XIN_ENG_20061106.0156

TOKYO, Nov. 6 , 2006 (Xinhua)

talks begin

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and visiting senior U.S. diplomats agreed on Monday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should abandon all nuclear programs in line with U.N. resolutions and that U.N. and Japanese sanctions would remain in place even after the meeting started.

The agreement was reached at a meeting between Nicholas Burns, who is U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Robert Joseph, the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, and Aso.

Japan and the United States are in agreement that Security Council Resolution 1718 "must be fully and effectively implemented" until the DPRK "meets all of the demands of the Security Council," Joseph was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

Aso said the two nations agreed that they would not accept the DPRK as "a nuclear state" and that sanctions in line with the resolution as well as Japan's own sanctions "would not be relaxed" just because the six-party talks were being held.

The foreign minister said he would propose holding five-nation talks with his counterparts from the United States, South Korea, China and Russia to discuss the DPRK's nuclear program on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Vietnam's Hanoi next week.

The DPRK nuclear test early last month sparked U.N. condemnations and sanctions. Japan had imposed its own sweeping sanctions before the nuclear test.

Pyongyang agreed on Nov. 1 to return the negotiation table on the premise that the issue of lifting U.S. financial sanctions against the DPRK would be discussed and settled within the framework of the six-party talks.

Joseph and Burns also met with Japanese Defense Agency chief Fumio Kyuma. Joseph was also quoted as saying during the meeting that trilateral cooperation between Australia, Japan, the United States is necessary in operational and intelligence matters.

Nov. 6 , 2006

Monday

next week

early last month

Nov. 1

visiting

agreed

abandon

sanctions

remain

meeting

started

agreement

reached

meeting

implemented

meets

quoted

saying

said

agreed

accept

resolution

relaxed

talks

held

said

propose

holding

talks

discuss

summit

sparked

sanctions

imposed

sanctions

agreed

return

lifting

sanctions

discussed

settled

talks

met

quoted

saying

meeting

cooperation


XIN_ENG_20051118.0318

MADRID, Nov. 18 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Souness warns of Chelsea backlash

LONDON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) - Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has warned his players that Chelsea would recover from the previous loss in the English premier league to become a "dangerous animal".

Chelsea are still leading the Premier League table despite their 1-0 loss to Manchester United following a Champions League defeat by Real Betis.

"Chelsea lost the last game they played and for me when this happens to any team it makes them a dangerous animal," Souness told reporters on Friday.

"We are playing against a team that is successful and used to winning, a team that has had a bit of criticism of late and all those things make them dangerous,"added the manager, whose side will visit Chelsea on Saturday.

Newcastle will be without skipper Alan Shearer following a hernia operation, leaving striker Michael Owen to spearhead the Newcastle attack.

"What we are hoping for is that they have a hangover of some sort and we are resilient and one of our special players can do something on the day," said Souness.

Following a poor start in the season, Newcastle stand 10th on the league table, 13 points behind Chelsea.

Nov. 18 , 2005

Nov. 19

Friday

Saturday

warned

recover

loss

become

leading

loss

defeat

lost

played

makes

told

playing

used

winning

make

added

visit

leaving

attack

hoping

do

said

start

stand


AFP_ENG_20061228.0078

DHAKA, Dec 28 , 2006, 2006

Thousands protest ex-Bangladesh dictator's polls disqualification

Thousands of supporters loyal to a former Bangladesh military ruler went on the rampage Thursday and paralysed two northern cities after a court verdict cost him his election hopes, police said.

Bangladesh's supreme court on Tuesday rejected a plea by Hussain Mohammad Ershad seeking overturn of a two-year jail sentence given by lower court three years ago for squandering government funds.

The verdict ruled out a return to politics for Ershad, as the election commission barred him from contesting in any of the five constituencies he hoped to stand in at the January 22 polls.

Police said supporters of the former dictator chanted "no Ershad, no elections", smashed cars and vans, and ransacked shops in the northern city of Rangpur.

The area is a bastion of support for Ershad, who ruled the country between 1982 and 1990.

"Police dispersed about 1,000 supporters of Ershad's Jatiya Party after they went unruly, smashing chairs at a government office, cars and ransacking shops," police sub-inspector Mohammad Solaiman said.

Hundreds of soldiers and armed police were deployed to quell the violence, he added.

The city of more than 200,000 was at a standstill after the Jatiya Party called a strike in protest at Ershad's disqualification. Offices were closed, schools and roads were empty.

Jatiya Party supporters also disurpted inter-district buses and trains and also enfored a strike in five other neighbouring district towns, police said.

The northeastern city of Sylhet was also brought to a halt after Ershad's supporters held rallies and marches to protest the decision, police official Shahidul Islam said.

Ershad, who leads the country's third biggest party, is a popular figure in Bangladesh and is seen as a potential kingmaker in the elections. He seized power in a bloodless coup in March 1982 but was ousted by a people's revolt in 1990.

Last week he joined an electoral alliance with the main opposition Awami League party.

Bangladeshi law bars any convict from contesting parliamentary elections for five years after completion of a sentence.

Ershad told reporters late Wednesday that his party and its allies, including the main opposition Awami League, may again decide to boycott next month's polls if he is barred from contesting elections.

Dec 28 , 2006

the rampage Thursday

Tuesday

three years ago

January 22

March 1982

Last week

five years

Wednesday

next month

went

paralysed

verdict

cost

hopes

said

rejected

plea

seeking

overturn

given

ruled

return

barred

contesting

hoped

stand

said

chanted

ransacked

ruled

dispersed

went

smashing

said

deployed

quell

violence

added

called

strike

closed

disurpted

enfored

strike

said

brought

held

protest

decision

said

leads

seen

elections

seized

coup

ousted

revolt

joined

bars

convict

contesting

elections

completion

told

decide

barred


PRI19980303.2000.2550
 NEWS STORY

 Tomorrow the board of supervisors of Loudon county, Virginia, will vote on
 whether a school now located in Mount Vernon can relocate to their county.
 In some respects, that's typical county business, but tomorrow's vote has
 international implications. The board will decide whether the Islamic Saudi
 Academy, funded by the government of Saudi Arabia, can move to Ashburn village,
 Virginia. But local residents have not exactly laid out the
 red carpet for their would be neighbors. The World's Nancy Marshalll has
 our story.

 Inside the Islamic Saudi academy in Mount Vernon, Virginia, many of the
 girls wear head scarves and some of the neatly dressed children are in uniforms.
 The instruction is in English for most classes, in Arabic for language and
 religious studies. The school says it teaches the children to be good
 Muslims and good students. They're learning a civics lesson from the residents of
 Loudon county. The Islamic Saudi Academy has twelve hundred mostly American
 students but would take thirty-five hundred if it had the room.
 The academy bought a hundred acres in Loudon county, Virginia, and asked for permission
 to build a fifty million dollar campus. In the nearby suburban housing
 tracts, someone dropped off leaflets warning the school could bring
 thousands of Middle Eastern strangers and terrorists. Some residents of the mostly
 white, mostly middle class area became alarmed. James Zogby of the Arab
 American Institute says it's a familiar story.

 There is, a- at a very deep level in our culture, um I think, a sense of, of
 ignorance about Islam, a fear about who Muslims are and what they're doing.

 Many local residents denounced the bigotry, but opposition to the school
 then shifted. Now critics of the academy are targeting its owner, the Saudi
 government. Pastor James Allmen of the fellowship church and school in
 Ashburn has led the anti-Saudi campaign. James Allmen says he has no problem with a
 privately funded academy, but he has a big problem with a Saudi funded school.

 The Saudi Arabian government has an atrocious record on human rights and is known to be one of the worst offending countries when it comes to religious
 persecution.

 That's correct.

 And that is a condition of the application, then.

 That is a condition of-

 At a public hearing on the Islamic Saudi Academy's application, the split
 in county opinion was obvious, supporters of the academy, including Ann
 Robinson, said the Saudis were just providing a service and it was unfair
 to penalize children.

 We do not further the purpose of human rights in the world by violating
 the human rights under our own constitution.

 But opponents said the school might be a target for terrorist attacks,
 complained about its tax exempt status, and wondered why the Saudis are not compelled to allow Christians to worship in their country. Virginia Welch
 delivered this message to the county board of supervisors.

 I urge you to do the right thing and send a message to the Saudis that the
 citizens of Loudon county embrace religious and human freedom.

 Loudon county officials say they'll rule on the application based only on
 land use issues and ignore all the other objections. What's really behind those
 objections, some say, is Loudon county's collision with a new reality in
 America that the country is changing religiously as surely as it is racially and ethnically. According to the Arab American institute, Islam will one
 day be the second largest religion in the country. For an indication of the
 problems that could face Muslims as they integrate into American life, one
 need look no farther than Loudon county, Virginia. For The World, I'm
 Nancy Marshalll.

Tomorrow

now

tomorrow

Now

one
 day

vote

located

relocate

vote

implications

decide

funded

move

laid

says

teaches

learning

has

take

had

bought

asked

permission

build

dropped

warning

bring

became

says

think

ignorance

fear

denounced

bigotry

opposition

shifted

targeting

led

campaign

says

has

has

hearing

split

said

providing

unfair

penalize

further

violating

said

target

attacks

complained

status

wondered

compelled

allow

worship

delivered

urge

do

send

embrace

say

rule

based

ignore

objections

objections

say

collision

changing

According

religion

's

if


AFP_ENG_19970409.0523

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 9 , 1997 (AFP)

Crayfish invade beaches of Northern Cape

More than a thousand tonnes of crayfish have invaded Elands bay, some 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of Cape Town, since the weekend, the second invasion in three weeks.

Police have been forced to set up barriers and scoop up the crayfish with excavators to prevent people from collecting the highly-sought after shellfish.

The crayfish have been heading to the beaches to escape a toxic red tide -- a concentration of micro-organisms which depletes oxygen levels in the water.

Thousands of people have flocked to the coast to collect the crustacea. However South African legislation has strict fishing laws concerning the delicacy. Excepting those holding a special permit, the law limits fishermen to four crayfish per day during the fishing season.

