chen Lisha, 23.78 seconds), 400m hurdles (Huang Xiaoxiao, 55.33 seconds), pole vault (Zhao Yingying, 4.40m), 800m (Liu Qing, 2:00.11), discus (Song Aimin, 64.32m), 20km walk (Wang Liping, 1:34.01) and javelin (Ma Ning, 61.95m).

South Korean Kim Kun-woo took the grueling decathlon by totaling 7,754 points, while his compatriot Lee Jae-hun clocked 1: 48.60 for the men's 800m crown.

Japan nabbed three golds as Shinji Takahira stormed home first in 20.88 seconds in the men's 200m, Takayuki Koike won the men's 400m hurdles in 50.85 and Kumiko Ikeda leapt 6.54m for the women's long jump gold.

Japan expected a gold rush from the swimming pool, but the first day didn't see that happen.

Chinese swimmers made it six out of eight with Japan taking the remaining three golds.

Olympic champion Luo Xuejuan easily won the women's 50m backstroke in 31.67 seconds, one second ahead of runner-up Sayaka Nakamura from Japan.

Chinese Zhang Lin bettered the men's 1,500m freestyle Asian record by 9.25 seconds as he touched the pad first in 15:00.27.

China also won the men's 4x200m relay, men's 100m breaststroke (Zeng Qiliang), women's 200m butterfly (Li Jie) and women's 100m freestyle (Pang Jiaying).

Japan's golds came from Yuta Shoji in the men's 200 individual medley, and Aya Terakawa and Tajanu Ugarasgu who finished joint first in the women's 200m backstroke.

China dominated the final-day gymnastics competition by sweeping seven golds from the men's pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and women's uneven bars, balance and floor exercise.

DPR Korea picked two golds with Macao, South Korea and Chinese Taipei picking one apiece.

In shooting, China nailed the women's rifle prone event (Shan Hong) and men's 25m rapid fire pistol (Zhang Penghui), with DPR Korean Kim Jong-su pocketing men's 10m air pistol top honor.

China female weightlifter Cao Lei lifted the women's 69kg-class gold and South Korean Lee Ung-jo topped the men's 94kg-division field.

Nov. 2 , 2005

Nov. 2

Wednesday

Wednesday

13.21 seconds

last year

this year

this season

Wednesday

20.88 seconds

31.67 seconds

9.25 seconds

pled

asking

leave

defended

beating

became

tied

won

felt

grateful

said

disrupt

distract

let

do

looked

showed

shrieked

flashed

shot

taking

cleared

slowed

beat

said

fared

competed

fall

meets

entered

won

said

won

walk

took

totaling

clocked

nabbed

stormed

won

leapt

expected

see

happen

made

taking

won

backstroke

bettered

touched

won

came

finished

dominated

sweeping

picked

picking

shooting

nailed

pocketing

lifted

topped


XIN_ENG_20061123.0174

BEIJING, Nov. 23 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Few Chinese college students remember parents' birthdays: survey

Only one tenth of college students remember their parents' birthdays, while nearly half of them have never done anything to move their father and mother, according to a recent survey conducted in central China's Henan Province.

Two hundred students from four local universities were questioned on a number of issues prior to the Thanksgiving Day, an American festival which is gaining acceptance among Chinese young people.

According to the survey, only 10 percent of the students are capable of writing down their parents' birthdays, 33 percent want to celebrate their birthday with their parents, and 16 percent said they had moved their parents when they presented birthday gifts.

"When I filled out the survey, I suddenly realized how little I had done for my parents," said Yang Bo, a student from the Henan University of Industry.

Like Yang, many students found it very difficult to fill out the form, even though the questions looked simple.

Yang Jie, a girl student from the Henan University of Agriculture, said many students hold a big birthday dinner with their classmates, forgetting to thank their parents on the day. "Everyone's birthday is a day of suffering for their mother, so people should at least call their parents to express their gratitude on that special day," she said.

Most Chinese parents, however, prefer to see their children get a good exam score rather than receive a birthday call. "An excellent school report is better than anything else," said a local woman named Fu, whose son is an 18-year student.

Chinese students, mostly from one-child families, are the focus of the family and are growing up to be careless of others, said Peng Yi, a licensed psychiatrist.

Peng said that, traditionally, Chinese parents never demand anything from their children, and the children believe they deserve everything their parents have done for them.

