nyt_20130321_china_pollution

2013-03-21

As Pollution Worsens in China, Solutions Succumb to Infighting

China's state leadership transition has taken place this month against an ominous backdrop. More than 16,000 dead pigs have been found floating in rivers that provide drinking water to Shanghai. A haze akin to volcanic fumes cloaked the capital, causing convulsive coughing and obscuring the portrait of Mao Zedong on the gate to the Forbidden City.

So severe are China's environmental woes, especially the noxious air, that top government officials have been forced to openly acknowledge them. Fu Ying, the spokeswoman for the National People's Congress, said she checked for smog every morning after opening her curtains and kept at home face masks for her daughter and herself. Li Keqiang, the new prime minister, said the air pollution had made him "quite upset" and vowed to "show even greater resolve and make more vigorous efforts" to clean it up.

Last month, after deadly air pollution hit record levels in northern China, officials led byWen Jiabao, then the prime minister, put forward strict new fuel standards that the oil companies had blocked for years. But there are doubts about whether the oil companies will comply, especially since oil officials resisted a similar government order for higher-grade fuel four years ago. State-owned power companies have been similarly resistant. The companies regularly ignore government orders to upgrade coal-burning electricity plants, according to ministry data. And as with the oil companies, the power companies exert an outsize influence over environmental policy debates.

In 2011, during a round of discussions over stricter emissions standards, the China Electricity Council, which represents the companies, pushed back hard against the proposals, saying that the costs of upgrading the plants would be too high.

On Feb. 28, Deutsche Bank released an analysts' note saying that China's current economic policies would result in an enormous surge in coal consumption and automobile sales over the next decade. "China's air pollution will become a lot worse from the already unbearable level," the analysts said, calling for drastic policy changes and "a strong government will to overcome the opposition from interest groups."

The report estimated that the number of passenger cars in China was on track to hit 400 million by 2030, up from 90 million now.

this month

every morning

Last month

years

four years ago

Feb. 28

the next decade

now

transition

taken

found

floating

cloaked

causing

coughing

obscuring

forced

acknowledge

said

checked

kept

said

made

upset

vowed

show

efforts

clean

hit

led

put

comply

resisted

resistant

upgrade

according

exert

discussions

pushed

saying

upgrading

released

saying

result

surge

consumption

sales

become

said

calling

changes

overcome

estimated

400 million

90 million


XIN_ENG_20051119.0088

LUSAKA, Nov. 19 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Zambian gov't projects 2006 budget

The Zambian government has proposed 10,133 billion kwacha (about 2.5 billion US dollars) for the 2006 national budget, Saturday's The Post reported.

The newspaper cited the green paper on the 2006-2008 Medium Term Expenditure Framework as saying that total revenue and grants next year are projected to be 9,084 billion kwacha (or 2.3 billion dollars).

"Thus from the projected total revenues and the proposed expenditures for the period 2006-2008, the overall financing requirement is estimated to stand at 1,049 billion kwacha (about 262 million dollars) in 2006 or 2.9 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)," said Secretary to Treasury Situmbeko Musokotwane.

The 2006 budget represents an increase of 776 billion kwacha ( about 194 million dollars) from the 2005 budget which stood at 9, 357 billion kwacha (2.3 billion dollars).

Musokotwane projected that between 2006 and 2008 the government anticipated external financing for capital projects to reduce steadily.

"Approximately an average of 68.6 percent of the capital expenditures will be financed from external resources compared to the 85 percent in 2005-2007 period," Musokotwane stated.

"In 2006, the government proposes to spend 42 percent of the projected total expenditure on general public services," he said.

General public services include functions such as administration and operation of or support to the executive and legislative arms of government, administration of financial and fiscal affairs and services.

He further said the government has projected to spend 7.8 percent of the total expenditures in 2006 on defense.

Health is anticipated to take up 7.6 percent of the total expenditure in 2006 while education will consume 15.1 percent, according to Musokotwane.

Also in the 2006-2008 Expenditure Framework, the Zambian government further proposed a budget of 10,459 billion kwacha (2.6 billion dollars) for the year 2007 and 11,153 billion kwacha (2.8 billion dollars) for 2008.

Nov. 19 , 2005

next year

2005-2007 period

the year 2007

proposed

reported

cited

saying

projected

estimated

stand

said

represents

increase

stood

projected

anticipated

reduce

financed

stated

proposes

spend

said

operation

said

projected

spend

anticipated

take

consume

according

proposed


XIN_ENG_20061128.0310

BEIJING, Nov. 28 , 2006 (Xinhua)

accident

China's Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday urged police to learn from a fatal bus crash in northeast China and launch safety inspections of schoolbuses.

Eight children were killed when a bus carrying 50 students veered off a bridge and plunged into a frozen river last Tuesday in Zhoujia township of Shuangcheng City, Heilongjiang Province. Thirty-nine others were injured.

In a circular issued by the ministry, local police bureaus were required to launch immediate examinations of all vehicles and drivers involved in school transport.

All vehicles and drivers must be registered with the local education authorities, and those with potential safety risks must be removed from service immediately, according to the circular.

Vehicles in service must bear identical signs, and overloading, excessive speeding and drink-driving or driving with fatigue will incur penalties.

Provincial and city-level police bureaus must dispatch inspection teams led by officials in public security and transportation departments.

Negligence in inspections would be punished, said the circular.

According to previous reports, the driver involved in the accident has been arrested, and an official with the local traffic police has been sacked and accused of negligence for ignoring public complaints about illegal operation of buses.

Nov. 28 , 2006

Tuesday

last Tuesday

urged

learn

crash

launch

killed

carrying

veered

plunged

injured

issued

required

launch

examinations

involved

registered

removed

according

bear

overloading

driving

incur

dispatch

led

punished

said

involved

accident

arrested

sacked

accused

ignoring

operation


XIN_ENG_20061104.0014

BEIJING, Nov. 4 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Market value of China's securities market over 786 bln U.S.dollar

The market value of companies listed on China's securities market exceeded 6.29 trillion yuan (786 billion U.S. dollars) by the last trading day of this week.

Shanghai Stock Exchange figures show the market value of the Shanghai securities market, including yuan-denominated A shares and foreign-currency B shares, was 4.9 trillion yuan by Friday.

The Shanghai bourse carries 844 stocks with more than one trillion shares. The market value of circulating stocks on the Shanghai securities market is 1.25 trillion yuan.

The market value of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange rose by 2.06 percent in the past week to 1.39 trillion yuan by the last trading day on Friday.

The total market value of circulating stocks on the Shenzhen securities market is 664 billion yuan, 2.43 percent up from a week ago.

The Composite Stock Index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange opened at 1804.37 last week and closed at 1866.36 on Friday, peaking at 1873.66 on Friday.

The Composite Stock Index on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange closed at 4690.43 on Friday, with a weekly rise of 2.9 percent. The total turnover this week of the Shenzhen securities market was almost 65.7 billion yuan, 5.06 percent down from the week before.

Nov. 4 , 2006

the last trading day of this week

Friday

the past week

Friday

a week ago

last week

Friday

Friday

Friday

this week

exceeded

show

carries

circulating

rose

circulating

opened

closed

peaking

closed

rise


AFP_ENG_20061227.0414

NEW YORK, Dec 27 , 2006, 2006

Yankees sign Japanese pitcher Igawa to five-year deal

The New York Yankees unveiled Major League Baseball's latest Japanese import on Wednesday, announcing they have signed lefthanded pitcher Kei Igawa to a five-year contract.

The move comes less than two weeks after New York's American League East rivals Boston signed Daisuke Matsuzaka to a six-year, 52-million-dollar deal.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Yomiuri Shimbun reported two weeks ago that Igawa's contract is worth 20 million dollars.

Igawa, 27, became the fifth Japanese player to come to the major leagues this offseason, joining Matsuzaka, Red Sox lefthander Hideki Okajima, Tampa Bay Devil Rays infielder Akinori Iwamura and Pittsburgh Pirates righthander Masumi Kuwata.

The Yankees earned exclusive negotiation rights with Igawa after posting a winning bid of 26 million dollars on November 28.

They had until midnight on Thursday to reach a contract agreement with Igawa, who otherwise would have returned to his Japanese club, the Hanshin Tigers.

Igawa will likely join a starting rotation which already includes Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Chien-Ming Wang and Carl Pavano. The Yankees reportedly are looking to trade 43-year-old lefthander Randy Johnson, who has underachieved in his two seasons in New York.

Igawa went 14-9 with a 2.97 ERA for the Tigers last season. He recorded 197 strikeouts to lead the Central League in strikeouts for the third time in eight seasons.

Dec 27 , 2006

Wednesday

less than two weeks

two weeks ago

November 28

Thursday

eight seasons

unveiled

announcing

signed

move

comes

signed

deal

disclosed

reported

became

come

joining

earned

posting

had

reach

agreement

returned

join

rotation

looking

trade

underachieved

went

recorded

lead


XIN_ENG_20051123.0245

NAIROBI, Nov. 23 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Urgent: Kenyan president dissolves cabinet

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki Wednesday dissolved his entire cabinet, a day after the proposed draft constitution was rejected in a referendum. He said the new lineup will be announced in two weeks.

Nov. 23 , 2005

Wednesday

two weeks

dissolved

rejected

referendum

said

announced


XIN_ENG_20061107.0358

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 7 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Japan make quarters in beach soccer World Cup

Japan's national beach soccer team became the second Group A team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the sport's World Cup, held on Copacabana beach in Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro, though the team lost 5-8 to Poland on Tuesday.

Japan, the United States and Poland are equal on points, each with one win and two losses. Japan scraped through on goal-difference.

Japan, which qualified as second in Group A, will play France, the top team of Group B, in a repeat of one of the sport's semi-final matches, which was held on the same beach in 2005.

Nov. 7 , 2006

Tuesday

became

qualify

held

lost

equal

win

scraped

qualified

play

matches

held


AFP_ENG_19970430.0284

MANILA, April 30 , 1997 (AFP)

Philippines lodges formal protest over Chinese vessels

The Philippine foreign ministry summoned Beijing's ambassador to Manila on Wednesday to protest at the presence of armed Chinese vessels in the disputed Spratlys, an official said.