Cape Attorney-General Frank Kahn warned on Tuesday that people collecting crayfish without a permit or those caught in possession of more than four crayfish would be prosecuted, irrespective of whether the crayfish were dead or alive.

Residents in the surrounding areas have nevertheless asked permission to collect and sell the crayfish to raise funding to improve their communities.

Even though the environmental affairs and tourism ministry considered suspending the law, they said it would be "irresponsible to allow communities to access to untested crayfish which may not be fit for consumption."

Fishing authorities have called the red tide an ecological disaster.

April 9 , 1997

the weekend

three weeks

season

Tuesday

invaded

invasion

forced

set

scoop

prevent

collecting

heading

escape

tide

flocked

collect

has

limits

warned

permit

caught

prosecuted

dead

asked

collect

sell

raise

improve

considered

suspending

said

allow

access

fit

called


AFP_ENG_20051206.0716

WELLINGTON, Dec 7 , 2005

Australia make 322-5 batting first against New Zealand

Australia made 322-5 in their 50 overs after Andrew Symonds scored a magnificent 156 against New Zealand in the second match of the Chappell-Hadlee one-day cricket series at Westpac Stadium here Wednesday.

Symonds teamed up with Michael Clarke (82 not out) to put on 220 runs for the fifth wicket.

For New Zealand, Kyle Mills took 2-60 with all the bowlers suffering from Symonds' onslaught.

Dec 7 , 2005

Wednesday

made

scored

teamed

put

took

suffering

onslaught


XIN_ENG_20051120.0006

BEIJING, Nov. 20 , 2005 (Xinhua)

URGENT: China's peaceful development inevitable, Hu says

China's path of peaceful development is "an inevitable choice" based on its national conditions, its historical and cultural traditions and the current development trend in today's world, Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Sunday.

Hu made the remarks when meeting the press after his talks with visiting US President George W. Bush.

Nov. 20 , 2005

today

Sunday

said

made

meeting

talks

visiting


AFP_ENG_19970421.0505

BONN, April 21 , 1997 (AFP)

Germany: 109 fires in asylum-seekers' homes in 1996

A total of 109 fires broke out in asylum-seekers' homes in Germany last year, killing 12 people and injuring 107, the German government announced Monday.

Some fires were deliberately set while others were started accidentally, caused by dropped cigarettes or faulty wiring, the government told the lower house of parliament. The interior ministry did not detail how many were of criminal origin.

The issue of fires that target asylum seekers or other foreigners is emotive in Germany where in 1992 and 1993 fires killed eight women and young girls. The fires were believed to have been started by xenophobes.

In March, a deliberately set fire killed three people of Turkish origin at Krefeld in eastern Germany. The father of the family was charged with starting the fire after his wife said she wanted a divorce.

April 21 , 1997

last year

Monday

March

broke

killing

announced

set

started

caused

dropped

told

killed

believed

started

killed

charged

starting

fire

said

wanted

divorce


AFP_ENG_19970409.0129

HEBRON, West Bank, April 9 , 1997 (AFP)

New clashes in Hebron after police free settlers who killed Palestinian

Hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops here Wednesday following the funeral of one of three men killed in rioting the previous day in the divided West Bank city, witnesses said.

The clashes came after Israeli police released two Jewish settlers whose slaying of a Palestinian man in central Hebron Tuesday sparked several hours of deadly clashes between protestors and troops.

Police officials said investigators accepted the account of the settlers, religious students in their 20s, that they opened fire with automatic weapons in self-defense after being attacked by tear gas as they walked near Hebron's Jewish enclave.

A second Palestinian was wounded in the shooting.

At least three Palestinians, including a policeman, were wounded by rubber bullets fired by soldiers after the protestors began pelting them with stones on Wednesday.

The new clashes broke out after 1,500 Palestinians turned out for the funeral of Nadir Said, 24, one of two men killed by Israeli rubber bullets in Tuesday's unrest.

Mourners called for revenge and chanted "No more settlers" as they carried Said's body wrapped in a Palestinian flag to his grave.

Palestinian police deployed large numbers of men around the Jewish quarter in a bid to prevent new clashes as the mourners and other protestors fanned out towards the Israeli lines.

But hundreds of youths skirted the police positions to confront the troops.

In Tuesday's unrest, hundreds of Palestinians threw stones and firebombs at Israeli troops guarding the Jewish enclave, where 400 settlers live surrounded by 120,000 Arabs.

Two Palestinians were killed and some 100 wounded by rubber bullets as the troops battled the protestors. Five soldiers were hurt by stones.

It was the deadliest day of clashes since almost daily violent protests erupted after Israel broke ground for a new Jewish settlement in disputed east Jerusalem on March 18.

In all, five Palestinians have been killed in the battles and hundreds injured. Three Israelis were killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber in Tel Aviv on March 21.

Hebron has long been a flashpoint for Arab-Israeli violence.

Four-fifths of the city passed to Palestinian rule in January under a breakthrough agreement which many hoped would give new life to a peace process in deep trouble since the nationalist right-wing took power in Israel in June.

But Israeli troops continue to guard the enclaves where the Jewish settlers live. The Israeli-controlled zone was under curfew Wednesday.

April 9 , 1997

Wednesday

Wednesday

Tuesday

the Jewish quarter

Tuesday

March 18

March 21

January

June

Wednesday

clashed

following

killed

said

came

released

slaying

sparked

clashes

said

accepted

opened

fire

attacked

walked

wounded

shooting

wounded

fired

began

pelting

broke

turned

killed

called

chanted

carried

wrapped

deployed

prevent

fanned

skirted

confront

threw

guarding

killed

wounded

battled

hurt

protests

erupted

broke

killed

battles

injured

killed

violence

passed

hoped

give

process

took

continue

guard


CNN_20130322_1243

March 22, 2013

Google Keep is a note-taking app with great potential

Before the arrival of Keep, which Google launched this week, there was no default note-taking app for Android. It was a glaring hole, considering that Apple's iPhone has built-in Notes and Reminders apps that can be powered by Siri.

Instead of settling for a bare bones app to fill the void, the search giant took things one step further. Keep isn't simply just a place to bank whatever random half-thoughts come to mind: Users can construct to-do lists, stash photos, and color code your notes -- all in one well-designed and easy-to-use interface.

The second you log anything into your phone, it is also accessible from a PC Web browser via Google Drive. Alternatively, you can save things while working on your computer, and it will instantly appear on your phone, ready for use while on the go.

The design may not be as progressive as the to-do app Clear, but Keep makes up for that in its simplicity and efficiency.

Everything in Keep is presented like a Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) Windows Phone-esque stream of tiles. Swiping left or right will archive those notes you no longer need (but don't want to erase entirely). At the top of the app is a text entry field that serves as your main point of entry for all new notes. And when viewing any specific note, tapping any part of that note (title, body, etc.) will allow you to edit it. The entire experience is frictionless.

That said, it's not going to conquer the world quite yet. Organization options are limited -- color coding is your only choice, and you can't re-order your notes. Sharing with others is mostly limited to email and Google+, and the desktop features are pretty bare bones.

But that's more a function of it being new, rather than poorly thought out. Like most things Google, expect the company to flesh out Keep over time and really turn it into our personal internet junk drawer.

It's easy to foresee the day the when users will be able to send anything from their Web browser or Maps directly to Keep. The prospect of Keep incorporating features of services such as Pinterest or Pocket, or even making it easy to catalog streaming media, could turn it into something big. That should scare Evernote.

Keep is not the reinvention of the wheel in any aspect -- there are a plethora of third-party apps already available for Android. But it is a well-exectuted refinement.

In filling a minor, but important gap in its mobile ecosystem, Google gives the competition one less claim of superiority over Android.

March 22, 2013

this week

arrival

launched

has

powered

settling

fill

took

conquer

expect

flesh

turn

foresee

send

incorporating

turn

scare

reinvention

available

filling

gives


XIN_ENG_20061102.0112

JINAN, Nov. 2 , 2006 (Xinhua)

East China province reinstates bird flu monitoring

Shandong Province, east China, has reinstated round-the-clock bird flu monitoring to prevent possible outbreaks as more and more migratory birds fly over the province on their way further south.

Li Zhanpeng, head of the provincial wildlife protection center, said that all 153 monitoring stations in the province were ordered to report on a daily basis.

Local people were also called on to report deaths of wild birds to the provincial wildlife protection center. Its telephone hot line number is 0531-88557707, Li said.

Wild birds migrate through eight routes around the world, three of which traverse China. Migratory birds flying from East Asia to Australia pass Shandong Province.

China has reported nine outbreaks of bird flu in poultry this year, in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, north China's Shanxi Province and Inner Mongolia, east China's Anhui Province, southwestern Guizhou and Sichuan provinces and the central province of Hunan.

Since 2003 China has reported 21 human infections of bird flu which have caused 14 deaths. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 256 human infections including 151 deaths as of Oct. 16.

Nov. 2 , 2006

daily

this year

Oct. 16

reinstated

prevent

outbreaks

fly

said

ordered

report

called

report

deaths

said

migrate

flying

pass

reported

outbreaks

reported

caused

deaths

recorded


XIN_ENG_20061123.0200

HONG KONG, Nov. 23 , 2006 (Xinhua)

China Enterprises Index close up -- Nov. 23

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index slowed down its rising pace by up 12.84 points, or 0.15 percent, to close at 8,622.88 on Thursday.

The index, initiated in August 1994 and readjusted on Sept. 11, 2006, tracks the overall performance of 37 Chinese mainland state-owned enterprises listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Hang Seng China-Affiliated Corporations Index rose 15.26 points, or 0.49 percent, to close at 3,146.13.

The index tracks the performance of 31 locally listed companies with a significant equity interest held by entities in the Chinese mainland.

Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index closed flat with 0.46 points up, or 0.02 percent, to close at 2,957.01.

Introduced on Oct. 3, 2001 and readjusted on Sept. 11, 2006, Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index gauges the performance of 103 Hong Kong-listed companies with principal places of business in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

Nov. 23 , 2006

Thursday

August 1994

Sept. 11, 2006

Oct. 3, 2001

Sept. 11, 2006

slowed

rising

close

initiated

readjusted

tracks

rose

close

tracks

closed

close

Introduced

readjusted

gauges


XIN_ENG_20051104.0045

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 4 , 2005 (Xinhua)

China's southern province recruits volunteers to Myanmar

China's southern province Guangdong started to recruit volunteers on Thursday to assist Myanmar's agricultural and sports industries.