Nov. 23 , 2006

Thanksgiving Day

the day

that special day

remember

done

move

according

survey

questioned

gaining

According

capable

writing

want

celebrate

said

moved

presented

filled

survey

realized

done

said

found

fill

looked

said

hold

forgetting

thank

suffering

call

express

said

prefer

see

get

receive

said

named

growing

careless

said

said

demand

believe

deserve


XIN_ENG_20051122.0340

WARSAW, Nov. 22 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Poland to set timetable to join euro zone in two or three years: PM

Polish Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz said here Tuesday his country would decide on its schedule to join the euro zone in two or three years.

To set the date now is "unrealistic" and could bring about much negative impact, said the leader at a symposium on Poland's investment environment, adding this could be "bravely" done in two or three years' time.

Marcinkiewicz said his government would primarily ensure the stability of public finance, be more dedicated to reducing budgetary deficit and strive to meet, in four years' time, the criteria set by the Maastricht Treaty for the adoption of the European Union's common currency, the euro.

The so-called Maastricht convergence criteria require euro candidates to meet strict macroeconomic targets including low inflation and interest rates and a public spending deficit limit of lower than 3 percent of GDP.

Poland is the only country among the 10 new EU members that has not set the schedule for joining the euro zone.

Earlier this month, the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, expressed unease over Poland's uncertainty on the single currency and urged it to set a deadline for adopting the euro.

Marcinkiewicz responded that it would be unnecessary for Poland to join in the euro zone within four years.

Nov. 22 , 2005

Tuesday

two or three years

now

two or three years

four years

Earlier this month

four years

said

decide

join

set

bring

said

adding

said

ensure

finance

reducing

strive

meet

set

adoption

require

meet

set

joining

expressed

urged

set

adopting

responded

join


XIN_ENG_20061111.0084

GAZA/RAMALLAH, Nov. 11 , 2006 (Xinhua)

decease

The Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip marked on Saturday two-year anniversary of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's decease.

A ceremony attended by President Mahmoud Abbas, ministers of the Hamas-led government and faction leaders was held on Saturday morning in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Palestinian official television and radio broadcasted the mourning ceremony lively.

"If Yasser Arafat was present, the Palestinian scene would never have witnessed feuds and disagreements," said Ahmed Abdel Rahman, former advisor of Arafat and the spokesman of Fatah movement which is now led by Arafat's successor Mahmoud Abbas.

Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator who accompanied Arafat after the latter signed Oslo peace accords in 1993, also delivered speech at the ceremony, saying that "the deteriorating condition of the Palestinian cause on Arab and international levels along with Israeli daily offensives are killing Arafat in his grave."

Apart from the West Bank, the poor enclave Gaza Strip which is under Israeli siege also witnessed the commemorating activities for their historic leader.

The posters with Arafat's pictures on it were posted all over the Gaza streets, including the street where the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) locates.

A huge Arafat picture with a word "My dreams won't be achieved without Jerusalem" was hung in front of the PLC building.

The Palestinians yearn for their late historic and symbolic leader today much more than ever before, especially after they experienced a cluster of changes and blows.

Palestinians faced formidable difficulties after the decease of Arafat, who used to lead the Palestinians out of crisis.

Two months after Arafat's death, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) defeated Arafat's Fatah movement and won the legislative elections in January and thus given the mandate to replace Fatah to form the current Hamas-led government.

Deviating from Arafat's steps, Hamas rejected former peace deals signed by Arafat and refused to recognize Israel.

Hamas' refusal to the international demands pushed the fledging government and the Palestinians into dual plights of economy and politics immediately after its coming to power.

Israel and the international donors cut off the direct aid to the Palestinian government led by Hamas, which was subsequently unable to pay its 160,000 civil servants for months.

Furthermore, Israel restored its military operation in the Gaza Strip on June 28, three days after three Palestinian militant groups, headed by a Hamas armed wing, abducted Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid on an Israeli post in southern Gaza Strip.

The operation that caused huge Palestinian civilian casualties continued so far as the abducted soldier has been held hostage since this June.

International siege and Israeli offensives after the death of Arafat undoubtedly deteriorated the life conditions of the already poor Palestinian people, who began to be aware of the significance of Arafat.

In the most Palestinians' mind, Arafat is a great leader with wisdom and political skills.

They said that both Arafat and Hamas were besieged by Israel, especially the former who had been besieged for three years, but the Palestinians were never in such a crisis like that of today under the leadership of Arafat.