"I formally gave him the details of the reported sightings," said Delia Rosal, executive director of the department's Asia and Pacific Affairs, after meeting China's envoy, Guan Dengming.

"I (conveyed to) him the Philippine concern about this incident," she added.

The Philippine military reported to Ramos on Tuesday that three armed "frigate-type" Chinese vessels were spotted by Air Force reconnaisance aircraft Friday off Philippine-garrisoned Kota and Panata islands in the disputed South China Sea chain.

The Philippines and China are among six countries which claim the supposedly oil-rich South China Sea chain in whole or part, the others being Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

April 30 , 1997

Wednesday

Tuesday

Friday

summoned

protest

said

gave

said

meeting

conveyed

incident

added

reported

spotted


AFP_ENG_19970415.0304

MOSCOW, April 15 , 1997 (AFP)

URGENT Russia, NATO "getting closer" after Moscow talks

NATO and Russia "getting closer" to an accord on future relations, the Russian foreign ministry said Tuesday after talks between NATO Secretary General Javier Solana and Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov.

April 15 , 1997

Tuesday

getting

said

talks


AFP_ENG_20061204.0685

HAMBURG, Germany, Dec 5 , 2006, 2006

CSKA look to slip past hapless Hamburg

Goal-shy CSKA Moscow's Champions League fate is out of their hands as they head into Wednesday's group G match against SV Hamburg.

CSKA, who have scored just two goals in their five games, are two points behind Arsenal and FC Porto, who defeated them 2-0 in their last match, and the 2005 UEFA Cup champions must defeat German side Hamburg to have any chance of reaching the last 16.

If CSKA win and there is a winner in the Arsenal and Porto match the Russians will progress but a draw in the other match in Portugal will see them eliminated.

For 1983 European champions Hamburg pride is at stake after five straight defeats in Europe's flagship competition.

Hamburg are in this competition for the first time since 2001 after finishing third in the Bundesliga last season but it has been an immediately forgettable campaign.

Along with Levski Sofia, the Germans, second from bottom of the Bundesliga, are the only team yet to register a point in this season's Champions League.

"We know it has been a disappointing season but all we can do is try to make things better from now on," said Hamburg coach Thomas Doll.

"My future has been talked about for the past few weeks so I do not think I need to add anything else."

If Hamburg, who have won just once in 15 league matches, fail to get even a draw against CSKA they will become only the seventh team in Champions League history to end up without a point in the group stage.

Dec 5 , 2006

Wednesday

the last 16

the past few weeks

head

scored

defeated

defeat

have

reaching

win

match

progress

see

eliminated

finishing

campaign

register

know

do

try

make

said

talked

think

need

add

won

matches

fail

get

become

end


AFP_ENG_19970412.0041

BANGKOK, April 12 , 1997 (AFP)

Burmese democrat MP gets four years prison sentence

An elected MP of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) has been sentenced to four years in prison for alleged medical malpractice, a senior party official said Saturday.

Doctor Than Aung, an MP for a Rangoon township was sentenced Friday for running an unlicensed clinic and causing the death of a patient through negligence. He has been sent to the capital's notorious Insein prison.

Speaking by telephone from Rangoon, NLD joint vice-chairman, Tin Oo said the negligence charge was "fabricated" and noted that Than Aung had been a practising doctor for 25 years.

"He's a member of the NLD and a member of parliament. The authorities are continuing to act oppressively against our league," he said of the verdict.

The NLD swept the last general elections to be held in military-run Burma in 1990, the results of which were never recognised by the ruling junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

The sentencing of Than Aung follows lighter treatment earlier this month of another NLD MP and doctor, Than Nyein, who was released from custody and ordered to pay a small fine for operating a clinic without a license.

Observers in the Burmese capital speculated that he was granted favourable treatment because he was brother-in-law of Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, the SLORC first secretary and military intelligence chief.

The cases of the two NLD doctors are the first time that members of the pro-democracy party have been granted a formal trial, with opportunity to have defence witnesses.

Previously, NLD members found guilty of even a minor law violation have been given arbitrary sentences ranging from three to seven years.

Tin Oo declined to speculate on whether Than Nyein had been granted leniency because of the family connection, but noted that the judicial system in Burma "is not independent and according to due process of law."

He said that the NLD would appeal against the sentencing of Than Aung to the high court, and if necessary, to the supreme court and to the chairman of the SLORC.

April 12 , 1997

Saturday

Friday

25 years

this month

elected

sentenced

malpractice

said

sentenced

running

causing

death

sent

Speaking

said

charge

fabricated

noted

continuing

act

said

verdict

swept

elections

held

recognised

released

ordered

pay

operating

speculated

granted

treatment

granted

trial

found

violation

given

declined

speculate

granted

noted

according

said

appeal


XIN_ENG_20051128.0181

HONG KONG, Nov. 28 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index closes higher -- Nov. 28

Hong Kong's Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 37.73 points, or 0.74 percent, to close at 5,110.03 on Monday.

The index, initiated in August 1995 and re-based on Sept. 6, 2004, tracks the overall performance of 40 Chinese mainland state-owned enterprises listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Hang Seng China-Affiliated Corporations Index rose 3.75 points, or 0.19 percent, to close at 1,976.92.

The index tracks the performance of 30 locally listed companies with a significant equity interest held by entities in the Chinese mainland.

Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index also went up 5.91 points, or 0.31 percent, to close at 1,899.44.

Introduced on Oct. 3, 2001, Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index gauges the performance of 95 Hong Kong-listed companies with principal places of business in Hong Kong and the mainland.

Nov. 28 , 2005

Monday

August 1995

Sept. 6, 2004

Oct. 3, 2001

rose

close

initiated

re-based

tracks

rose

close

tracks

went

close

gauges


XIN_ENG_20051101.0332

HANOI, Nov. 2 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Hu Jintao concludes visit to Vietnam

Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and president of China, ended his official goodwill visit to Vietnam and left Hanoi for Beijing Wednesday.

During his stay in Hanoi, Hu held talks with Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong. They discussed party relations and bilateral ties.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Hu arrived in Hanoi on Monday morning.

Nov. 2 , 2005

Wednesday

Monday morning

ended

visit

left

stay

held

talks

discussed

exchanged

arrived


AFP_ENG_19970418.0359

NEW DELHI, April 18 , 1997 (AFP)

India will have new government by Monday: spokesman by M.R. Narayan Swamy

A centre-left Indian coalition, toppled a week ago, vowed Friday to return to power by Monday after making up with an estranged ally.

The United Front coalition said it hoped to give a new government to the country after electing a successor to caretaker Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda late Friday or early Saturday.

"The formation of a new government is entirely likely before parliament resumes its session" on Monday, Front spokesman Jaipal Reddy told reporters at the coalition headquarters here.

There was no immediate reaction from the office of Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma, who Thursday urged the country's major parties to end the dragging political crisis by April 21.

The decks for a new Front leader were cleared Friday after the Congress (I) party, which voted out the coalition government April 11, formally pledged support to the same alliance minus Deve Gowda, who promptly agreed to the new arrangement.

The Congress made the promise to the president as the 13-party United Front intensified its search for a new head to become the country's next -- and 12th -- prime minister.

Congress chief Sitaram Kesri said in a letter to President Sharma that his party "resolved to extend support to the formation of a government by a new leader of the United Front."

The Congress action removed the last hitch in its attempt to again tie up with the Front and signalled the end of a political paralysis which gripped India at the end of last month.

Reddy said the new United Front government would have better relations with the Congress to avoid another divorce but ruled out the possibility of a coalition with the Congress.

"The question of coalition never arose and does not arise," he said.

The Front's previous minority government fell after the Congress alleged it was not consulted on major decisions.

The Congress began the crisis, ending 10 months of support to the Front coalition on March 30, and then made a bid to form its own administration. It later backed down after failing to woo support in India's hung lower house of parliament for a rival coalition.

Some Front leaders had suspected the Congress, who said its renewed support was conditional on the 64-year-old Deve Gowda's exit, might harbour secret ambitions of taking power. Kesri removed the doubts Friday.

The United Front's only remaining problem now is to find a consensus candidate suitable to all its centrist, leftist and regional parties. Front leaders said a search was on.

"Informal consultations are going on," said Doraiswamy Raja, a communist leader.

The new prime minister is widely expected to be G.K. Moopanar, a Tamil politician from the country's south. Others reportedly in the race include External Affairs Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.

The coming together of the Front and Congress is being attributed to their mutual fear of new elections, which they argue would favour the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian People's Party).

Both accuse the resurgent nationalists, who have been successful in a series of recent state polls, of religious bigotry.

The BJP said Friday another Front government was not the answer to the present crisis.

"The best solution is fresh election," BJP Vice President Krishan Lal Sharma told AFP. "No cosmetic change will be able to sort out the mess that has been created by the Congress and United Front."

April 18 , 1997

a week ago

Friday

Monday

Friday

Saturday

Monday

Thursday

April 21

Friday

April 11

last hitch

the end of last month

10 months

March 30

Friday

now

Friday

toppled

vowed

return

making

said

hoped

give

electing

resumes

session

told

urged

end

dragging

crisis

cleared

voted

pledged

agreed

made

promise

intensified

search

become

said

resolved

extend

removed

attempt

tie

signalled

gripped

said

avoid

divorce

ruled

arose

arise

said

fell

alleged

consulted

began

crisis

ending

made

bid

form

backed

failing

woo

suspected

said

harbour

removed

find

said

search

going

said

expected

include

coming

attributed

favour

accuse

successful

said

crisis

Sharma

sort

created


AFP_ENG_19970422.0303

TOKYO, April 22 , 1997 (AFP)

Japan's troubled nuclear plant operator to privatise major work

The chief of Japan's scandal-hit state-run nuclear plant operator said Tuesday it planned to privatise its uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel reprocessing operations following a series of accidents.

Toshiyuki Kondo, president of Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corp. (Donen), announced the plan during the House of Councillors Budget Committee.