Ideal candidates will be college graduates between 25 and 40 years old and proficient in English, said Huang Qinghui, a publicity official and head of the provincial volunteers' association.

"We'll recruit 11 agrotechnicians and four sports professionals specializing in swimming, weight lifting, pingpong and badminton," Huang said. "They will leave on Dec. 5, the International Volunteer's Day, and will spend six months in Myanmar."

He said the volunteer agrotechnicians are expected to help Myanmar farmers raise silkworms, grow quality grapes and improve other plants' species.

This is the first time for Guangdong Province to recruit volunteers for overseas services, entrusted by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League and the Ministry of Commerce.

The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League and the China Association of Youth Volunteers launched a long-term volunteer service project in May 2002 to assist other developing countries.

Chinese volunteers have since offered language and computer training as well as medical services to several countries including Laos, Myanmar and Ethiopia.

Nov. 4 , 2005

Thursday

Dec. 5

May 2002

started

recruit

assist

said

recruit

said

leave

spend

said

expected

help

raise

grow

improve

recruit

entrusted

launched

assist

offered


XIN_ENG_20061130.0029

SEOUL, Nov. 30 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Seoul stock market ends up

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 9.66 points to 1,432.21 on Thursday with a volume of 247 million shares worth 3.17 trillion won (3.40 billion U.S. dollars).

The tech-rich KOSDAQ index gained 4.98 points to 622.17 with a volume of 660.756 million shares worth 2.121 trillion won (2.281 billion U.S. dollars).

The local currency ended at 929.50 won against one U.S. dollar, up 1.00 won from Wednesday's close.

Nov. 30 , 2006

Thursday

Wednesday

rose

gained

ended

close


AFP_ENG_19970411.0145

SEOUL. April 11 , 1997 (AFP)

Seoul shares close 0.9 percent higher

Share prices rebounded 0.9 percent on the Korea Stock Exchange on Friday, with buying interest emerging on undervalued stocks after a short correction, dealers said.

"Investors returned to the market after a correction, with individual stocks with respective themes at the centre of buying activity," Cho Hung Securities analyst Choi Youn-Gun said.

The composite index gained 5.90 points to finish at 693.94.

Turnover totalled 44.1 million shares worth 627 billion won (704 million dollars). Advancers led decliners 530 to 260 with 117 shares unchanged.

The market's basic tone was strong largely due to expectations of inflows of fresh funds after the planned expansion of the foreign shareholding limit on May 1, the analyst said.

The banking sector closed lower on rumours that Jinro Group had financial problems, dealers said. Commercial Bank Bank slid 200 won at 4,000 won and Korea Exchange Bank went down 130 won at 5,400 won.

Jinro Industries was limit-down 470 won at 5,410 won on rumours that Jinro Group's unlisted construction unit was on the verge of bankruptcy, dealers said.

Blue chips were mixed with Samsung Electronics unchanged at 62,900 won and LG Semicon up 600 won at 29,800 won.

Automakers performed well, with Kia Motors up 300 won at 15,300 won and Ssangyong Motor adding 190 won at 5,540 won. Hyundai Motor closed unchanged at 23,000 won.

April 11 , 1997

Friday

May 1

rebounded

emerging

said

returned

correction

said

gained

finish

totalled

led

expansion

said

closed

rumours

said

slid

went

said

mixed

performed

adding

won

closed


AFP_ENG_19970421.0123

HONG KONG, April 21 , 1997 (AFP)

No need for concern as Chinese troops arrive in Hong Kong: official

Hong Kong should not be concerned at the deployment of Chinese troops here 71 days before the territory's handover in July, a government official said Monday.

Nicholas Ng, secretary for constitutional affairs, told Hong Kong's Legislative Council the arrival of the advance party of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday "should not worry" people here.

"I understand the public's concern," said Ng, but "I believe they will carry out their duty with discretion."

Ng's remarks came as a convoy of eight cars and vans brought 40 members of the PLA from the southern Chinese border city of Shenzhen into Hong Kong at Lok Ma Chau crossing point.

The advance troops are the first unit of the Chinese army to be deployed in Hong Kong since Britain seized the territory in January 1841.

Ng said the deployment was "appropriate for the task of preparing for the transfer of responsibilities," when Hong Kong returns to China on July 1.

He said the fact the PLA vehicles carried Hong Kong licence plates showed the Chinese army would heed the territory's laws and would be granted no special privileges.

The leader of the advance PLA party, Major-General Zhou Borong, was greeted by the commander of the British forces here, Major-General Bryan Dutton when he arrived at the high-rise barracks on the waterfront on Hong Kong Island.

Dutton gave a veiled warning about deep-rooted fears among the many Hongkongers who associate the PLA with bloody images of tanks crushing student demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in June 1989.

"We intend to give the future garrison every possible assistance as they prepare for their role," he said, before expressing the hope that "their relationship with the local community will be as constructive and rewarding as ours has been."

China, implicitly acknowledging such concerns, has repeatedly promised its Hong Kong garrison will be drawn from the finest and most disciplined ranks of its armed forces.

Up to 10,000 Chinese soldiers are expected to be based in Hong Kong after the handover, a figure roughly equal to British numbers before 1994.

The British strength is now around 1,800 which will fall to around 1,600 by the end of May, leaving only a few to be withdrawn in the final few weeks before the handover.

April 21 , 1997

71 days

July

Monday

Monday

January 1841

July 1

June 1989

now

the end of May

the final few weeks

concerned

deployment

handover

said

told

arrival

worry

understand

said

believe

carry

duty

came

brought

crossing

deployed

seized

said

deployment

preparing

transfer

returns

said

carried

showed

heed

granted

greeted

arrived

gave

warning

associate

intend

give

assistance

prepare

said

expressing

promised

drawn

expected

handover

fall

leaving

withdrawn

handover


XIN_ENG_20061114.0441

BEIJING, Nov. 15 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Chain stores investigated for selling toxic clothes

Beijing consumer watchdogs are investigating how Wal-Mart, Carrefour and other leading chain stores came to be selling clothes containing cancer-causing chemicals.

Twenty-eight brands of clothes failed inspections by the Beijing Industry and Commerce Administration (BICA), and four brands were found to contain excessive levels of toxic aromatic ammine or formaldehyde.

The four brands were "Ming-Langdike" skirts (size 11) made by the Guangzhou Disheng company, "Pusheng" blouses (155/80A) by the Shanghai Pusheng, "Jeanberger" trousers (170/80A) by the Shenzhen Zhonghang and "Hafulu" trousers (size 23) by the Guangdong Hafulu.

The full list of failed items has been published on the BICA website.

Experts said aromatic ammine and formaldehyde were both carcinogenic substances. The former is banned in many other countries as a dye and the latter should be cleaned from end products.

The BICA said it seized all failed clothes from the stores, and both the producers and sellers would face prosecution.

"They could be fined up to three times the revenue they got from selling the goods," an official with the administration said.

"The problematic trousers are no longer sold in our stores," a Wal-Mart representative said, adding he was unaware of the investigation.

Carrefour's Fangyuan chain store, Lotus Liuliqiao chain store and Wangfujing Women's Collection were also listed for selling clothes that failed inspections.

Nov. 15 , 2006

investigating

came

selling

failed

found

contain

skirts

published

said

banned

cleaned

said

seized

face

fined

got

selling

said

sold

said

adding

unaware

investigation

listed

failed


WSJ891026-0048
 = 891026
 891026-0048.
 Business Brief -- Lawrence Insurance Group Inc.:
@  Houston Reinsurance Firm
@  Is Acquired for $28 Million
 10/26/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 LWR
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)

   Lawrence Insurance Group Inc. said it acquired United Republic Reinsurance Co., a Houston property and casualty reinsurance company, from United Savings Association of Texas for $28 million.

   Lawrence Insurance also sold 3.2 million of its shares for $7.125 each to its parent, Lawrence Group Inc. Lawrence Insurance, based in Albany, N.Y., plans to use the $22.5 million in proceeds to help finance the acquisition of United Republic.

   By acquiring the shares, Lawrence Group increased its stake in Lawrence Insurance to 93.2% from 91.2%.
Lawrence Insurance underwrites mostly primary insurance, a company spokesman said.
A reinsurance company effectively insures insurance companies that wish to spread the risk of a particular policy.

   Lawrence Group also owns Lawrence Agency Corp., Schenectady, N.Y., an insurance agency and brokerage.

said

acquired

sold

based

plans

use

help

finance

acquisition

acquiring

increased

underwrites

said

owns


XIN_ENG_20061110.0046

JAKARTA, Nov. 10 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Indonesia denies pursuing security pact with Australia

Indonesia Friday dismissed a report that it would sign a security pact with Australia during the bilateral meeting scheduled Monday on the resort island of Lombok.

"The security cooperation agreement that we are about to sign ( with Australia ) is not a security pact," Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said at a news conference at his office here.

The security cooperation framework covers mutual respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries, he said.

"In the security agreement, Australia puts its firm stance over the sovereignty of all Indonesian territories, including Papua, in a written statement," the minister said.

The draft of the agreement also covers bilateral cooperation in a wide range of security areas, including the fight against terrorism, smuggling and trafficking in people; aviation safety; natural disaster emergency response and nuclear energy.

The draft agreement is different from the security pact both countries signed in 1995, in which both countries agreed to help each other in case of attacks by another country, said Wirajuda.

The 1995 security pact was revoked in 1999, when Indonesia- Australia ties fell to the lowest due to the presence of Australian forces in East Timor, once one of Indonesian provinces that seceded from the Jakarta rule that year.