Arafat was besieged by Israeli army in his compound in West Bank city of Ramallah in 2002 following his refusal to Israel's demands and his adherence to the Palestinian principles, in particular the Palestinians' claim to Jerusalem.

He died in a hospital in France on Nov. 11, 2004, a few days after he was allowed to go out from his residence in Ramallah after his health deteriorated.

Nov. 11 , 2006

Saturday

Saturday morning

now

today

Two months

January

months

June 28, three days

this June

three years

today

Nov. 11, 2004

marked

anniversary

decease

ceremony

attended

held

broadcasted

ceremony

witnessed

feuds

said

led

accompanied

signed

delivered

speech

ceremony

saying

cause

killing

witnessed

posted

locates

achieved

hung

experienced

faced

decease

used

lead

defeated

won

elections

given

replace

form

Deviating

rejected

signed

refused

recognize

refusal

pushed

coming

cut

led

pay

restored

operation

headed

raid

operation

caused

continued

held

death

deteriorated

began

aware

said

besieged

besieged

crisis

besieged

refusal

demands

adherence

claim

died

allowed

go

deteriorated


XIN_ENG_20061123.0035

LUSAKA, Nov. 23 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Zambia's electoral system has loopholes:  observers

There are a lot of loopholes in the electoral system in Zambia, an international independent review team has said, Times of Zambia reported on Thursday.

Team that was tasked by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to conduct a review of the last elections held on September 28 this year urged Zambian government to seal the loopholes in the next elections.

Group leader Ron Gould said here on Wednesday that both the government and ECZ would abide by the recommendations that would reflect in their report to be handed to ECZ in two weeks time.

"This is the last group we are meeting today, we have already met politicians, and government officials, police and civil society, and all the meetings are confidential to help come up with a lot of information," he said.

The team collected other reports from both local and international observers, according to Gould.

He said any country holding elections must respect the local monitors because they are always on the ground and reflect what more transparent than international monitors who only observed the counting.

Nov. 23 , 2006

Thursday

September 28 this year

Wednesday

two weeks time

today

said

reported

tasked

conduct

elections

held

urged

seal

said

abide

reflect

handed

meeting

met

help

come

said

collected

according

said

respect

reflect

observed

counting


XIN_ENG_20061130.0053

LHASA, Nov. 30 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Tibet steps up efforts to limit spread of AIDS/HIV

Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region is taking measures to ensure that there are no more than 300 AIDS/HIV cases there by 2010, sources with the regional AIDS/HIV control authorities said on Thursday.

The measures include establishing a special lab for final diagnosis of AIDS/HIV and labs for preliminary sample screening in seven prefectures and cities and 22 counties. Bilingual AIDS/HIV control publicity materials in Chinese and Tibetan are being distributed to peasants and herdsmen and the use of condoms is being promoted throughout the region.

"There are fewer AIDS/HIV cases here than in other regions of the country, but they are on the rise and the disease is spreading from high-risk people to the general public and from cities to rural areas," said Jiang Zugang, an official with the regional AIDS/HIV control authorities.

Jiang said Tibet recorded its first AIDS patient in 1994 and the first death from the disease in 2001. Two years later, it detected a first Tibetan AIDS patient.

From 1994 to Oct. 31, 2006, 40 HIV carriers were registered in Tibet, including five who developed into AIDS and two deaths. In 2005 alone, there were 18 new AIDS/HIV cases, Jiang added.

According to estimates by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, China has about 650,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, including 75,000 who have developed AIDS.

Nov. 30 , 2006

Thursday

Two years

Oct. 31, 2006

taking

ensure

said

establishing

distributed

use

promoted

rise

spreading

said

said

recorded

death

detected

registered

developed

added

developed


AFP_ENG_19970425.0290

TIRANA, April 25 , 1997 (AFP)

Albania's central bank gets new governor

Albanian President Sali Berisha on Friday appointed a new head for the country's central bank, which has been without a governor for two months, a presidential spokesman told AFP.

Qamil Tusha, 40, will replace Kristaq Luniku, who left Albania two months ago for the United States, a Tusha aide said.

Tusha was previously deputy director of the Albanian Trade Bank, a state institution. According to opposition Socialist newspapers, Tusha is a close associate of Berisha.

Luniku, 35, had warned of the dangers of pyramid schemes -- the bogus savings schemes whose collapse sparked widespread unrest in January that developed into a full-scale insurgency.