Kondo said the plan was part of its restructuring scheme following the emergence of a scandal sparked by a string of nuclear leaks which officials kept secret.

"We are thinking of transferring our uranium enrichment operation to Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd.," Kondo said. Japan Nuclear Fuel is a private entity owned mainly by Japan's nine major electric power companies.

Kondo also said Donen planned to transfer its nuclear fuel reprocessing functions now undertaken at a reprocessing plant in Tokaimura, Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, into private hands.

Kyodo News said the uranium enrichment and nuclear reprocessing operations were Donen's main functions, making it likely their transfer to the private sector would strengthen the argument that Donen be dissolved.

But the president denied the possibility of the complete disbandment of Donen, saying the state-run nuclear operator must continue its research into nuclear fuel cycle technology based on fast-breeder reactors and disposal of highly radioactive waste.

"Private entities cannot handle the two operations because they will cost a lot of time and money," Kondo said. "Therefore, the country would continue undertaking these two operations."

Last week, a special commission headed by Riichiro Chikaoka, minister in charge of the science and technology agency, began talks on measures to reform Donen.

Calls for revamping Donen mounted after a fire and explosion at its nuclear reprocessing plant in Tokai, northeast of Tokyo, which came 15 months after a massive sodium leak at its fast-breeder Monju reactor in the western city of Tsuruga.

The March 11 accident exposed 37 workers to low-level radiation and is considered to be Japan's worst nuclear accident.

Donen faced another crisis as heavy water leaked at the Fugen advanced thermal converter reactor in Tsuruga, boosting the air density of radioactive tritium to 18 times the normal level and leaving 11 workers exposed to low-level radiation.

The nuclear power plant operator has also come under fire for covering up incidents at Monju and Tokai.

Donen admitted last week that it had also failed to report "11 very low levels of leaks" at Fugen in the past three years.

Earlier in the day, the lower house voted to kill an opposition- sponsored no-confidence motion against the science and technology agency chief Chikaoka over the incidents involving Donen.

April 22 , 1997

Tuesday

now

Last week

15 months

March 11

last week

the past three years

said

planned

privatise

accidents

announced

said

emergence

scandal

sparked

thinking

transferring

operation

said

owned

said

planned

transfer

undertaken

said

making

transfer

strengthen

dissolved

denied

disbandment

saying

continue

research

disposal

handle

cost

said

continue

undertaking

headed

began

talks

reform

revamping

mounted

fire

explosion

came

exposed

considered

accident

faced

crisis

leaked

advanced

boosting

leaving

exposed

come

covering

incidents

admitted

failed

report

voted

kill

involving


XIN_ENG_20061101.0121

NANNING, Nov. 1 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Chinese premier urges Guangxi to expand cooperation with ASEAN

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China to expand cooperation with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), develop economy and improve people's living standard.

The premier made the remarks during a recent two-day inspection tour of Guangxi ahead of the opening of the China-ASEAN Business and Investment summit, which kicked off here on Tuesday.

During the inspection tour, Wen visited Liangmianzhen Co. Ltd, a name brand toothpaste producer, Liuzhou Tech Machinery Co. Ltd and Wuling Motors Co. Ltd in Liuzhou, Guangxi's largest industrial city, and held talks with enterprise officials and workers.

He urged these companies to explore development potential, grasp opportunities and step up development of industries with unique advantages by taking the region's rich natural resources.

He also visited two villages and inquired about farmers rice production, revenues, medical care and the implementation of seeds and farm tool subsidies, stressing that the construction of new socialist countryside should respect farmers will.

The input in rural areas should be increased and efforts should focus on developing roads, water, electricity, telecommunications and other infrastructure facilities so as to lay a foundation for rural development and improving farmers life, he noted.

As for the serious drought problem complained by villagers, Wen called on governments at various levels to build an irrigation system and improve water conservancy facilities in a bid to upgrade drought-fighting ability.

Guangxi, with a population of over 46 million, is home to more than 15 million Zhuang minority people.

Nov. 1 , 2006

Tuesday

urged

expand

develop

improve

made

tour

opening

kicked

tour

visited

held

talks

urged

explore

grasp

step

taking

visited

inquired

care

stressing

construction

respect

increased

efforts

focus

lay

noted

complained

called

build

improve

upgrade


XIN_ENG_20051118.0065

JERUSALEM, Nov. 18 , 2005 (Xinhua)

threat: report

The Erez crossing on the Gaza- Israel border was partly closed Friday morning due to a possible terror threat, Israeli daily newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

The border crossing, which was the main exit for people in Gaza, was totally closed before dawn Friday, but was partly reopened in the morning time, said the report.

Earlier, the Israel Radio reported that intelligence information indicates that a terror organization was planning to carry out an attack at the Erez terminal.

Humanitarian cases and VIPs will be allowed to cross the border Friday, the radio said.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice extended her stay in the Middle East to broker a Gaza border deal.

The Rafah border crossing is slated to open on Nov. 25, when European inspectors are set to arrive to monitor compliance with the border agreements.

Nov. 18 , 2005

Friday morning

Friday

the morning time

Friday

Earlier this week

Nov. 25

crossing

closed

reported

crossing

closed

reopened

said

reported

indicates

planning

carry

attack

allowed

cross

said

extended

stay

crossing

slated

open

set

arrive

monitor


XIN_ENG_20051125.0301

BEIJING, Nov. 26 , 2005 (Xinhua)

president

Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Saturday the fact that China had realized the great jump from one-person-one-day space flight to multi-person-multi-day space mission within two years has marked a new landmark victory in China's manned space technology.

Hu made the remarks at a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the great success of Shenzhou VI mission.

Nov. 26 , 2005

Saturday

two years

said

realized

jump

marked

manned

made

meeting

mark

success


XIN_ENG_20051110.0251

MONROVIA, Nov. 10 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Johnson-Sirleaf appears to be Africa's first female president

Harvard-trained Iron Lady Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf appeared to be the first female president in Africa as results from nearly 90 percent of the polling stations on Thursday gave her a commanding advantage over football great George Weah in Liberia's post-war presidential runoff.

The 66-year-old grandmother and former finance minister had 59. 2 percent of the votes while the 39-year-old former FIFA player of the year had 40.8 percent, Frances Johnson-Morris, chairwoman of the National Elections Commission, told a news conference.

The results, she said, are from 2719 of the 3,070 polling stations across the war-torn west African country.

Nov. 10 , 2005

Thursday

the year

appeared

gave

had

told

conference

said


XIN_ENG_20061126.0095

XI'AN, Nov. 26 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Mongolian prime minister visits historical city in NW China

Mongolian Prime Minister Miegombyn Enkhbold on Sunday visited Xi'an, a historical city and capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

In Xi'an, he paid a visit to a local economic and industrial development zone, Terra-cotta Warriors of Qin Dynasty, Shaanxi Provincial History Museum and the Dayan Tower (or the Big Goose Pagoda) which is a famous cultural relics of Tang Dynasty built more than 1,300 years ago.

In his meeting with Shaanxi Governor Yuan Chunqing on Sunday evening. The two sides expressed the hope to cement cooperation in tourism.

The Mongolian prime minister arrived in Xi'an on Nov. 25 after visits to Beijing and Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Enkhbold started his official visit to China on Nov. 22.

Nov. 26 , 2006

Sunday

more than 1,300 years ago

Sunday evening

Nov. 25

Nov. 22

visited

paid

visit

built

meeting

expressed

cement

arrived

visits

started

visit


AFP_ENG_20061204.0668

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 4 , 2006, 2006

General Assembly backs Kimberley to curb 'blood diamonds'

The UN General Assembly on Monday expressed "strong support" for the Kimberley process, which aims to prevent illegally exported "conflict diamonds" being used to buy arms.

The resolution was adopted by consensus after the 192-member assembly was briefed by Botswana's President Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the current chairman of the UN-mandated Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which requires participants to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds, also known as "blood diamonds".

Under Kimberly, rough diamonds are sealed in tamper-resistant containers and required to have forgery-resistant, conflict-free certificates with unique serial numbers each time they cross an international border.

Seventy-one countries have now signed on to Kimberley and agree to buy and sell only among fellow members. The certificate takes for granted that the stone in question is a real diamond.

The agreement is named after the diamond-mining city in South Africa and went into effect January 1 2003.

The assembly, noting that the trade in conflict diamonds remains "a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fueling of armed conflict ... reaffirms its strong and continuing support for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the Kimberley Process as a whole."

The resolution also recognized that the certification can help ensure that UN Security Council resolutions containing sanctions on the trade in conflict diamonds are carried out, while helping to prevent future conflicts.

In his briefing to the assembly, Mogae highlighted a 2006 progress report on the Kimberley Process, which concluded that it was working well although there were still some problems, particularly in Ivory Coast and South America.

Some of Ivory Coast's neighbors are not parties to the Kimberley Process, which has therefore limited influence over them.

"The Kimberley Process views the problem of leakage diamonds from (Ivory Coast) into the legitimate trade as one that may require a regional approach to resolve," the report said.

Trafficking in illegal diamonds is considered one of the root causes of the back-to-back civil wars in Liberia since 1989 as well as of the 10-year brutal conflict in neighboring Sierra Leone that ended in 2001.

A regional approach was also needed in South America, specifically Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela, the report said.

Mogae later told reporters that the Kimberley Process was beginning to have an impact.

"Before the Certification Scheme it was reported that conflict diamonds were possibly about four percent of global production. Now with certification we have admitted in my report that we are glad to say that they are now less than one percent," he said.

Begun in 2000 by southern African diamond-producing countries, the Kimberley Process led to the adoption in November 2002 in Interlaken, Switzerland, of the international Certification Scheme for rough diamonds, based primarily on national certification schemes and on internationally agreed minimum standards.

The Asembly, noting that the trade in conflict diamonds remains "a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fueling of armed conflict ... reaffirms its strong and continuing support for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the Kimberley Process as a whole."

The UN General Assembly on Monday expressed "strong support" for the Kimberley process, which aims to prevent illegally exported "conflict diamonds" being used to buy arms.