Nov. 10 , 2006

Friday

Monday

that year

dismissed

sign

meeting

scheduled

sign

said

conference

covers

said

puts

said

covers

fight

signed

agreed

help

attacks

said

revoked

fell

seceded


XIN_ENG_20061129.0431

MOSCOW, Nov. 29 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Russian FM warns against discussing energy security without Russia

Discussing energy security without Russia would be unproductive, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

"I don't think that attempts to discuss energy security in any format without Russia could be productive and could promote energy security," Lavrov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying in comments on NATO's debate on the issue at a summit in Riga, Latvia.

"Energy security is a subject that concerns everybody," and the interests of all key players -- suppliers, consumers and transit countries -- should be taken into account, he said.

Russia supplies about 25 percent of the gas and oil consumed in the European Union (EU), which is keen to formulate new principles of energy cooperation with Moscow.

EU leaders want Moscow to commit to the Energy Charter, a document that regulates transit and investment in the energy sector and allows for greater market competition from foreign companies. Russia, however, has so far refused to ratify the charter.

Energy security should be regulated by long-term agreements that would stabilize both supply and demand, Lavrov said.

Nov. 29 , 2006

Wednesday

Discussing

said

think

attempts

discuss

promote

quoted

saying

debate

summit

taken

said

consumed

formulate

want

commit

allows

refused

ratify

regulated

stabilize

said


XIN_ENG_20061112.0211

LONDON, Nov. 12 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Classy Arsenal beat Liverpool 3-0 in English Premiership

Arsenal put on a scintillating performance to thrash Liverpool 3-0 at home on Sunday and keep in touch with the Premiership pace-setters.

Mathieu Flamini put Arsenal ahead from close range five minutes before the end of an evenly contested first half.

But Arsenal moved into top gear after the interval, Kolo Toure racing on to Robin van Persie's clever pass to slide home a cool finish after 56 minutes.

William Gallas was then left completely unmarked to head in Van Persie's corner to seal the win with 10 minutes left.

Liverpool's title hopes were slim before kick-off but they are now surely non-existent as they remain without an away win in the Premiership this season.

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had a throat infection, which allowed Manuel Almunia to make a rare start.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez persisted with Steven Gerrard in a right-wing role, despite the absence of injured Momo Sissoko, so Bolo Zenden played in central midfield alongside Xabi Alonso.

It was to prove a questionable decision, with Gerrard very much a peripheral figure as Arsenal ran out comfortable winners.

Nov. 12 , 2006

Sunday

56 minutes

put

thrash

keep

put

moved

racing

slide

left

seal

win

left

remain

win

allowed

make

start

persisted

played

prove

decision

ran


AFP_ENG_20051206.0284

BRUSSELS, Dec 6 , 2005

ATTENTION - RECASTS with meeting ending in failure ///

EU finance ministers failed to agree Tuesday on a list of services to benefit from exceptionally low value added tax, with the incoming German government blocking a deal particularly important to France.

After two and a half years of talks on the list, the ministers decided to let heads of state and government work out at a summit next week such issues as whether hairdressers and restaurantiers should benefit from low VAT rates.

The European Union's current British presidency has been struggling to broker a deal on which industries should be included, but time is running out before the existing list expire at the end of the year.

"We will try our best to get an agreement on an important dossier which matters to a large number of states," said British finance minister Gordon Brown, who chaired the ministers' meeting.

Brown, who is known to have little appetite for lengthy negotiations with EU counterparts, was upbeat about the prospects for a deal at the December 15-16 summit in Brussels.

"We think there is a good chance of reaching an agreement at the council next week," he said.

Like all issues regarding tax harmonisation in the EU, the list must be unanimously accepted by the 25 member states. Exceptions aside, EU rules do not allow a minimum VAT rate of less than 15 percent.

The stakes are high for the sectors concerned and the current deadlock has left business leaders on the existing list -- which includes activities like building renovation, hair cutting and window-washing -- in limbo, wondering if they will benefit from a VAT tax break next year.

Hoping to pave the way for an agreement, Britain has put forward a compromise list taking up member states' main wishes for reduced VAT on services carried out at a local level and which, therefore, do not affect cross-border competition in the EU's single market for goods and services.

Germany's newly installed government is widely seen as holding the key to a deal because progress so far has been held up by opposition from Berlin.

"I think it's true to say that the new German government wants to look at its position on this matter and I think that it was right to leave this up to the council (summit) so that the German government, which has just come into the administration, can examine this in more detail," Brown said.

Paris has been working its close relations with Berlin -- but with little success so far -- in hope of breaking the deadlock and getting reduced VAT for building renovation prolonged and securing lower rates for restaurants as both industries are huge employers in France.

"Our German colleague, Peer Steinbrueck, the new finance minister, was not able at this point to offer his support," said French Finance Minister Thierry Breton.

However, Breton said he had the impression Germany was ready to make a gesture to help reach a deal

"The German minister is ready to embrace some of the British package, which he considers to be too broad. He is ready to make proposals," Breton said.

Dec 6 , 2005

Tuesday

two and a half years

next week

the end of the year

December 15-16

next week

next year

failed

agree

benefit

added

blocking

deal

talks

decided

let

work

summit

presidency

struggling

deal

running

expire

try

get

said

chaired

meeting

negotiations

upbeat

deal

summit

think

reaching

agreement

said

accepted

allow

left

cutting

wondering

benefit

Hoping

pave

put

taking

carried

affect

seen

holding

deal

held

think

say

wants

look

think

leave

come

examine

said

working

breaking

offer

said

said

had

make

gesture

help

reach

embrace

make

proposals

said


XIN_ENG_20061123.0341

TOKYO, Nov. 24 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Tokyo stocks open lower

Tokyo stocks opened lower Friday as exporters lost ground on a stronger yen.

In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 152.68 points, or 0.96 percent, to 15,761.55.

The broader Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 13.22 points, or 0.85 percent, to 1,539.65. The Second Section fell.

Nov. 24 , 2006

Friday

the first 15 minutes

opened

lost

lost

fell


XIN_ENG_20061109.0106

SINGAPORE, Nov. 9 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Singapore shares end higher

The shares prices in Singapore closed higher on Thursday with the benchmark Straits Times Index ( STI) rising 10.3 points to end at 2,745.6 points.

The overall volume stood at 1.541 billion shares worth 1.1802 billion Singapore dollars (about 755.4 million U.S. dollars).

Gainers led losers by 319 to 276 with another 715 unchanged.

On Wednesday, the STI fell 13.9 points to end at 2735.3 points.

Nov. 9 , 2006

Thursday

Times

Wednesday

closed

rising

end

stood

led

fell

end


AFP_ENG_20061229.0486

BAGHDAD, Dec 30 , 2006, 2006

Rights group condemns Saddam execution

US-based rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) Saturday condemned the hanging of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, saying history would judge his trial and execution "harshly".

"Saddam Hussein was responsible for horrific, widespread human rights violations, but those acts, however brutal, cannot justify his execution, a cruel and inhuman punishment," said HRW International Justice Programme director Richard Dicker.

"The test of a government's commitment to human rights is measured by the way it treats its worst offenders. History will judge the deeply flawed Dujail trial and this execution harshly," Dicker said in a statement.

Dec 30 , 2006

Saturday

condemned

saying

judge

trial

responsible

violations

justify

execution

said

measured

treats

judge

execution

said


AFP_ENG_19970409.0548

GENEVA, April 9 , 1997 (AFP)

Denktash ready to meet Clerides

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said Wednesday he was prepared to meet his Greek Cypriot counterpart, Glafcos Clerides, to try and forge a solution to the Cyprus question, but warned he would not let his community be "colonised" by the Greek majority.

Speaking to journalists after talks with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Denktash said he was optimistic about UN plans to try and get the leaders of the feuding communities on the divided island together for a June meeting.

But he stressed that his base position going into any talks would rule out any notion of Greek supremacy over the Turkish-held north of the Mediterranean island.

"I have been inviting Mr. Clerides to come to the negotiating table and to discuss a bizonal, bicommunal federation resting on the partnership of two politically equal communities (...) and they have been running away from it all this time," Denktash said.

"He (Clerides) has attempted to change the agenda by making a unilateral application to the EU, and pretending that this application is an application by Cyprus, when it is an application by Greek Cypriots only. So naturally we cannot accept that kind of tactics," the Turkish Cypriot leader said.

Cyprus has been divided since Turkey invaded the northern third of the island in 1974 after a military coup in Nicosia aimed at uniting the island with Greece.

Denktash's breakaway Turkish-Cypriot northern state declared in 1983 is recognized only by Ankara.

April 9 , 1997

Wednesday

June

said

prepared

meet

try

forge

warned

let

colonised

talks

said

optimistic

try

get

meeting

stressed

going

talks

rule

inviting

come

discuss

resting

running

said

attempted

change

making

pretending

application

accept

said

divided

invaded

coup

aimed

uniting

declared

recognized


XIN_ENG_20061116.0230

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 16 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Pakistan, Russia to boost economic, trade link

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nov. 16 , 2006

Thursday

last year

early this year

agreed

expand

Addressing

conference

visiting

said

agreed

launch

activate

promote

meet

review

explore

said

doubled

said

said

contact

increased

met

said

exist

expansion

said

welcomed

considering

participation


XIN_ENG_20051130.0035

TOKYO, Nov. 30 , 2005 (Xinhua)

US ambassador defends forces' presence in Japan

US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer said Wednesday the presence of American troops in Japan ensures the safety of its ally.

"In the last 60 years Japan has been at peace, and the world has been spared another World War. The large part of the reason for that success lies in the presence of US troops here in Japan," he told a press conference, saying the troops' presence had helped Japan in building itself into the No. 2 economy in the world.

While defending the US military realignment in the country and responding to long-standing Japanese grievances about burdens as host, he played down the US role in influencing Japan's foreign policy in handling relations with Asian neighbors.

He said Japan and the United States acting together will create "powerful force for good in Asia and the world."

"I think if we increase the capability of US forces, we increase the security in Japan," Schieffer said.

Japan and the United States agreed recently on an interim security report which enables smoother military cooperation between them.

The agreement are being fiercely opposed by governments and communities in regions hosting US forces.

Schieffer reminded the Japanese who complain about the burden that it is the United States that has "born a heavy burden" in the alliance.

He said the United States, in real dollars, are spending 10 time as much as Japan on defense.