According to the Albanian press, he went to the United States to take up a post as adviser to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

April 25 , 1997

Friday

two months

two months ago

January

appointed

told

replace

left

said

warned

sparked

developed

insurgency

According

went

take


AFP_ENG_20061205.0070

MOSCOW, Dec 5 , 2006, 2006

Russian ex-PM suffering 'unknown' illness

Russian doctors treating former prime minister Yegor Gaidar have detected symptoms that "do not correspond to any known illness" but cannot say for sure that he was a victim of poisoning, Gaidar's office said Tuesday.

"The sudden development of the illness, the multi-faceted nature of the symptoms... do not correspond to any known illness," although "doctors cannot unequivocally diagnose poisoning," the office said in a statement.

Dec 5 , 2006

Tuesday

treating

detected

correspond

say

said

development

correspond

said


AFP_ENG_20061214.0086

HONG KONG, Dec 14 , 2006, 2006

China in the driving seat as Rolls-Royce expands in Asia

China has overtaken Japan as luxury car maker Rolls-Royce's largest Asian market, the legendary marque's chairman and chief executive Ian Robertson revealed Thursday.

The fast-emerging economic giant last year saw sales of the super-luxury Rolls-Royce Phantom soar 60 percent to 70 units.

"That sort of growth is unique it's very special -- usually 5 percent either way means the difference between a great year and a not so great year in other markets," said Robertson, in Hong Kong for the unveiling of the Peninsula Hotel's new fleet of 14 Phantoms.

The United States remains the company's biggest market, with the majority of sales there made in Los Angeles, where the brand has three dealerships.

Britain is the second largest market, with China now third.

Such is the pace of growth amongst Chinese buyers that the company is to expand its four dealerships in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to seven with addition next year of offices in Hangzhou, Shenzgen and Chengdu.

Rolls Royce launched the Phantom in 2003, its first model since the former British company was acquired by German auto manufacturer BMW in 1998.

The company hopes to sell 600 of the made-to-measure cars in 2006, setting a 16-year production record, and will launch its long-awaited, yet-to-be-named convertible version in January 2007.

Dec 14 , 2006

Thursday

last year

now

January 2007

overtaken

revealed

saw

soar

means

said

has

growth

expand

launched

acquired

hopes

sell

setting

launch


XIN_ENG_20051129.0112

TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov. 29 , 2005 (Xinhua)

1st lead: Gunmen release abducted Iranian females

Gunmen on Tuesday released two Iranian women and an Iraqi female guide who were abducted Monday night north of Baghdad, a source of US-Iraqi coordination office in Tikrit told Xinhua.

"Two Iranian Shiite pilgrims and an Iraqi female guide were released and found near the place where they were kidnapped Monday night," the source said.

The three were safe, the source said, quoting them as saying they were released shortly after their abduction Monday night.

Earlier, the office said gunmen opened fire at a minibus and kidnapped four men and two women Iranian Shiite pilgrims in the town of Balad, some 80 km north of Baghdad.

An Iraqi female guide was kidnapped along with the Iranians and the Iraqi driver of the minibus was wounded in Balad, it said.

Nov. 29 , 2005

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XIN_ENG_20061116.0160

BEIJING, Nov. 16 , 2006 (Xinhua)

China catching up with leading countries in basic science research

China is catching up with the forerunners in basic science research, with an increasing number of theses and journals complied by Chinese scientists being referenced by the Science Citation Index (SCI), according to China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

China was ranked fifth in the world in terms of the number of its journals cited by the SCI in 2004 and 2005, up from 15th place in 1991, MOST statistics showed.

"The number of our theses and journals cited by the SCI is an important indicator of the success of our research progress in basic science fields," said Zhang Xianen, the director of MOST's scientific research department.

"The greater number of Chinese scientists winning international prizes and occupying senior positions in major international research organizations also proves that China is catching up with leading countries in the field of science and technology," Zhang said.

In the last two years, 14 Chinese scientists have won international prizes including the Fresnel Prize awarded by the European Physical Society, and 40 Chinese have been granted memberships to international academic organizations and science academies of other countries, he said.

MOST statistics show that there were 115,400 basic science researchers in China in 2005, 46.5 percent higher than in 2001.

The Chinese government has promised to increase the country's investment in basic science research in an attempt to build a "self-innovative" country.

Nov. 16 , 2006

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