The resolution was adopted by consensus after the 192-member assembly was briefed by Botswana's President Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the current chairman of the UN-mandated Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which requires participants to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds, also known as "blood diamonds".

Under Kimberly, rough diamonds are sealed in tamper-resistant containers and required to have forgery-resistant, conflict-free certificates with unique serial numbers each time they cross an international border.

Seventy-one countries have now signed on to Kimberley and agree to buy and sell only among fellow members. The certificate takes for granted that the stone in question is a real diamond.

The agreement is named after the diamond-mining city in South Africa and went into effect January 1 2003.

The Assembly, noting that the trade in conflict diamonds remains "a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fueling of armed conflict ... reaffirms its strong and continuing support for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the Kimberley Process as a whole."

The resolution also recognized that the certification can help ensure that UN Security Council resolutions containing sanctions on the trade in conflict diamonds are carried out, while helping to prevent future conflicts.

In his briefing to the assembly, Mogae highlighted a 2006 progress report on the Kimberley Process, which concluded that it was working well although there were still some problems, particularly in Ivory Coast and South America.

Some of Ivory Coast's neighbors are not parties to the Kimberley Process, which has therefore limited influence over them.

"The Kimberley Process views the problem of leakage diamonds from (Ivory Coast) into the legitimate trade as one that may require a regional approach to resolve," the report said.

Trafficking in illegal diamonds is considered one of the root causes of the back-to-back civil wars in Liberia since 1989 as well as of the 10-year brutal conflict in neighboring Sierra Leone that ended in 2001.

A regional approach was also needed in South America, specifically Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela, the report said.

Mogae later told reporters that the Kimberley Process was beginning to have an impact.

"Before the Certification Scheme it was reported that conflict diamonds were possibly about four percent of global production. Now with certification we have admitted in my report that we are glad to say that they are now less than one percent," he said.

Begun in 2000 by southern African diamond-producing countries, the Kimberley Process led to the adoption in November 2002 in Interlaken, Switzerland, of the international Certification Scheme for rough diamonds, based primarily on national certification schemes and on internationally agreed minimum standards.

Dec 4 , 2006

Monday

January 1 2003

Now

now

November 2002

Monday

January 1 2003

Now

now

November 2002

expressed

aims

prevent

used

buy

adopted

briefed

requires

certify

sealed

required

have

cross

signed

agree

buy

sell

takes

granted

named

went

noting

linked

fueling

conflict

reaffirms

recognized

certification

help

ensure

containing

carried

helping

prevent

conflicts

briefing

highlighted

concluded

working

views

require

resolve

said

considered

causes

conflict

ended

needed

said

told

beginning

have

impact

reported

production

certification

admitted

glad

say

said

Begun

led

adoption

agreed

noting

remains

linked

fueling

conflict

reaffirms

expressed

aims

prevent

used

buy

adopted

briefed

requires

certify

sealed

required

have

cross

signed

agree

buy

sell

takes

granted

named

went

noting

remains

linked

fueling

conflict

reaffirms

recognized

certification

help

ensure

containing

carried

helping

prevent

conflicts

briefing

highlighted

concluded

working

views

require

resolve

said

considered

causes

conflict

ended

needed

said

told

beginning

have

impact

reported

production

certification

admitted

glad

say

said

Begun

led

adoption

agreed


XIN_ENG_20051128.0247

LUSAKA, Nov. 28 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Zambian police gun down four suspected plunderers

Zambian police Monday morning shot dead four suspects after an exchange of gun fire in the capital city of Lusaka. Among the dead are two locals, one Congolese and one Tanzanian.

Lusaka police commanding officer Chendela Musonda told Xinhua that police were tipped off about the four who were trailing a businessman from a bank with large sum of money.

He said the police successfully pined down the men who were driving a Toyota Corolla sedan near a shopping center and exchanged fire with them. Three were shot dead on the spot and the other one escaped with a taxi but was outpaced and gunned down.

No policemen were killed or injured in the incident, said Musonda.

Musonda also said the police recovered a pistol and a rifle used by the bandits together with identification cards which indicated that two are foreigners.

He further said the bandits were suspected to be related with another robbery which occurred last month.

The peaceful southern African country saw mushrooming robbery cases recently with most criminals armed with fire arms. Rumors say some of the criminals are from neighboring countries.

Last Thursday, a Chinese businessman, Chen Xingtao, who was on his way home after closing his store was trailed and robbed of seven million kwacha (about 1,800 US dollars) by a group of armed bandits who were also driving a Corolla car.

The Zambian police stepped up fight with robberies accordingly and Musonda said about 50 suspected criminals of robbery were arrested in the last two months.

He further said criminals who rob with guns, no matter if they have killed victims or not, would be "sentenced to death" according to Zambian laws.

Nov. 28 , 2005

Monday morning

last month

Last Thursday

the last two months

shot

told

tipped

trailing

said

pined

driving

exchanged

shot

escaped

outpaced

gunned

killed

injured

said

said

recovered

used

indicated

said

suspected

robbery

occurred

saw

say

closing

trailed

robbed

driving

stepped

fight

said

arrested

said

rob

killed

sentenced

according


AFP_ENG_20051207.0096

CANNES, France, Dec 7 , 2005

ATTENTION - ADDS details ///

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was due to tour a hi-tech satellite facility Wednesday as he wraps up a four-day visit to France, during which he has secured a huge Airbus plane deal and stressed his country's nuclear energy ambitions.

The focus of his trip has been clearly strategic business-making, shown by his involvement in a contract Monday to purchase 150 mid-range Airbus planes worth nearly an estimated 10 billion dollars (8.3 billion euros).

On Tuesday, he inspected a site in southern France that is to host a future experimental nuclear reactor which China is participating in.

On Wednesday, he was to tour a satellite facility in Cannes, on the French Riviera, belonging to Alcatel. One of several deals he signed Monday in Paris was for the French firm to make a Chinasat 6B telecommunications satellite.

Wen was to continue his European tour by flying to Slovakia later Wednesday before he heads to the Czech Republic and Portugal.

The biggest announcement by far during his stay in France was the Airbus order for jets from its single-aisle A320 family -- the largest contract ever received by the European plane-maker, which is fighting US rival Boeing for Chinese market share.

In an indication of the deal's importance, Wen began his trip by visiting the headquarters of the European plane-maker in France's southwestern city of Toulouse on Sunday.

There, he highlighted China's goal to master its own economic development by having a memorandum signed that commits Airbus to exploring the feasibility of building an aircraft assembly plant in China.

With Western companies seriously courting China -- which boasts a burgeoning economy and a population of 1.3 billion people -- Wen and his government are ensuring that any big deals come with strings attached, namely the transfer of knowhow and technology so China can be a heavy manufacturing powerhouse of the future.

Experts say the transfer of technology is often a clincher in negotiations.

That interest in technology was also at the forefront of Wen's visit to the site of the planned International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in southern France.

"The energy issue elicits great attention in the whole world, and the ITER site also attracts great attention in the world," Wen said at Cadarache, north of Marseille.

Nuclear energy is seen as a key component behind China's economic expansion, filling a demand created by the multiplication of Chinese industries.

Although ITER is a joint research project by the European Union, Japan, the United States, China, Russia, South Korea and India and will not be operational for another decade, Beijing is seeking to extend its current nuclear energy programme.

To that end, Wen told his French hosts Tuesday that more effort was needed if they wanted to win an eight-billion-dollar (6.8-billion-euro) tender to construct four third-generation nuclear energy reactors in China.

"China hopes that France will offer more attractive conditions on technology transfer as well as price so that Franco-Chinese cooperation in this field can develop," he said just before visiting the ITER site.

French company Areva is vying for that contract but faces stiff competition from Westinghouse of the United States and Russia's AtomStroyExport.

Dec 7 , 2005

Wednesday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Monday

Wednesday

Sunday

another decade

Tuesday

tour

wraps

visit

secured

stressed

trip

shown

involvement

purchase

inspected

host

participating

tour

belonging

signed

make

continue

tour

flying

heads

announcement

stay

received

fighting

began

trip

visiting

highlighted

master

development

signed

exploring

building

ensuring

deals

come

transfer

technology

say

transfer

visit

elicits

attracts

said

seen

expansion

filling

created

seeking

extend

told

needed

wanted

win

construct

hopes

offer

develop

said

visiting

vying

faces


AFP_ENG_19970424.0102

SHANGHAI, April 24 , 1997 (AFP)

Shanghainese develop taste for expensive imported fruits

Shanghai's residents have developed a taste for expensive imported fruits, some as exotic as the thorny durian from Malaysia, a newspaper reported Thursday.

The Shanghai Youth Daily said that despite their high prices, imported fruits have made their way into the homes ordinary families, which buy them as gifts or just because they like the taste of the exotic.

Until several years ago, Shanghai's market was closed to imported fruits but now shoppers can buy durians for 60 yuan (7.2 dollars) a kilogram (2.2 pounds), Thai lychees for 68 yuan a kilogram and Sunkist oranges for 12 yuan a kilogram.

Some Shanghai parents buy only imported fruits for their only child while tourists from the provinces consider imported fruits as something special to bring home from Shanghai, the report said.

Wholesalers can mark up the price of imported fruits 100 percent and retailers add another 20 to 50 percent, while the products face duties of 50 percent and value added tax of 13 percent.

April 24 , 1997

Thursday

several years ago

now

developed

reported

said

made

like

closed

buy

buy

consider

bring

said

mark

add

face


XIN_ENG_20051105.0183

BALAKOT, Pakistan, Nov. 6 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Indonesia's Telkom-2 sattellite ready for launching

JAKARTA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) --After it was delayed for several times, Indonesia's Telkom-2 satellite will be launched on Nov. 9, 2005, a senior official of PT Telcom has said.

"Cuttently, Talcom-2 satellite had been located at the launching site since September 23, 2005 to undergo several tests," the Business News magazine quoted Vice President Director of PT Telcom, Garuda Sugardo, as saying in its latest edition.

The launching will be done by Ariene-5ECA blasting rocket Flight No.167, owned by France, he said.