When asked about the US role in influencing Japan's foreign policy in Asia, Schieffer said Washington has no "direct role" in these affairs and is not the "final arbitrary" in the dispute between Japan and its Asian neighbors.

Japan's political relations with China and South Korea are on the rocks because of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the war criminal-honoring Yasukuni Shrine as well as other history-related issues.

After his meeting with US President George W. Bush on Nov. 16, Koizumi said if Japan keeps close relationship with the United States, its ties with Asian countries will go better.

As for the US attitude toward tuning Japan's Self-Defense Forces into an army stated by a constitutional revision, Schieffer said it rests with Japan's own decision.

Nov. 30 , 2005

Wednesday

the last 60 years

Nov. 16

said

ensures

spared

lies

told

conference

saying

helped

building

defending

responding

played

influencing

said

acting

create

think

increase

increase

said

agreed

cooperation

opposed

hosting

reminded

complain

born

said

spending

asked

influencing

said

dispute

visits

war

meeting

said

keeps

go

tuning

stated

said

rests

decision


XIN_ENG_20061117.0389

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 17 , 2006 (Xinhua)

China's water pricing urged to hold water (2)

Thus, pricing and demand management now plays a growing role in water governance in China. "Citizens should pay more money for the water they use. So should they for the cost of treating the wastewater they produce and the cost of building facilities for exploring water resources," said Zhang Kunmin, vice-president of Chinese Association on Sustainable Development.

He said the water price in Shanghai in the 1970s was 0.5 yuan (6 U.S. cents) per cubic meter against the average 50 yuan (6 U.S. dollars) monthly income. "So my mother-in-law valued each drop of water by mopping the floor with the water used to wash face," he said. However in Beijing, the water price by then was 0.05 yuan (0.6 cents) per cubic meter, "it is common to see water dripping from the pipes in the public."

While the authority believes the NDRC pricing regulation can help to supervise the water cost and save water, the public doubts about what is behind the rises.

"I am wondering the relation between the rise of my water bill and that of the staff salary of water utilities," said Kuang Fei, a 37-year-old civil servant in Beijing. "Although the welfare and hospitality cost are imposed quotas in the regulation, I am afraid those 'swollen costs' are not truly necessary for water supply and maybe shifted secretly to other costs, which in the end are shouldered by us consumers,"he said.

Average wage income of workers in China's monopoly sectors, such as telecom, finance, tobacco and water industries, has reached three times the national average, while non-wage income of workers in these sectors enlarged the gap with the national average up to 10 fold as much, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

Dr. Shen Dajun, research fellow with China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, agreed that the consumers need transparency for the money collected from their water bills.

"They need to be told that the fees they have paid for treating the wastewater have indeed been used for that purpose and the money to build facilities for the more efficient use of water resources has really been used in that area," he said.

He noted that a good regulation alone would not solve all the problems. An independent auditing is indispensable and cost information should be made available to the public to prevent water suppliers from manipulating pricing, he said.

Ma Jun, an environmental consultant and the author of the book "China's Water Crisis, believes most people could afford water at a realistic price, and they would use the resource more prudently and efficiently if it came at a higher cost.

But these solutions presuppose vast expenditures of capital, and such solutions "do not automatically address the needs of the poor, who are unable to pay for that capital," he said.

His worry was echoed in the 2006 Human Development Report, which emphasizes an increased financing and a reorientation of public spending to find viable ways of getting potable water to those who can least afford to pay.

The report advocates for all governments to go beyond vague constitutional principles in enabling legislation to ensure the human right to a secure, accessible and affordable supply of water. At a minimum, this implies a target of at least 20 liters of clean water a day for every citizen -- and at a very low price or at no cost for those too poor to pay.

Dr. Li Yuanhua with the Ministry of Water Resources was glad to see 67 million rural populations had been provided with clean water by the end of 2005, with a government assistance of 402 yuan (50 US dollars) for each.

"In 2006, the government plans to invest 12 billion yuan (1.5 billion US dollars) to solve the water shortage problem of more than 29 million rural population. In 2007, the target population is 32 million. In 2015, the situation for all the 379 million rural population who suffered from water shortage will be improved," Dr. Li said.

In the urban areas, the water price may continue to rise by 50 to 100 percent over the next five years to curb the squandering of scarce water resources, according to Qiu Baoxing, vice construction minister.

But Qiu said the rise of water prices would be gradual. He noted that water costs of 5 U.S. dollars per cubic meter in Boston, or 2.5 euros in France, would not work in China.

"People's income in China is very low, and we have to think about their ability to accept (a price rise)," Qiu said. "We are not preparing for a large price increase."

Nevertheless, the work has paid off, at least from a consumption standpoint. Beijing used 4.06 billion cubic meters of water in 2001, but in 2005 the figure dropped to 3.45 billion cubic meters.

Nov. 17 , 2006

now

the end of 2005

the next five years

plays

pay

use

treating

produce

said

said

valued

mopping

used

wash

said

see

dripping

believes

help

supervise

save

doubts

rises

wondering

rise

said

imposed

shifted

shouldered

said

reached

enlarged

fold

according

agreed

need

need

told

paid

treating

used

build

use

used

said

noted

solve

prevent

said

believes

afford

use

came

presuppose

address

pay

said

echoed

emphasizes

increased

financing

spending

find

getting

pay

advocates

go

ensure

implies

pay

glad

see

provided

assistance

plans

invest

solve

suffered

improved

said

continue

rise

curb

squandering

according

said

rise

noted

work

low

think

accept

rise

said

preparing

increase

paid

used

dropped


XIN_ENG_20061121.0337

BEIRUT, Nov. 21 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Roundup: Lebanese leaders condemn killing of industry minister

Lebanese political and religionary leaders Tuesday voiced condemnation on the assassination of anti- Syrian Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel earlier in the day.

Gemayel was killed by a gunshot on the head when his convoy was attacked on a street in Jedeide, about 15 km northeast from Beirut.

Following the killing of 34-year-old Gemayel, who was also a Christian leader in Lebanon and son of former president Amin Gemayel, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora said at a press conference that the murder of the anti-Syrian minister "will not terrorize us" and "we will not let the criminal killers control our fate."

The prime minister called for unity in the deeply divided country and pledged that his government will take up all its responsibilities to protect the interests of the people.

He said that the country was more determined to set up the international tribunal for assassinations in the wake of the killing of Gemayel.

The Gemayel assassination "increases our determination to see the creation of the international tribunal" to try suspects in the 2005 murder of former premier Rafiq Hariri, said Seniora.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud called on the Lebanese people to unite and start dialogue to overcome political stalemate.

Lahoud described the killing of Gemayel as "a conspiracy that started with the assassination of former premier Rafiq Hariri."

Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, also a prominent anti- Syrian political figure, was killed in a suicide bombing in February 2005, which led to rising anti-Syrian waves and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.

Nabih Berri, the parliament speaker, said the murder of Gemayel was an action against the Lebanese state and government by undermining stability and security of the country.

Berri also expressed deep condolence to family of the deceased, vowing to do all he could to hunt down those behind the killing of Gemayel and other officials in Lebanon.

In addition, Lebanese Sunni Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rasheed Qabbani also denounced the assassination of Gemayel.

"The assassination of Pierre Gemayel amid circumstances of tension and defiance currently being observed in the country was a severe blow to all those who wished that the situations could not reach to this extent," he said.

Describing Gemayel as one of Lebanon's national figures, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, a Christian opposition leader, also denounced the assassination crime.

Gemayel was the fifth anti-Syrian figure to be killed in the past two years.

Lebanon has witnessed a series of blasts since February 2005 when former premier Rafik Hariri was killed in a deadly bombing attack. The most recent assassination was the killing of journalist Gebran Tueni on Dec. 12, 2005.

Nov. 21 , 2006

Tuesday

February 2005

the past two years

February 2005

Dec. 12, 2005

voiced

condemnation

assassination

killed

gunshot

convoy

attacked

killing

was

said

conference

murder

terrorize

let

control

called

pledged

take

protect

said

set

killing

increases

determination

see

creation

try

murder

said

called

unite

start

overcome

described

killing

started

assassination

killed

bombing

led

rising

waves

withdrawal

said

murder

action

undermining

expressed

vowing

do

hunt

killing

denounced

assassination

assassination

observed

wished

reach

said

denounced

killed

witnessed

blasts

killed

bombing

attack

killing


XIN_ENG_20061114.0247

MOSCOW, Nov. 14 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Alcohol poisoning kills over 400 across Russia

A total of 406 people have died from drinking illicit liquor in a wave of alcohol poisoning in numerous Russian regions over the past few months, the head of the country's consumer rights watchdog agency said on Tuesday.

Gennady Onishchenko, chief of the Federal Service for Consumer Rights Supervision, said some 10,000 cases of toxic hepatitis caused by toxic alcohol substitutes have been registered in 18 regions, according to the Itar-Tass news agency.

The hardest hit were the Irkutsk, Chelyabinsk and Belgorod regions, where 107 people have been affected and 16 of them died in the past 24 hours alone, Onishchenko said.

A total of 406 deaths from toxic alcohol substitutes have occurred in Russia over the past several months, he added.

The massive wave of poisoning has raised alarm in the country, with top lawmakers calling for state monopoly over alcohol products to help crack down on fake vodka and toxic alcohol substitutes.

Nov. 14 , 2006

the past few months

Tuesday

the past 24 hours

the past several months

died

drinking

said

said

caused

registered

according

hit

affected

died

said

occurred

added

wave

raised

calling

help

crack


AFP_ENG_20061219.0256

BISHKEK, Dec 19 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS details, quotes, background ///

Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister Felix Kulov and the entire government of the Central Asian republic tendered their resignation Tuesday in line with a new constitution that requires formation of a fresh cabinet.

"Today, I tendered my resignation to the president," Kulov said in a national radio interview. "In that way we want to set the conditions for the full-blooded work of the new constitution."

The constitution was signed November 9, significantly reducing the powers of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Under the new basic law, parliament, not the president will appoint the next premier and government.

Kyrgyzstan, an impoverished but strategically located republic that hosts both Russian and US air bases, has been struggling to stabilise since longtime president Askar Akayev was overthrown in a street revolt in March 2005.