Telcom-2 satellite will be located at 118 BT above Indonesian territory replacing Palapa B4, which term of operation had ended in 2004.

The satellite, made since 2002 by the Orbital Science Corp. of the United States, was a Star-2 Bus type satellite with a capacity of 24 transponder, and the total cost for launching of the satellite is 170 million US dollars.

The satellite will operate for 15 years with scope of area including ASEAN and the surrounding areas.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono is scheduled to witness the seconds of the launching of telcom-2 satellite from the main controlling station in Cibinong, said Garuda.

So far, Indonesia has launched eight satellites, namely Palapa A-1, Palapa A-2, Palapa B-1, Palapa B-2, Palapa B2P, Palapa B2R, Palapa-B4 and Telcom-1.

Nov. 6 , 2005

Nov. 6

Nov. 9, 2005

September 23, 2005

15 years

delayed

launched

said

located

undergo

quoted

saying

done

said

located

ended

made

operate

scheduled

witness

launching

said

launched


AFP_ENG_20051213.0031

HONG KONG, Dec 13 , 2005

G-20 says African cotton must be addressed in Hong Kong

The World Trade Organisation talks here must come up with a firm commitment to help African cotton producers, who count as some of the poorest countries on earth, the Group of 20 said Tuesday.

The G-20, which comprises developed countries and the largest emerging economies, said problems faced by African cotton producers reflect distortions in global trade of agricultural goods.

"The plight of the African cotton producing countries and of other cotton producers in the developing world is evidence of the distortions in agriculture that we are committed to eliminate," the G-20 said in a statement;

"The G-20 ministers emphasise the need for a firm commitment to be made at Hong Kong to address the issue of cotton ambitiously."

The WTO meeting in Hong Kong, which opens later Tuesday, is tasked with keeping on track the faltering four-year-old Doha Round meant to tear down global trade barriers and spur growth in the world's poorest nations.

The key issue is farm trade, mainly the system of European and US subsidies which they say they will only surrender in exchange for a deal opening up markets in the developed world to their industrial goods and services.

Africa's cotton-producing countries have been on the offensive in the run-up to the meeting, insisting that rich countries, and the United States in particular, end subsidies to their cotton farmers.

The African states say such subsidies depress prices globally and effectively shut them out of what should be major markets, undercutting their development efforts.

Asked earlier Tuesday whether Washington would be willing to come to an agreement on cotton here, US Trade Representative Rob Portman said: "In July 2004 we agreed to deal with cotton expeditiously, ambitiously and specifically, within the framework of the agricultural negotiations.

"If we can resolve something this week with regards to cotton, that would be great," he said, without elaborating.

Dec 13 , 2005

Tuesday

Tuesday

Tuesday

July 2004

this week

talks

come

help

count

said

said

distortions

distortions

committed

eliminate

said

emphasise

address

meeting

opens

tasked

keeping

meant

tear

spur

say

surrender

opening

run-up

meeting

insisting

end

say

depress

shut

undercutting

Asked

come

said

agreed

deal

negotiations

resolve

said

elaborating


AFP_ENG_19970408.0763

TOKYO, April 9 , 1997 (AFP)

Tokyo stocks open lower

Share prices opened lower on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with the Nikkei stock average falling 34.70 points or 0.2 percent to 17,987.00 in the first five minutes of trading.

April 9 , 1997

Wednesday

the first five minutes

opened

falling


AFP_ENG_20051210.0457

SYDNEY, Dec 11 , 2005

Australians relish the chance to play Brazil in World Cup

Australians were Sunday coming to terms with drawing champions Brazil in the 2006 World Cup finals, with press reports upbeat that the Socceroos could match the favourites.

Under a frontpage headline of 'We're ready to do battle', The Sunday Telegraph quoted star striker Harry Kewell as saying the Socceroos were excited about the prospect of playing.

"I'm not fussed about who we are playing. We're just looking forward to it," the Liverpool player told the paper.

"Look what happened at the last World Cup with the top countries like France and Argentina. They were knocked out in the first round.

"Look what Greece did when they won the Euro (European Championship) in 2004. No one gave them a chance."

But a photograph of soccer fans watching the draw live early Saturday morning Sydney time published in The Sun-Herald told a different story -- all pictured had their heads in their hands or looks of anguish on their faces.

"It's not the 'group of death.' But it feels like it," soccer journalist Michael Cockerill wrote in the same paper.

"Brazil, the best team in the world. Croatia, the most motivated team in the world. And Japan, the best resourced," he wrote in describing Australia's companions in Group F.

But while Brazil were certain to win the group, Australia had the benefit of having beaten all three teams previously, and Brazil had gone down 1-0 at the 2001 Confederations Cup in South Korea, he said.

The optimism was backed by Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer who, in an article published in The Sun-Herald, said the Socceroos would go into the World Cup believing they were world-beaters.

"Playing Brazil in the World Cup is going to be massive," he wrote in a column for the paper. "They are justifiably rated No. 1 in the world, but anything is possible in the World Cup.

"Even though people might say we are crazy and have no chance of beating Brazil, I think that if we don't hold that belief and that mentality before we play then there is something wrong."

The Australians, who are ranked 49th in the world, also won some support from an unusual quarter with Brazilian legend Pele telling The Sun-Herald that Australia could pose a threat to the boys from Brazil.

Asked if Australia had a chance of beating Brazil in their group match in Munich, Pele replied: "I think yes. They beat Uruguay, so why not?"

But he added: "I think it will be a little bit different here though."

The Socceroos earned their first spot at the World Cup in 32 years in November when they beat Uruguay in a dramatic 4-2 penalty shoot-out win after extra time.

Dec 11 , 2005

early Saturday morning

32 years

November

coming

match

do

battle

quoted

saying

excited

playing

playing

looking

told

Look

happened

knocked

Look

won

gave

watching

published

told

had

wrote

resourced

wrote

describing

win

beaten

gone

said

backed

published

said

go

believing

Playing

wrote

rated

say

have

beating

think

hold

play

ranked

won

support

telling

pose

beating

replied

beat

added

think

earned

beat


XIN_ENG_20061128.0053

CARACAS, Nov. 27 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Int'l observers to oversee Venezuela's presidential elections

A total of 205 international observers will begin to arrive in Venezuela on Tuesday to monitor the South American country's presidential elections scheduled for Dec. 3, the National Electoral Council said on Monday.

Incumbent President Hugo Chavez, who is running for re-election, is favored to beat opposition candidate Manuel Rosales.

The observers will inspect the voting stations and supervise the counting and the process of announcing the voting results.

They will release their conclusions at a press conference after exchanging views with the National Electoral Council on Dec. 5.

The international groups watching the elections include the European Union, the Organization of American States and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).

About 130 representatives from the European Union have already arrived in Venezuela. In addition, eight to 10 observers from the Carter Center will also oversee the elections.

Nearly 16 million voters have registered to vote in the upcoming elections.

Nov. 27 , 2006

Tuesday

Dec. 3

Monday

Dec. 5

begin

arrive

monitor

scheduled

said

running

favored

beat

inspect

supervise

counting

announcing

release

conference

exchanging

watching

include

arrived

oversee

elections

registered

vote


XIN_ENG_20061110.0236

HARARE, Nov. 10 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Zimbabwe issues long-term land lease agreements to farmers

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has presented 99-year land lease agreements to 125 large-scale commercial farmers, confirming the government's commitment to ensure that lands return to the hand of its rightful owners, the majority Zimbabweans, Newsnet reported on Friday.

The historic development has received widespread applause from interest groups across the country as it comes to make a strong statement to the international community about Zimbabwe's seriousness on the land issue, the official media said.

The issuance of the agreements to the commercial farmers known as A2 farmers is a legal and constitutional development which brings land ownership to farmers while at the same time ensures confidence in the farming industry, the report said.

It added that the lease agreements stipulate and guarantee land ownership to farmers and provide collateral security to them while ensuring that lands remain a state property.

Shadreck Chipanga, chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on justice legal and parliamentary affairs, highlighted the major difference between a lease agreement and a title deed.

"The 99-year lease agreement is an agreement that has been entered between the government and a farmer while a title deed is a document which shows proof of ownership after buying certain items," Chipanga said.

Nov. 10 , 2006

Friday

presented

confirming

commitment

ensure

return

reported

development

received

comes

make

statement

said

issuance

development

ensures

said

added

stipulate

guarantee

provide

ensuring

highlighted

agreement

agreement

entered

buying

said


XIN_ENG_20051112.0131

FOSHAN, Guangdong, Nov. 12 , 2005 (Xinhua)

modern ROK

China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) share great similarities in cultural background and some Chinese classic culture can be found intact in modern ROK, said Bae Jhong-shin, vice minister of culture and tourism of the ROK.

He made the remarks here on Saturday at the ongoing 7th Asia Art Festival, which opened on Friday in Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province.

The ROK culture has exerted much impact on the Chinese youth who tend to imitate the hairstyles, dressing styles and even life styles from imported ROK TV series. Some Chinese media called this phenomenon "the blowing of a strong Korean wind" in China.

Chinese traditional virtues like benevolence, loyalty in marriage and respect for the older generations are also shown in the ROK society today, said Bae.

He said in history the ROK conducted many cultural exchange activities with its close neighbor China, and both countries share similar values. The ROK has also been deeply influenced by Chinese classic culture, and some of the elements can be neatly shown in the current ROK society, he added.

The ROK people began to import books, Confucius thoughts and advanced technologies from China some two thousand years ago, and gradually the two countries have reached consensus in many aspects of culture. Bae said that the ROK people attach great importance to teenage education on filial piety, which means to respect the older generations. Teenage education on traditional values is also one of the measures they are taking to combat cultural westernization, which most Asian countries are faced with.

"Most countries are faced with heated global competition of culture and arts,"Bae said. "How to integrate into cultural globalization while preserving local arts is the problem we are trying to resolve."

Bae said the ROK TV series have also absorbed some elite western culture and properly integrated them into the local life. "That's one of the reasons why our TV series are quite popular in China and some other Asian countries," explained Bae.

A total of 22 artistic troupes from 21 Asian countries will present their performance in the seven-day Asia Art Festival, while a forum is also held here for Asian cultural ministers to discuss prospective cultural cooperation.

Nov. 12 , 2005

Saturday

Friday

today

two thousand years ago

found

said

made

opened

exerted

impact

tend

imitate

called

blowing

shown

said

said

conducted

share

influenced

shown

added

began

import

reached

said

attach

education

respect

education

taking

combat

faced

faced

said

integrate

preserving

trying

resolve

said

absorbed

integrated

explained

present

held

discuss

cooperation


XIN_ENG_20051128.0266

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 , 2005 (Xinhua)

US congressman pleads guilty to bribe charges

A US congressman pleaded guilty Monday to bribe charges that he sold his home to a defense contractor at an inflated price in 2003.

In a court hearing in San Diego, California, the 63-year-old Republican congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham answered "yes" when asked by US District Judge Larry Burns if he had accepted bribes from someone in exchange for his performance of official duties.

He now faces a maximum of ten years in jail and a fine.

Prosecutors said two years ago, Cunningham and his wife sold their home for over 1.6 million US dollars to a defense contractor named Mitchell Wade and then used the proceeds from the sale to buy a 2.55-million-dollar mansion.

A year later, Wade put Cunningham's old home back on the market and sold it for less than a million dollars.

Wade also let Cunningham live rent-free on his yacht while his firm, MZM Inc., donated generously to Cunningham's political campaigns.

By bribing Cunningham, Wade and MZM won several valuable defense contracts, since the congressman sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee which controls defense budgets.

Cunningham, a former Vietnam War pilot who has been in Congress since 1991, announced in July that he wouldn't seek re-election next year.

He drew little notice outside his San Diego-area district before a local newspaper reported last June that he sold the home to Wade.

Nov. 28 , 2005

Monday

now

ten years

two years ago

A year

July

next year

last June

pleaded

bribe

sold

hearing

answered

asked

accepted

faces

said

sold

used

sale

buy

put

sold

let

donated

bribing

won

sits

announced

seek

re-election

drew

reported

sold


XIN_ENG_20051105.0101

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 5 , 2005 (Xinhua)

At least six killed in self-made bomb blast in Pakistan

At least six people were killed when a bomb they were making exploded in Pakistan's tribal region near the Afghan border on Saturday, officials and locals said.

"It seems the explosion occurred when these people were busy making an improvised explosive device for terrorist activity," Pakistan's chief military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan was quoted as saying.

Sultan said that the six people were killed, one of whom was female, and that they were all believed to be foreigners although their exact nationalities were still being investigated.

Some press reports claimed that they were Al-Qaida members.

Meanwhile, locals said that eight people, including four men, one woman and three children were killed in the incident on Saturday morning in a village in Mir Ali, 20 kilometers east of Miranshah, the main town of the Pakistani tribal region of North Waziristan.

Nov. 5 , 2005

Saturday

Saturday morning

killed

making

exploded

said

seems

explosion

occurred

making

improvised

quoted

saying

said

killed

believed

investigated

claimed

said

killed

incident


XIN_ENG_20051103.0150

BEIJING, Nov. 3 , 2005 (Xinhua)

cooperation

China is strengthening its efforts in combating climate change by participating actively in international projects, said an expert with the State Development and Reform Commission Thursday.

Jiang Kejun, a researcher with the Energy Research Institute of the commission, said at a conference on China and Climate Change that China regards such international cooperation frameworks as the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate (APCDC) as a good complementary to its participation in the Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

China, the United States, Australia, Japan, India and the Republic of Korea signed an APCDC agreement in July which emphasizes limiting greenhouse gas emission through technological cooperation without setting a quota for each member's emission reduction.

As a signatory country of the Kyoto Protocol, China has been thirsty for advanced technologies to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its greenhouse gas emission, said Jiang.

According to him, China's current participation in the Kyoto Protocol is mainly in the Clean Development Mechanism, which allows developing countries to sell greenhouse gas emission quotas to developed countries.

As the top coal consumer of the world, China saw nearly 70 percent of its energy demand met by coal, emitting large a amount of pollutants such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

China and the European Union signed a declaration in September on climate change that emphasizes technological cooperation in such fields as advanced, near-zero emissions coal technology through carbon capture and storage and clean coal.

Jiang said that by promoting international technological cooperation, China expects more cooperation under the framework of the Kyoto Protocol.

Nov. 3 , 2005

Thursday

July

September

strengthening

efforts

combating

change

participating

said

said

conference

regards

participation

signed

agreement

emphasizes

setting

improve

reduce

said

sell

saw

met

emitting

signed

change

cooperation

said

promoting

cooperation

expects


AFP_ENG_20061229.0450

SAO PAULO, Dec 30 , 2006, 2006

=(PICTURE)=

A former shoeshine boy who rose from abject poverty, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 61, has given up his once fiery leftist rhetoric but not his image as a champion of the underdog.

The bearded leader will take office on Monday after his overwhelming reelection with more than 60 percent of the vote on October 29, thanks largely to support from the millions of Brazilians who survive on less than two dollars a day.

His electoral victory in the run-off marked a clear rebound since claims of campaign dirty tricks had thwarted his bid to win reelection in the first round of voting on October 1, when he fell 1.4 percentage points short of the simple majority needed for outright victory.

At campaign rallies, he showed great pride in his humble background, reminding cheering crowds that unlike his opponent, a trained doctor, he has no university degree.

Born on October 6, 1945, in the dirt-poor northeast of Brazil, Lula learned to read when he was 10.

As a child, he worked as a shoeshine boy and a peanut vendor before getting a job as a metal worker at the age of 14. He lost a finger in a work accident in the 1960s.

A trade unionist and strike leader, he came to symbolize opposition to the military dictatorship in the 1970s and early 1980s. He founded the leftist Workers Party (PT) in February 1980.

In 1986, he was elected to Congress, and three years later he launched his first bid for the presidency. He tried again in 1994 and 1998 before winning by a landslide in 2002.

His victory was in part attributed to the fact that he dramatically toned down his once fiery leftist speech and moved the PT closer to the political center.

"I don't know how many elections I've lost to get to where I am now," Lula said in an October interview. "But I do know how many insults and prejudices I've had to overcome to get there.

"That's why my only objective now is to show that I'm more competent than many of the people who've been runnning this country."

He insists Brazil has made great strides forward since he took office, saying poverty has gone down 19 percent since he took office.

His government pumped billions of dollars into social projects, including an ambitious program that subsidizes 11 million impoverished families, and which has gained widespread popularity.

His electoral triumph four years ago rocked financial markets that feared he would lead the country to economic ruin. Lula eventually gained the markets' trust, as he kept the economy stable and achieved the budget surplus required by agreements with the International Monetary Fund.

"In four years, I have learned a lot," he says.

His popularity plummeted in 2005 amid a wave of corruption scandals involving members of his cabinet and his party. He quickly bounced back, but a new scandal that erupted two weeks before the first round of voting again eroded his support, which has surged once more in recent weeks.

Lula fired top government and party officials, and insists he had no prior knowledge of the wrongdoing.

He has distanced himself from the brand of radicalism advocated by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who in his recent address to the UN General Assembly called US President George W. Bush "the devil."

An avowed admirer of the Cuban revolution, he nonetheless recently criticized Cuba's ailing President Fidel Castro.

"I only regret that Fidel Castro did not carry out a process of political opening," he recently told the Folha de Sao Paulo daily.

"I think that our (Cuban) comrades missed their chance to move closer to democracy," he said.

Lula is married and has three children.

Dec 30 , 2006

Monday

October 29

October 1

October 6, 1945

the 1960s

the 1970s

February 1980

three years

the presidency

now

four years ago

four years

two weeks

recent weeks

daily

rose

given

take

reelection

vote

support

survive

victory

run-off

marked

rebound

thwarted

bid

win

voting

fell

showed

reminding

cheering

Born

learned

read

worked

getting

lost

accident

came

symbolize

founded

elected

launched

bid

tried

winning

landslide

victory

toned

speech

moved

know

lost

get

said

interview

know

overcome

get

show

runnning

insists

made

strides

took

saying

gone

took

pumped

subsidizes

gained

rocked

feared

lead

gained

kept

achieved

required

learned

says

plummeted

bounced

scandal

erupted

voting

eroded

surged

fired

insists

had

distanced

advocated

called

criticized

regret

carry

process

told

think

missed

move

said

married

has


XIN_ENG_20051128.0150

SHANGHAI, Nov. 28 , 2005 (Xinhua)

No landmark to be built for Expo 2010 Shanghai China

Shanghai will not build a landmark architecture for the 2010 World Expo but will bequeath a huge spiritual legacy to later generations, said Zhou Hanmin, deputy director of the expo's coordination committee.

He said the expo will perform three major functions of reshaping of cities and countries, displaying of world cultural diversity and innovation in science and technology, and the enlightenment of future generations.

Zhou made the remarks on Saturday at an international symposium held by the Japanese Research Center of Shanghai-based Fudan University.

He emphasized that the city will not construct any buildings with the intention of creating a landmark for the expo, sharing the same opinion with Fukui Shohei, the chief designer of Expo 2005 Aichi Japan.

"In departure from previous expos, the coming expo will highlight man's attitudes towards the nature, society and the future," said the deputy director.

With the theme of "Better City, Better Life," the expo will be held from May 1 to October 31, 2010, in east China's Shanghai Municipality. It will be located on the banks of the Huangpu River, the "Mother River of Shanghai," between the Lupu Bridge and the Nanpu Bridge.

The predicted number of participant countries and international organizations is 200 and more than 70 million visitors are expected.

Nov. 28 , 2005

Saturday

the future

May 1 to October 31, 2010

build

bequeath

said

said

perform

reshaping

displaying

made

held

emphasized

construct

creating

sharing

departure

highlight

said

held

located

expected


XIN_ENG_20061110.0137

HARARE, Nov. 10 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Home-based care reduces HIV prevalence rate in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's National AIDS Council ( NAC) has attributed the decline in the AIDS prevalence rate to various projects such as the home-based care system which deals with people living with the HIV/AIDS virus, local media reported on Friday.