The country has been plagued by political unrest, contract killings and organised crime.

In November, opposition demonstrators spent a week camped out in the main square of Bishkek demanding constitutional reform.

After an outbreak of violence, Bakiyev finally gave in, signing the new constitution in what he said was "one more step towards democracy."

The new constitution limits the president's powers to dissolve parliament and also gives the legislature the right to appoint the government.

Kulov has been prime minister since the revolution, but his reappointment is not guaranteed in the deeply divided parliament.

In May 2006, Kulov's government tendered its resignation, but this was not accepted by Bakiyev.

Dec 19 , 2006

Tuesday

Today

November 9

March 2005

November

a week

May 2006

tendered

tendered

resignation

said

interview

want

set

work

signed

reducing

appoint

hosts

struggling

stabilise

overthrown

plagued

killings

spent

camped

demanding

outbreak

gave

signing

said

limits

dissolve

gives

appoint

revolution

guaranteed

tendered

accepted


XIN_ENG_20061127.0236

ROME, Nov. 27 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Writethru: Italy to complete troop withdrawal from Iraq within days

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

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

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

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

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

Nov. 27 , 2006

Monday

Dec. 2

Dec. 1 and 2

said

complete

withdrawal

turn

interview

said

has

left

added

talked

pullout

voiced

Pulling

won

election

dispatched

invasion


AFP_ENG_19970411.0067

PORT VILA, April 11 , 1997 (AFP)

Holiday in Vanuatu to mark ordination of first indigenous bishop by Patrick Decloitre

Vanuatu's President Jean-Marie Leye has declared Saturday a public holiday to celebrate the ordination of the first indigenous Roman Catholic bishop here, the State House said Friday.

Michel Visi, 42, the first Melanesian bishop in this southwestern Pacific island state's history, was appointed last December by Pope John Paul II.

Visi, from Ambae island, 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of here, takes over from American Francis Lambert who at 75 must retire.

The new Vanuatu bishop, who studied in seminaries in neighbouring New Caledonia and at Fiji's Pacific Regional Seminary, where he was rector, obtained a canon law degree in Canada.

He will now be in charge of a diocese, with 14 priests, covering the 80 scattered islands in this Y-shaped archipelago. He is the first indigenous bishop since Vanuatu's catholic mission arrived here more than 110 years ago.

"I prepared myself, especially I made a 30-day retreat in Australia with the Jesuits. I think the mission of a bishop requires a lot of tranquility in heart and mind," Visi told AFP on the eve of the historic event.

More than 1,000 people are converging on the capital from outlying islands and more than 200 visitors, including the Wellington-based nuncio Archbishop Thomas White, are journeying from overseas.

The two-day celebrations, which are to start Saturday with the official ordination, are set in Port Vila's largest open ground, the Independence Park.

Vanuatu's linguistic and religious legacy is strongly related to the presence of missionaries who early last century were among the first permanent white settlers in these islands.

The nation, with its 170,000 inhabitants on some 80 inhabited islands, defines itself in its constitution as a Christian country.

Churches are grouped into a council with the largest members being Roman Catholic, with around 22,000 believers, Presbyterian and Anglican churches.

However, as always here, Saturday's celebrations will be a harmonious mix of liturgy and traditional tribal dances, once labelled "evil" and banned by the missionaries.

April 11 , 1997

Friday

last December

now

more than 110 years ago

Saturday

last century

Saturday

declared

celebrate

said

appointed

retire

studied

obtained

covering

arrived

prepared

made

retreat

think

requires

told

converging

journeying

celebrations

start

set

grouped

banned


XIN_ENG_20051113.0163

NEW DELHI, Nov. 13 , 2005 (Xinhua)

MNC executive key conspirator in Delhi blasts: Indian police

An executive with a multinational company arrested in Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir was a key conspirator in the Oct. 29 bombings in the Indian capital that were carried out by four terrorists, the Delhi Police chief said Sunday.

Tariq Ahmed Dar, who was arrested in Srinagar, capital of Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir, was described by Delhi Police Commissioner K.K. Paul as "one of the key conspirators" behind the blasts that killed over 60 people and injured more than 200.

Paul said his force had also identified the four terrorists who carried out the bombings in the busy Paharganj and Sarojini Nagar markets and in a bus. "Two of the bombers could be foreigners," Indo-Asian News Service quoted Paul as saying.

Delhi Police confirmed the use of RDX in the blasts and said they had found crucial clues from the blast sites that pointed to the involvement of the outlawed Lashker-e-Taiba.

Dar was not in Delhi on the day of the blasts but had visited the capital in the first week of October to select the targets for the attacks.

Paul also claimed Dar had functioned as a spokesman for the Lashker, saying that soon after the blasts, Dar had contacted a news agency in Srinagar and denied the Lashker's involvement in the bombings.

Dar reportedly joined the Hizbul Mujahideen, the most powerful Kashmiri guerrilla group, in 2003 but later teamed up with the Lashker.

He was helped by two other terrorists to hatch the conspiracy behind the Oct.29 bombings, police said.

Paul said Dar worked as a sales representative for Johnson and Johnson in Srinagar. Dar had obtained a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1995 and also wrote for the "Mount Valley Magazine" in Srinagar.

Officials said Dar's role in the attacks came to light after a special team of Delhi Police was sent to Kashmir Nov.1 and was asked to probe links between guerrilla groups in that state and the bombings, the worst terror attack in the Indian capital.

"We suspected that the terrorists were from Kashmir and we were hopeful of making a breakthrough," said Paul, noting that around 500,000 rupees was transferred to Dar's bank account just before the blasts.

Police officials said Dar was taken to the blast sites to identify the targets and to confirm his involvement.

According to them, Dar was arrested by the Indian Army on Nov. 10 and handed over to Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir Police for questioning. Police said Dar was brought to Delhi on Nov. 11 and was interrogated by senior officials of the Special Cell and intelligence agencies.

Police said Dar was arrested after the army intercepted his telephone conversations.

Nov. 13 , 2005

Oct. 29

Sunday

the first week of October

Nov. 10

Nov. 11

arrested

bombings

carried

said

arrested

described

blasts

killed

injured

said

identified

carried

bombings

quoted

saying

confirmed

use

blasts

said

found

blast

pointed

involvement

blasts

visited

select

attacks

claimed

functioned

saying

blasts

contacted

denied

involvement

bombings

joined

teamed

helped

hatch

bombings

said

said

worked

obtained

wrote

said

attacks

came

sent

asked

probe

bombings

attack

suspected

hopeful

making

said

noting

transferred

blasts

said

taken

blast

identify

confirm

involvement

According

arrested

handed

questioning

said

brought

interrogated

said

arrested

intercepted

conversations


AFP_ENG_19970425.0525

BAGHDAD, April 25 , 1997 (AFP)

Iraq flies Mecca pilgrims home through both exclusion zones by Farouk Choukri

Iraqi helicopters started on Friday to fly home Moslem pilgrims from the Saudi border, violating US-patrolled exclusion zones in the south and north of the country, the official news agency INA said.

A first helicopter carrying "sick, elderly or weary" pilgrims took off from the southern border region of Jodaidat Arar to the town of Mosul in northern Iraq, it said, without giving the number of passengers.

"The operation to transport pilgrims to other governorates will continue," the agency added. A second group of returning pilgrims was expected at Jodaidat Arar, three kilometres (two miles) from the border, on Saturday.

Official Baghdad Radio and Youth TV, which is run by President Saddam Hussein's son Uday, interrupted its programmes to announce the news of the first flight and played patriotic songs.

Baghdad earlier this week sent nine helicopters to the south, already violating the "no-fly" zone, to wait for the Iraqis returning from the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The flight to Mosul also violates a northern exclusion zone set up shortly after the 1991 Gulf War to protect Iraqi Kurds from air attack by Baghdad.

Iraq said the helicopters were sent to ferry home dozens of elderly and sick pilgrims, in defiance of Washington which imposed the exclusion zone in the south together with London and Paris since 1992.

The United States said the southern flights were a "technical" violation and that it would not take military action in retaliation.

But the US Defense Department on Thursday accused Baghdad of seeking to exploit the annual pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites, known as the hajj, for political ends.

"I think they're trying to hide behind religion or to manipulate the hajj pilgrimage for political reasons," said Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon. "We're not going to play that game.

"We've stressed we're not going to interfere with their efforts to bring pilgrims back from the hajj," he said.

"And we've also made it very clear that we continue to enforce the no- fly, no-drive zone which is designed to prevent the Iraqis from accumulating military power in the southern part of their country."

Baghdad, which in September said it would no longer recognize no-fly zones set up in the south to protect Shiite Moslems and the north for the Kurds, has hailed the flights as a victory.

"Iraq has for years rejected these imaginary lines and announced in its official communiques that it does not recognize the zones because they are not in UN Security Council resolutions," an official spokesman told AFP on Friday.

On April 9, Iraq also flouted the UN sanctions in force since its August 1990 invasion of Kuwait and flew more than 100 Iraqis to Saudi Arabia for the start of the pilgrimage.

Iraq insisted that the flight was "purely humanitarian" and so not a violation of the embargo, a position which China, Egypt, France and Russia supported in the UN Security Council.

The United States failed in its efforts to secure UN condemnation of Iraq for the flight to Saudi Arabia.

April 25 , 1997

Friday

Saturday

this week

Thursday

September

Friday

April 9

August 1990

started

fly

violating

said

carrying

took

said

giving

operation

transport

continue

added

returning

expected

run

interrupted

announce

played

sent

violating

wait

returning

pilgrimage

flight

violates

set

protect

attack

said

sent

ferry

imposed

said

violation

take

action

accused

seeking

exploit

pilgrimage

think

trying

hide

manipulate

pilgrimage

said

play

stressed

interfere

bring

said

made

continue

enforce

designed

prevent

accumulating

said

recognize

set

protect

hailed

rejected

announced

recognize

told

flouted

sanctions

invasion

flew

start

pilgrimage

insisted

violation

embargo

supported

failed

secure

condemnation

flight


XIN_ENG_20061123.0253

KHARTOUM, Nov. 23 , 2006 (Xinhua)

AU says Darfur rebels plan to attack its fuel convoys

The African Union (AU) accused on Thursday a Darfur rebel group of attempting to attack its fuel convoys, saying such action will hinder peace efforts in the region.

In a statement received by Xinhua, the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) said it had received creditable information on a planned ambush against its fuel tankers travelling in the areas of Um Kadada and El Nahud near al-Fashir.

The statement said some elements of the National Redemption Front (NRF) were behind this potential attack.

"Such actions constitute flagrant violation of the ceasefire and negate current efforts of broadening the peace process and making it more inclusive," the statement stressed.

The pan-African body urged the NRF leadership to refrain its elements from undertaking such action.

Attacks against AU troops and aid workers in Darfur are now part of the shaky security in the region.

Last week, The AU slammed an attack by unidentified group against an AU monitor team near the Chadian border, in which the attackers seized a vehicle and communication radio.

Nov. 23 , 2006

Thursday

now

Last week

accused

attempting

attack

saying

hinder

efforts

received

said

received

ambush

travelling

said

attack

constitute

violation

negate

broadening

stressed

urged

leadership

refrain

undertaking

action

Attacks

slammed

attack

seized


XIN_ENG_20051128.0108

BEIJING, Nov. 28 , 2005 (Xinhua)

New Chinese historic sites granted certificates of world heritage

A batch of Chinese historic sites, including the historic center of Macao, were granted the certificates of world heritage here on Monday.

Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili, Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Koichiro Matsuura, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) attended the certificate awarding ceremony in Beijing.

The historic center of Macao was added to the World Heritage List at the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Durban, South Africa, in July this year.

The heritage in Macao comprises about two dozen monuments, including the Buddhist Ma Kok Temple, the Catholic Holy House of Mercy, the Old City Walls, the Fortress Hill and a number of churches.

The relics, most are still in use, have witnessed the earliest pervasion of Western religious culture in the oriental continent as well as its ensuing coexistence with the local culture.

The other sites awarded the certificates include the capital cities and tombs of the ancient Koguryo Kingdom of China, the three imperial mausoleums dedicated to first and second emperors and the two empresses of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), as well as to the ancestors of the emperors, all in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, and the Shenyang Imperial Palace of the early Qing Dynasty.

These sites were added to the World Heritage List at the 28th conference of the World Heritage Committee in July 2004 in Suzhou, a scenic city in Jiangsu Province, east China.

Joining UNESCO's Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985, China now has 31 sites on the World Heritage List, the third most next to Italy and Spain, and it is now playing an active role in protecting the world heritages.

Nov. 28 , 2005

Monday

July this year

July 2004

now

now

granted

attended

ceremony

added

session

held

comprises

use

witnessed

awarded

include

dedicated

added

conference

Joining

Concerning

has

playing

protecting


AFP_ENG_20051204.0086

HONG KONG, Dec 4 , 2005

= (PICTURES) =

UBS Hong Kong Open champion Colin Montgomerie did his best to console a tearful James Kingston on Sunday after the South African threw away a one-shot lead on the last hole.

"I must say that everyone's heart goes out to James Kingston there," said the eight-time European Order of Merit winner, who carded rounds of of 69, 66, 66 and 70 to win by a shot after Kingston's double-bogey on 18.

"That should have been a play-off at worst to be honest and then we would have had more drama coming down that last hole.

"We all feel for him. Every golfer who plays the game feels for someone who doubles the last to lose. It has happened before and unfortunately it will happen again but on this occasion I am glad that I managed to take the spoils after that."

'Monty' birdied four, 10 and 14 but bogeyed 11 to be one shot back from Kingston, who was 10 under par and leading by a shot until the final hole.

It was Kingston's second meltdown in as many years on the same hole after he bogeyed the last in 2004 to finish joint second behind Miguel Angel Jimenez.

"It's amazing, five minutes afterwards he put his arm around me and said well done. He must have been nervous on the last hole -- it's a very difficult hole, a very difficult drive and I think that's what hurt him," said Montgomerie.

Montgomerie said he thought Kingston already had it won -- but he was delighted to have avoided a play-off.

"He bogeyed 16 but had par on 17 so I was expecting to lose. I was expecting to congratulate the winner when he came in," said the Scot, 42.

"My play-off record is terrible so I was glad we didn't have one. I've been in nine play-offs and I think I've only won one -- against Ernie Els in Sun City, so I hardly got out alive!"

Dec 4 , 2005

Sunday

69, 66

console

threw

say

goes

said

carded

win

had

coming

feel

plays

doubles

lose

happened

happen

glad

managed

take

birdied

bogeyed

shot

leading

shot

bogeyed

finish

put

said

think

hurt

said

said

thought

had

won

delighted

avoided

bogeyed

had

expecting

lose

expecting

congratulate

came

said

think

won

got


XIN_ENG_20061127.0437

KINSHASA, Nov. 27 , 2006 (Xinhua)

mission

UN peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and government troops have driven rebel soldiers out of an eastern town they had captured at the weekend, the UN mission announced Monday.

The UN mission, known by its French acronym MONUC, said that its blue helmets (UN forces), fighting alongside the National Army Force in the DRC (FARDC), launched air strikes on the rebel 81st and the 83rd brigades loyal to General Laurent Nkunda.

The rebel soldiers began to retreat from the town of Sake under the pressure of UN attack helicopters and ground forces. The MONUC suffered no casualties, it said.

Nkunda's men launched attacks on Saturday, taking the town of Sake which is close to Goma, the chief town of North-Kivu province. The FARDC formed its defense at Kazingani, a few kilometers to the east of Sake, after abandoning the town on Sunday. The fighting has killed eight people.

The MONUC said blue helmets were tightening patrol around Goma to ensure the situation remained stable and citizens were safe. It was trying its utmost to prevent the flare-up from approaching the city.

In June 2004, Nkunda, a disgraced Tutsi general of the FARDC, led his soldiers in rebellion against President Joseph Kabila. They kept a week-long occupation of Bukavu, capital of South-Kivu province.

Since then, the Tutsi general has been under an international warrant for war crimes and crime against humanity committed in Bukavu. His whereabouts has never been officially reported till now. He is thought to be in the North-Kivu province close to the Rwanda border.

Nov. 27 , 2006

the weekend

Monday

Saturday

Sunday

June 2004

now

driven

captured

announced

said

fighting

launched

strikes

began

retreat

suffered

said

launched

attacks

taking

formed

abandoning

fighting

killed

said

tightening

ensure

remained

trying

prevent

approaching

led

rebellion

kept

occupation

committed

reported

thought


XIN_ENG_20051129.0175

ZHANGJIAKOU, North China, Nov. 29 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Japan wins men's title of FIS Alpine ski competition in China

Japan won the first gold medal awarded in the 2005 International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski Competition in China which opened here on Tuesday.

Takeda Ryu clocked a total of two minutes 26.85 seconds in the two runs of the men's giant slalom event to win the gold, followed

by Kim Min-Sung of South Korea with 2:27.13.

The bronze medal went to Hur Seung-Wook of South Korea at 2:27. 14.

In the women's event, South Korean Oh Jae-Eun claimed the title

with 2:34.77 and Yamazaki Yurie of Japan won the silver with 2:36. 50.

China's Dong Jinzhi won the bronze medal with 2:38.35.

"This is the best result of Chinese skiiers in the international competitions." said Tian Younian, vice-president of the China Ski Association, "It is very encouraging for all Chinese skiers."

The competition, runs from November 29 to December 2, featured 120 skiers from seven countries and regions including Japan, South

Korea, Chinese Taipei and France.

Nov. 29 , 2005

Tuesday

two minutes 26.85 seconds

2:27. 14

November 29

December 2

won

awarded

opened

clocked

win

followed

went

claimed

won

won

said

runs

featured


AFP_ENG_19970413.0398

LONDON, April 14 , 1997 (AFP)

Sudanese leader defies UN sanctions to fly out of Libya

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir left Libya by air Sunday in defiance of UN sanctions against Tripoli, after holding talks with Libyan leader Moammer Kadhafi and government officials from Uganda, Libyan television said in a report monitored here.

The television showed Al-Bashir boarding a plane at the airport in the coastal town of Sirte. Under UN sanctions, flights in and out of Libya are prohibited.

Before leaving, Al-Bashir issued a statement, saying he and Kadhafi had discussed how Arabs should overcome their differences and resist attempts to weaken their unity.

"He stressed, furthermore, that the Arab nation, given its resources and potential, was a superpower which could, once united, impose its will and face up to its enemy," the television said in the report monitored by the BBC.

General Al-Bashir also met members of a Ugandan delegation led by Foreign Minister Eriya Kategaya to discuss a dispute in which each country has accused the other of providing support for rebels operating in the border region.

April 14 , 1997

Sunday

left

sanctions

holding

talks

said

monitored

showed

boarding

prohibited

leaving

issued

saying

discussed

overcome

resist

attempts

weaken

stressed

given

united

impose

face

said

monitored

met

led

discuss

dispute

accused


XIN_ENG_20061121.0089

BEIJING, Nov. 21 , 2006 (Xinhua)

WAC takes China's trademark office to court

The Washington Apple Commission (WAC) has taken the Chinese Trademark Review and Adjudication Board to court after its application to register a trademark was rejected.

The application was rejected because the trademark contains the word Washington, the capital of the United States.

But WAC said Washington is also a person's name and, historically speaking, was used earlier as a personal name than as a geographical name.

According to Chinese trademark law, well-known foreign geographical names must not be used as trademarks, but exceptions can be made for geographical names that have other meanings.

The Trademark Review and Adjudication Board, which is responsible for handling trademark disputes, claimed Washington is better known in China as the capital of the U.S. than as a person's name, and so cannot be considered an exception.

WAC said its trademark, which has already been registered in the United States, is known the world over and that it has no intention of monopolizing the geographical name. It contends that the trademark will not have a negative impact on competition.

Washington State is one of the major apple-producing areas in the U.S.

The Intermediate People's Court has not yet handed down its decision on the case.