The Zimbabwe Independent quoted NAC board chairman Murombedzi Kuchera as saying that the awareness campaigns being carried out by various stakeholders nationwide were helping reduce the prevalence rate.

The prevalence rate for the HIV virus is now down at 18.1 percent from the previous 20.1 percent, while projections point to a reduction to a single digit rate by 2010, he said.

"Home-based care is one of the very important strategies in national efforts to address challenges faced by AIDS victims at home," he said.

Zimbabwe has over 300,000 people who require anti-retroviral drugs, but only 42,000 of them are receiving treatment. The remainder have to be catered for through home-based care initiatives.

The NAC said it was receiving 250,000 US dollars for anti- retroviral drugs every month from the central bank to cater for those who cannot survive without the drugs.

Nov. 10 , 2006

Friday

now

every month

attributed

decline

deals

reported

quoted

saying

carried

helping

reduce

reduction

said

address

faced

said

has

receiving

treatment

catered

said

receiving

cater

survive


XIN_ENG_20061126.0137

NICOSIA, Nov. 26 , 2006 (Xinhua)

deadlock

Cyprus' Foreign Minister George Lillikas left for Finland on Sunday for negotiations on Turkey's EU entry bid but said he was not optimistic about the outcome concerning Cyprus issue.

"We are going with readiness, good will and positive spirit," Lillikas told Cyprus News Agency (CNA) at Larnaca airport, adding that the information they got from different sources didn't show any optimism.

Turkey, aspiring to become an EU member, refuses to implement the EU-Turkey Customs Union Protocol by opening its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft.

As the holder of the EU rotating presidency, Finland is launching a last-ditch initiative to avert a possible EU-Turkey crisis regarding its EU course.

Finland's Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja has invited his Turkish and Cypriot counterparts to the Finnish city of Tampere, to work out a possible solution at the sideline of the Euro- Mediterranean Conference.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

In 2004, the internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus entered the EU in the name of the whole island and now has EU veto powers over its rival Turkey.

Nov. 26 , 2006

Sunday

now

left

negotiations

said

optimistic

outcome

going

told

adding

got

show

aspiring

become

refuses

implement

opening

launching

avert

crisis

course

invited

work

divided

intervened

occupied

coup

entered

EU


AFP_ENG_19970418.0623

MONS, Belgium, April 19 , 1997 (AFP)

Belgian police renew searches after more human remains surface by Bertrand Pinon

Police prepared for new efforts Saturday to track down a suspected serial killer after the discovery of more dumped human body parts near this southern Belgian town.

The latest remains, comprising a thigh, an arm, a forearm and a hand, were found in three bags Friday by municipal workers cleaning drains in a residential area of Havre, a suburb of Mons, public prosecutor Pierre Honore said.

The macabre find brought to 15 the total number of garbage bags to turn up in the area since March 22. All the others contained neatly- severed female body parts, except for one stuffed with clothing.

They add up to between four and six suspected victims of a murderer being dubbed the "killer of Mons." Only one so far has been identified, thanks to a tattoo.

She was Martine Bohn, a 43-year-old French prostitute living locally, whose torso had already been fished out of a river in July last year.

Honore said late Friday that like the earlier remains, the limbs would be sent for analysis by forensic experts in Liege.

The police probe would be intensified Saturday, he added.

The chain of finds began on March 22 with nine garbage bags in the suburb of Couesmes, containing the limbs of three women. Another bag, holding the upper part of a torso, turned up nearby two days later.

Two supermarket bags containing a foot, an ankle and the head of a woman aged between 35 and 40 were found in Havre on April 12.

Honore's department has also been in contact with French prosecutors just over the border in Valenciennes, to see if there is any link with the pelvis of a still-unidentified woman's body found in January 1996 at Chateau l'Abbaye, northern France.

The search for a pattern in the killer's operations has uncovered a dark twist in his choice of dumping grounds for the bags.

Apparently playing a cat-and-mouse game, the killer has left the remains of his victims in places with suggestive names: Rue du Depot (Dump) near the River Haine (Hate), on Chemin de l'Inquietude (Worry) and the banks of the River Trouille (Jitters).

The latest finds were in an area known as La Poudriere, or the Powder- keg.

Belgian police are under heavy pressure to solve the killings in the wake of strong parliamentary criticism of bungled investigations into missing children kidnapped by a suspected paedophile ring.

Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene Friday promised disciplinary axction against those responsible for mishandling the cases.

April 19 , 1997

Friday

March 22

July last year

late Friday

Saturday

March 22

two days

April 12

January 1996

Friday

prepared

track

suspected

discovery

comprising

found

drains

said

find

brought

turn

contained

stuffed

add

dubbed

identified

fished

said

sent

analysis

intensified

added

began

containing

holding

turned

aged

found

see

found

search

uncovered

twist

playing

game

left

solve

killings

criticism

investigations

kidnapped

promised

mishandling


AFP_ENG_20051212.0134

PALE, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Dec 12 , 2005

= (PICTURE) =

NATO troops in Bosnia on Monday raided the home of a supporter of top Serb war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic in a bid to track down the fugitive, a spokesman said.

The soldiers conducted a search of the Pale residence of Dragan Stajcic, who was "suspected to be a close associate of Radovan Karadzic and part of his support network," said Derek Chappell.

"The search was conducted in an effort to find additional information on Karadzic's movement, whereabouts and to gather information about (his) support network," said the NATO spokesman.

Chappell said the aim of the operation was to disrupt and put pressure on the support network of Karadzic, the political leader of Bosnian Serbs during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war.

Stajcic was a former director of Radio Sveti Jovan (St. John), the station owned by Karadzic's daughter Sonja that was recently closed down after frequent NATO raids.

The operation comes five days after a high-profile Croatian war crimes suspect, former general Ante Gotovina, was arrested in Spain after four years on the run.

Gotovina's arrest raised the pressure on authorities in Bosnia's Serb entity and neighbouring Serbia-Montenegro to bring about the arrests of Karadzic and his wartime military chief Ratko Mladic, who were both indicted by The Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal more than 10 years ago.

The two are wanted on charges including genocide over the 43-month siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre of an estimated 8,000 Muslim males, the single worst atrocity in Europe since World War II.

Both remain at large despite bounties of five million dollars for information leading to their arrest offered by the United States.

Karadzic is thought to spend his time in either Bosnia or across the border in Montenegro and Mladic is widely believed to be hiding in Serbia.

NATO has failed in repeated efforts to capture Mladic and Karadzic, who remain heroes to nationalist Serbs.

Dec 12 , 2005

Monday

five days

four years

more than 10 years ago

raided

suspect

bid

track

said

conducted

search

suspected

said

search

conducted

effort

find

gather

said

said

operation

disrupt

put

war

owned

closed

raids

operation

comes

arrested

arrest

raised

bring

arrests

indicted

wanted

genocide

siege

massacre

War

remain

leading

arrest

offered

thought

spend

believed

hiding

failed

efforts

capture


XIN_ENG_20051124.0267

LUANDA, Nov. 24 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Sao Tome's lawmakers reject constitutional referendum

Sao Tome and Principe's Parliament on Thursday voted against holding of a constitutional referendum on the country's system of power sharing, a national consultation wanted by President Fradique de Menezes.

According to reports reaching here, a motion to reject the referendum, originally agreed for next year by parliament and the president in 2003, was supported by 45 parliament members and opposed by only five members of the 55-seat legislature.

The Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP) , the archipelago's biggest party, publicly distanced itself last month from the planned referendum, aimed to formalize the respective weighting of sovereign bodies in the islands' semi- presidential system.

MLSTP leader Guilherme Posser da Costa is widely expected to challenge President Menezes' bid for a second term in office next year. Local and parliamentary elections are also expected in 2006.

Nov. 24 , 2005

Thursday

next year

last month

next year

voted

referendum

consultation

wanted

reaching

reject

referendum

agreed

supported

opposed

distanced

referendum

aimed

formalize

expected

challenge

bid

elections

expected


AFP_ENG_20061212.0015

LONDON, Dec 12 , 2006, 2006

=(PICTURE)=

Prince William, second in line to the British throne, finishes his training as an officer at Sandhurst military academy this week, and Britain is abuzz with talk about when he will finally ask to marry his pretty girlfriend Kate Middleton.

Happy news from the royal household has been rare these last few years. The last birth dates back to November 2003 when Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son Prince Edward had a daughter, Lady Louise.

And there was a marriage in 2005, that of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, but it was more about normalizing a longterm relationship that had caused scandal in the past.

Since then the media and souvenir merchants have become restless: Will 2007 be the year of Prince William and the return to glamor?

On Saturday, the Daily Mail raised the possibility of an engagement party during the Christmas holidays, when the royal family will gather in Sandringham, eastern England.

The official announcement will then come in the spring, according to the daily which said Kate was invited to dinner on December 24 in Sandringham, an uprecedented event for a royal girlfriend, as well as join William and his family for Christmas Day services.

Buckingham Palace neither confirmed nor denied the report, citing a completely private event.

At 24, William, the elder son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, has for three years been dating Kate Middleton, a pretty brunette of the same age whom he met while he was studying geography and she art history at St Andrews University in Scotland.

They shared the same apartment with other students and quickly became inseparable. Signs increasingly point to marriage, even if the couple do nothing to confirm it.

Their first public appearance together happened on the ski slopes of the Swiss resort at Klosters in April 2004. There was then the first meeting with the queen in her Scottish castle at Balmoral.

The first public kiss was in the spring this year, also at Klosters. And for several months, Kate has been taking riding lessons, a virtual requirement for anyone who might want to enter a royal household passionate about horses.

In anticipation of a hypothetical engagement, the tabloid press has given Kate little breathing room, showing her in a bikini during a vacation with William in Ibiza, shopping in London, and during a night out at a club with the prince's double.

Nothing escapes them, including the first job she landed in late November.

Kate Middleton now buys accessories for Jigsaw, a British clothing chain whose owners are friends of her parents, themselves owners of an Internet company.

And with impatience growing about their plans, some firms are taking no risks.

The Woolworth department store chain recently negotiated contracts for 20 souvenir items showing the smiling faces of the prince and his beauty: cups, china ware, and even computer mouses.

All that must be added to them is a wedding date.

Other firms have take the precaution to register Internet sites, such as willandkate.co.uk, willandkate.com, williamandkate.net.

However, neither of the two has said anything until now.

When identical rumors were making the rounds last year, Prince William clearly discouraged them. "I don't want to get married until I am at least 28 or maybe 30," William said.

For Ingrid Seward, a specialist on the British monarchy, a wedding is not particularly pressing.

"I can't see them getting married soon because William isn't settled in his life yet," Seward said.

After Sandhurst, he must continuing serving in the armed forces for around another three years.

Dec 12 , 2006

this week

last few years

November 2003

the past

Saturday

Christmas holidays

the spring

December 24

Christmas Day

three years

April 2004

the spring this year

several months

late November

now

now

last year

around another three years

finishes

training

talk

ask

marry

dates

normalizing

caused

scandal

become

return

raised

gather

come

according

said

invited

join

confirmed

denied

citing

dating

met

studying

shared

became

point

do

confirm

happened

meeting

taking

want

enter

given

showing

shopping

escapes

landed

buys

growing

taking

negotiated

showing

added

take

precaution

register

said

making

discouraged

want

get

said

see

getting

married

settled

said

continuing

serving


AFP_ENG_20061204.0462

NEW YORK, Dec 4 , 2006, 2006

US stocks higher as Bank of New York buys Mellon Financial

The main US stock indexes posted solid gains in Monday morning trading after The Bank of New York and Mellon Financial announced a 16.5 billion-dollar merger.

At 1657 GMT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 65.61 points (0.54 percent) to 12,259.74 while the Nasdaq composite was 31.69 points (1.31 percent) higher at 2,444.90.

The broad-market Standard and Poor's 500 index had gained 8.68 points (0.62 percent) to 1,405.39.

"With market participants focused on the prospect of a slowing economy, upcoming economic releases will be front-and-center, especially Friday's November employment report," said AG Edwards analyst Al Goldman.

"Today, negative news on Pfizer will weigh on the market but will be partially off set by merger developments," Goldman said.

The Bank of New York, which was founded in 1784, and Mellon Financial said they had agreed to merge in a bid to create one of the world's largest global asset managers.

The new firm, which will be called The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, will rank among the top 10 global asset managers with over one trillion dollars in assets under management, according to a joint statement from the two banks.

The share prices of both banks soared in morning deals.

The Bank of New York's shares were up 3.51 dollars, or 9.9 percent, at 38.99 dollars while Mellon's stock was up 1.87 dollars, or 4.7 percent, at 41.92 dollars.

Citing the "interests of patient safety," US drug manufacturer Pfizer said over the weekend that it was stopping all clinical trials of the cholesterol-controlling drug Torcetrapib.

The company said Saturday that it was in the process of notifying all clinical investigators and regulatory authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration.

The decision comes after Pfizer officials were informed that the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) reviewing a morbidity and mortality study for Torcetrapib recommended terminating the trial "because of an imbalance of mortality and cardiovascular events."

Pfizer is asking all clinical investigators involved in the program to inform patient participants to stop taking the medication immediately.

The drug maker's stock was down 3.19 dollars at 24.67 dollars.

In other stock action, Merrill Lynch was up 1.52 dollars at 88.30 dollars while Bank of America was down 89 cents at 52.61 dollars. Bristol-Myers Squibb was up 30 cents at 25.14 dollars while General Motors was 35 cents higher at 30.04 dollars.

Bond prices weakened. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond rose to 4.440 percent from 4.425 percent Friday while that on the 30-year bond climbed to 4.552 percent against 4.541 percent.

Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions.

Dec 4 , 2006

Monday morning

Friday

Today

the weekend

Saturday

Friday

posted

gains

trading

announced

merger

climbed

gained

focused

said

weigh

set

said

founded

said

agreed

merge

create

called

rank

according

soared

Citing

said

stopping

trials

said

notifying

decision

comes

informed

reviewing

recommended

terminating

trial

asking

involved

inform

stop

taking

weakened

rose

climbed

move


AFP_ENG_20061230.0135

ISLAMABAD, Dec 30 , 2006, 2006

Pakistan calls Saddam hanging a "sad event"

Pakistan, a key US ally, on Saturday described the execution of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein as a "sad event" and expressed hope that it would not further exacerbate the security situation in Iraq.

"The execution of former president Saddam Hussein, which can only be described as a sad event, is another poignant reminder of the violence that continues to grip Iraq," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We hope that this event would not further exacerbate the security situation," the statement said.

It said Pakistan desired peace, stability and reconciliation in Iraq.

"It remains our earnest hope to see peace, stability and reconciliation so that the people of Iraq regain control of their affairs in a secure environment."

Dec 30 , 2006

Saturday

described

execution

expressed

exacerbate

execution

described

violence

continues

grip

said

hope

exacerbate

said

said

desired

reconciliation

remains

see

reconciliation


XIN_ENG_20051129.0082

COLOMBO, Nov. 29 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Colombo stocks close up

Share prices on the Colombo Stock Exchange closed up Tuesday with the key Colombo All Share Price Index rising 17.85 points to close at 2290.70 points.

On the other hand, the highly capitalized Milanka Price Index gained 6.15 points to close at 2934.35 points.

A total turnover of 241 million rupee (2.41 million US dollars) was recorded during the day with a volume of 12.51 million shares being traded.

Nov. 29 , 2005

Tuesday

the day

closed

rising

close

gained

close

recorded

traded


AFP_ENG_20061209.0206

LEEDS, England, Dec 9 , 2006, 2006

Leeds admit breaking Football League law

English Championship strugglers Leeds on Saturday admitted they broke Football League regulations by fielding six loan players in last month's defeat at Burnley.

Leeds boss Dennis Wise selected Graham Stack, Matt Heath, Ugo Ehiogu, Tresor Kandol and Geoff Horsfield for the 2-1 defeat at Turf Moor on November 28, while Tony Warner was an unused substitute.

The Football League rulebook says that only five players on loan from other clubs can be named in a team's squad for any match.

A statement on Leeds's website said: "We can confirm that the club broke Football League regulations at Burnley.

"We will co-operate fully with the Football League on this matter and explain the extenuating circumstances."

Dec 9 , 2006

Saturday

last month

November 28

strugglers

admitted

broke

fielding

defeat

selected

defeat

says

named

said

confirm

broke

co-operate

explain


AFP_ENG_20061202.0469

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS quotes, detail, background ///

The United States said Saturday that the Cuban regime must take steps toward democracy before Washington would consider any "deepening" of bilateral relations, responding to Raul Castro's invitation to come to the negotiating table.

"The dialogue that needs to take place is one between the Cuban regime and the Cuban people about the democratic future of the island," Janelle Hironimus, a State Department spokeswoman, told AFP.

"As we have consistently stated, any deepening of our engagement with Cuba depends on that dialogue and the Cuban regime's willingness to take concrete steps toward a political opening and a transition to democracy," she said.

Raul Castro, Cuba's defense minister and interim leader since his ailing brother Fidel underwent surgery in July, said in a speech to troops earlier Saturday: "Let me take this opportunity to express our willingness to settle the long US-Cuba disagreement at the negotiating table."

"Of course, that is, as long as they accept that we are a country that does not tolerate any reduction of its independence, and based on the principles of equality, reciprocity, non-interference and mutual respect," he told Communist Party and military leaders at Cuba's first military parade in a decade.

"Until that happens, after almost half a century, we are prepared to wait patiently for the moment when common sense takes root in the halls of power in Washington," he said.

The parade marked the 50th anniversary of the armed forces and capped belated 80th birthday celebrations for Fidel Castro, Cuba's leader since 1959.

The speech by Raul Castro, coming in the vacuum of Fidel Castro's public disappearance since his intestinal surgery in July, seemed to confirm a desire to ease the traditionally strained tensions with Washington.

The policy of willingness to talk with the United States if respected as an equal is standing Cuban policy.

But Raul Castro's timing and mention of the negotiating table -- as Cuba is consolidating its changing of the communist guard -- suggests some growing autonomy on his part.

A few weeks after taking the reins of government from his brother on July 31, Raul Castro hinted at some openness to dialogue with the United States in an interview with the Communist Party newspaper Granma, suggesting ties might be normalized on equal terms.

But the US had shot back that it was not talking to "Fidel light."

Since Fidel Castro's illness removed him from the scene, the United States has made numerous appeals for Cuba to open up to democracy.

Cuba, Latin America's only one-party communist regime, and the United States do not have full diplomatic relations. Each maintains an Interests Section, a diplomatic office, in the other's capital.

The United States has maintained a trade embargo against Cuba since 1962.

Dec 2 , 2006

Saturday

July

Saturday

a decade

half a century

July

A few weeks

July 31

said

take

consider

deepening

responding

invitation

come

take

told

stated

deepening

dialogue

take

transition

said

ailing

underwent

said

speech

Let

take

express

settle

accept

tolerate

reduction

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parade

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XIN_ENG_20061107.0300

LUSAKA, Nov. 7 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Zambian president highly speaks of China-Africa summit

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said the just ended Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held on Nov. 4-5 is highly beneficial to the economic success and development of Zambia.

Mwanawasa told a news briefing Tuesday at Beijing Hotel that his country will benefit from the summit through the financial resources China has pledged to pour into Africa, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Mwanawasa hailed the government of China for initiating an aid package to enhance Africa's economic development. Under the package, china has written off a substantial amount of Zambia's debt.

Mwanawasa said the Tanzania-Zambia railway debt to china has automatically fallen off as a result of the Chinese gesture.

He said Zambia as a highly indebted poor country is also eligible to benefit from the 5 billion U.S. dollars in preferential loans and credits to Africa which china will provide.

The president said that China's continued support to Zambia is a true reflection of the warm existing relationship between the two countries.

Nov. 7 , 2006

Nov. 4-5

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