Nov. 21 , 2006

taken

application

register

rejected

rejected

contains

said

speaking

used

used

made

disputes

claimed

considered

said

registered

known

has

monopolizing

contends

impact

handed

decision


XIN_ENG_20051115.0246

BEIJING, Nov. 15 , 2005 (Xinhua)

China to launch special inspection over rural tax reform

China will kickoff a special inspection of rural tax and fee system reform in some provinces, the Ministry of Finance announced on Tuesday.

The State Council will send 6 inspection teams to 12 provinces from November 21 to December 5 to check out the reform progress concerning rural tax and fee collection, according to the ministry.

To alleviate the burden on Chinese farmers, the government has been reforming its rural tax and fee systems for years in an effort to eliminate growing administrative and arbitrary fees.

Since the beginning of this year, the government has stopped collecting the agricultural tax in all provinces except three, where agricultural tax ratios have been lowered to 2 percent. Next year, the whole country is expected to annul the agricultural tax.

As local governments collect less taxes and fees from farmers, they are facing fund shortages in supporting education and infrastructure construction. To solve this problem, the central government has allocated huge sums of money to alleviate the fund shortages of local governments.

Nov. 15 , 2005

Tuesday

November 21

December 5

the beginning of this year

Next year

kickoff

inspection

reform

announced

send

check

according

alleviate

reforming

effort

eliminate

stopped

collecting

lowered

expected

annul

collect

facing

supporting

solve

allocated

alleviate


XIN_ENG_20051107.0285

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Interest rates mixed at weekly US Treasury bill auctions

Interest rates on short-term US Treasury bills were mixed in auctions held on Monday with six- month bills rising to the highest level since March 2001.

The US Treasury Department auctioned 17 billion dollars in six- month bills at a discount rate of 4.155 percent, up from 4.125 percent last week. The rate was the highest since these bills brought 4.22 percent on March 19, 2001.

The department also sold 19 billion dollars in three-month bills at a discount rate of 3.870 percent, down from 3.890 percent last week.

Separately, the US Federal Reserve said Monday that the average yield for one-year Treasury bills, a popular index for making changes in adjustable rate mortgages, rose to 4.32 percent last week from 4.26 percent the previous week.

Nov. 7 , 2005

Monday

six- month

March 2001

last week

March 19, 2001

last week

Monday

last week

the previous week.

mixed

auctions

rising

auctioned

brought

sold

said

changes

rose


AFP_ENG_20051205.0277

PARIS, Dec 5 , 2005

Assad says Mehlis commission should "correct its mistakes"

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Monday that he expects the UN commission of enquiry into the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri to "correct its mistakes."

"In the first place we expect this enquiry to be professional and the commission to correct the mistakes it made earlier in order to form a report that is fair and objective," al-Assad said on France 3 television.

The Syrian leader was speaking as investogators began questioning five Syrian officials at UN headquarters in Vienna as part of the international enquiry led by German magistrate Detlev Mehlis.

The identities of the five have not been made public, but officials have said that Assaf Shawkat, Assad's brother-in-law and head of military intelligence, is not among them.

"There were witnesses who gave false testimony. Recently there has been a Syrian witness who admitted he was forced to provide evidence that backed up a particular point of view .... That gives us cause for concern," al-Assad said.

Last week state television in Syria showed an interview with Syrian witness Hussam Taher Hussam who said he had provided evidence to the commission under duress.

"There is no proof that Syria was involved (in the assassination). There is no criminal proof, and it was not in the interests of Syria to commit such an act," Assad said.

Dec 5 , 2005

Monday

Last week

said

expects

murder

correct

expect

enquiry

correct

form

said

speaking

began

questioning

enquiry

led

made

said

gave

admitted

forced

provide

backed

gives

said

showed

interview

said

provided

involved

commit

said


XIN_ENG_20061119.0216

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 19 , 2006 (Xinhua)

S. Africa, India international called off due to rain

The first MTN one-day international between South African and Indian cricket teams at the Wanderers in Johannesburg was called off on Sunday due to persistent rain.

About 30,000 people had braved the elements, hoping to see some action. It was overcast in the morning, but rain started falling just before the toss at 2 p.m. (1200 GMT), and the covers were brought on.

The main covers came on and off several times during the afternoon because of the rain. At 6.30 p.m. (1630 GMT), it was announced that the match had officially been called off.

The opening match had not been without its problems. Originally scheduled as a day match, the organizers had to change it to a day-night affair because of the Pick'n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge, which took place earlier in the day.

Several major roads in Johannesburg were closed for the cycle race, in which 28,000 cyclists took part, and access to the Wanderers would have been difficult.

The next match is a day-night match at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday afternoon.

Nov. 19 , 2006

Sunday

the afternoon

Wednesday afternoon

called

rain

braved

hoping

see

action

started

falling

toss

brought

covers

came

rain

announced

called

scheduled

change

Pick'n

Pay

took

closed

took


XIN_ENG_20061112.0206

KHARTOUM, Nov. 12 , 2006 (Xinhua)

in Darfur

Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir reiterated on Sunday his country's refusal of deploying an international peacekeeping force to be sent by the United Nations in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

The Sudanese president reiterated the position during a meeting with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, who arrived in Khartoum on the same day on a two-day official visit in Sudan.

Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs al-Wasila al- Samani told reporters following the meeting that al-Bashir urged the world society to help reinforce the 7800-strong African Union troops which are undertaking the peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

The Sudanese president also stressed his country's full respect for the security and sovereignty of Chad and the Central African, denying the accusation that Khartoum was baking rebels of the two countries to launch cross-border attacks from Sudan, al-Samani said.

Al-Samani disclosed that the French foreign minister expressed his "complete understanding" for Sudan's position of refusing the deployment of international peacekeeper in Darfur, and his keenness to mediate between Sudan and Chad and the Central Africa.

"Sudan and France agree that the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) must be completed by bringing in those refusing to accept the agreement until now, and President al-Bashir thanked France for its efforts to help look for a comprehensive settlement for the conflict in Darfur," al-Samani added.

The Sudanese government signed the DPA with a main rebel faction in the Nigerian capital Abuja on May 5. But some other rebel movements have refused to sign the agreement, claiming that it did not meet all their demands.

Nov. 12 , 2006

Sunday

the same day

now

May 5

reiterated

deploying

sent

reiterated

meeting

arrived

visit

told

meeting

urged

help

reinforce

undertaking

stressed

denying

baking

launch

attacks

said

disclosed

expressed

refusing

deployment

mediate

agree

completed

bringing

refusing

accept

thanked

help

look

conflict

added

signed

refused

sign

claiming

meet


AFP_ENG_19970406.0166

MOSCOW, April 6 , 1997 (AFP)

Two killed by avalanche on road in Caucasus

Two people were killed and two others injured when their car was hit by an avalanche on a main road running through the Russian republic of Northern Ossetia, ITAR-TASS news agency reported Sunday.

Several avalanches have hit the region this weekend following the Spring thaw, local official Boris Degoyev said.

He said traffic has been banned during the day because of the warming temperatures that increase the risk of avalanches.

April 6 , 1997

Sunday

this weekend

the day

killed

injured

hit

avalanche

running

reported

hit

said

said

banned

increase


WSJ891102-0017
 = 891102
 891102-0017.
 Business Brief -- Coleco Industries Inc.:
@  Ailing Toy Maker Submits
@  Chapter 11 Revamp Plan
 11/02/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 CLO
 BANKRUPTCIES (BCY)

   Coleco Industries Inc., a once high-flying toy maker whose stock peaked at $65 a share in the early 1980s, filed a Chapter 11 reorganization plan that provides just 1.125 cents a share for common stockholders.

   Under the plan, unsecured creditors, who  are owed about $430 million, would receive about $92 million, or 21 cents for each dollar they  are owed.
In addition, they  will receive stock in the reorganized company, which  will  be named Ranger Industries Inc.
After these payments, about $225,000 will be available for the 20 million common shares outstanding.

   The Avon, Conn., company's stock hit a high in 1983 after it unveiled its Adam home computer, but the product  was plagued with glitches and the company's fortunes plunged.
But Coleco bounced back with the introduction of the Cabbage Patch dolls, whose sales hit $600 million in 1985.
But as the craze died, Coleco failed  to come up with another winner and filed for bankruptcy-law protection in July 1988.

   The plan  was filed jointly with unsecured creditors in federal bankruptcy court in New York and must  be approved by the court.

once

the early 1980s

July 1988

high-flying

peaked

filed

provides

owed

receive

owed

receive

named

payments

available

hit

unveiled

plagued

plunged

bounced

introduction

hit

died

failed

come

filed

protection

filed

approved

in

After

in

after

in


WSJ891026-0136
 = 891026
 891026-0136.
 Kyle Technology Plans Sale
 10/26/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 KYLE
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)
 ROISEBURG, Ore.

   Kyle Technology Corp. said a Seattle investor has signed a letter of intent to buy the company for about $3.1 million, or $1.20 a share.

   The investor, Donald A. Wright, plans to run the company, said a spokesman for Kyle.

   The transaction has been approved by Kyle's board, but requires the approval of the company's shareholders.
Kyle manufactures electronic components.

said

signed

intent

buy

plans

run

said

transaction

approved

requires

approval


XIN_ENG_20061106.0199

TIRANA, Nov. 6 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Overseas visitors to Albania hit record in summer

A record number of overseas visitors came to Albania in the past summer, reaching well over 550,000 people, an Albanian official said on Monday.

Eris Hozha, director of the National Tourism Organization, explained that the increasing numbers of visitors are attracted by Albania's well reserved cultural heritage.

"Albania is home to the internationally renowned archeological sites, such as the Butrint National Park, the country's Stone City of Gjirokastra and its 2500-year-old city of Berati," he said, adding that Berati is expected to be granted World Heritage site status in 2007.

He said that after the new terminal at the Tirana International Airport is completed in early 2007, an even greater number of visitors will come to Albania.

Albania is a small, mountainous country, boasting some of the wildest mountain scenery in Europe. It has a least built-up coastline of 150 miles in the Mediterranean region.

Nov. 6 , 2006

the past summer

Monday

early 2007

came

reaching

said

explained

attracted

said

adding

expected

granted

said

completed

come

has