Preview: World - People's Daily Online
 World - People's Daily Online
US, Thailand hold largest military drill in Asia Pacific 2012-02-10 16:18:25 &$&$Edited and translated by People's Daily Online&$&$ The Cobra Gold 2012, the largest ever multinational military exercise in the Asia-Pacific region jointly held by Thailand and the United States, began in Thailand on Feb. 7. More than 13,000 military personnel from the United States, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia have participated in the 11-day exercise. The Cobra Gold exercise has been held annually since 1982. Given the large scale and busy ...
Cuba opens international book fair, hopes for Castro show 2012-02-10 15:56:40 HAVANA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cuban cultural authorities on Thursday opened the 21st International Book Fair, which organizers said will be attended by over 200 cultural and literature figures from over 40 countries. A total of 130 exhibitors, including 66 from other countries will participate in the book fair, at which over four million books will be put up for sale. Among the foreign guests is Argentinean Peace Nobel laureate Adolfo Esquivel. Many are speculating whether Cuba's former le ...
'Flash Occupation' staged in L.A. to demand Wall Street pay fair share 2012-02-10 15:40:45 LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- "Flash Occupation" was staged here at several Wall Street bank branches Thursday in an attempt to escalate pressure on them to pay a fair share and stop foreclosures. More than 200 people from struggling communities in Los Angeles organized by Good Jobs LA, along with unemployed workers, community groups, labor organizations and Occupy LA activists demonstrated in front of the Bank of America Plaza. They shouted slogans and raised banners to demand banks sto ...
Outlook for US economy still not optimistic 2012-02-10 16:14:37 The United States' non-agricultural employments had increased by 243,000 and the unemployment rate had decreased from 8.5 percent of December of 2011 to 8.3 percent, lowest record of the past three years, according to the latest non-agricultural employment report issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, in January of 2012. U.S. President Barack Obama said that it is a sign showing the U.S. economy is recovering. However, the employment and economic situations of the United States are still ...
India successfully test-fires interceptor missile 2012-02-10 15:36:24 NEW DELHI, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- India Friday successfully test- fired a home-made supersonic interceptor missile off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha, reliable sources here said. "The missile successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface target missile -- a modified version of 'Prithvi' missile -- which was fired first around 10:30 a.m. from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur," the sources said. The testfiring was part of India's plan to deploy a reliable two-layer ballistic mis ...
Japan approves draft revision to oil-stockpiling act 2012-02-10 15:33:51 TOKYO, Feb. 10(Xinhua)-- The Japanese Cabinet on Friday approved a draft revision to the Petroleum Reserve Law to make oil wholesalers set up disaster countermeasures to ensure supply of gasoline and other fuel to disaster-hit areas in times of crisis. The move aims to prevent a recurrence of the severe gasoline shortage after the March quake and tsunami disaster in some parts of Japan. The revision to the law added that oil distributors come up with joint plans to cooperate with each othe ...
S. Korean lawmakers visit joint factory park in DPRK 2012-02-10 15:33:06 SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- A group of South Korean lawmakers traveled Friday to an industrial park in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in a rare trip to the last-remaining symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. Eight ruling and opposition lawmakers, all members of the parliamentary committees on inter-Korean relations and foreign affairs, crossed the land border earlier in the day on their way to the joint industrial complex in the border town of Keasong. "I hope the visit will l ...
Japan to take action on FX if needed: FM 2012-02-10 15:32:03 TOKYO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi said on Friday that the country would take decisive action on the currency market if necessary, adding that he would not hesitate to conduct solo intervention to counter speculative moves. Speaking to a Diet committee, Azumi said that the government stepped into the currency market last fall to weaken the yen after the U.S. dollar fell to 75.63 yen and halted the operation when dollar recovered to 78.20 yen, in a rare remark linki ...
U.S. House approves ban on insider trading with omission 2012-02-10 15:22:44 WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House on Thursday joined the Senate in voting against insider trading by members of Congress and other government officials amid a record-low public approval rating of the Congress's job. The 417-2 vote came after the Senate 96-3 approval, which shows how eager both chambers are united in trying to dig Congress out from dismal approval ratings. A Gallup poll on Wednesday showed that a record-low 10 percent of Americans approve of the way lawmakers wo ...
Iranian traders in Dubai feel pressure of new sanctions 2012-02-10 15:20:24 DUBAI, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian companies doing business in Dubai, a gateway for the Iranian market to international goods, increasingly feel the heat from economic sanctions Western powers have imposed against their country because of Tehran's controversial nuclear program. Trade between Dubai and Iran, which surged to 10 billion U. S. dollars in 2010, was feared to be squeezed this year as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Central Bank has ordered its banks to stop funding trade finance with ...
Palestinian minister faces trial on corruption charges 2012-02-10 14:15:22 RAMALLAH, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian minister was referred to court for trial on Thursday after an inquiry proved that he was involved in corruption, the Anti-Corruption Commission said. Minister of Economy Hassan Abu Libdeh and one of his aides were accused of corruption and mismanagement, a statement said. The commission said in its statement that it informed Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of the findings. In November, Abu Libdeh suspended his job as minister so as to be free to "d ...
Jordan's ex-intelligence chief detained on charges of corruption, money laundering 2012-02-10 14:12:26 AMMAN, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's former intelligence chief Mohammad Dahabi was ordered detained Thursday for two weeks, awaiting further investigations, the state-run Petra news agency reported. Amman's Prosecutor General Judge Mohammad Surani charged Dahabi of embezzlement, money laundering and abuse of his post, it reported. Dahabi, who served as chief of the intelligence between 2005 and 2008, is accused of money laundering of about 30 million dinars (5.2 million U.S. dollars), accord ...
Russia questions U.S. justice in arms dealer case 2012-02-10 14:10:24 MOSCOW, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia thinks a U.S. court in New York gave in to pressure from government authorities by upholding the conspiracy conviction of Russian arms dealer Victor Bout, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday. "The court's ruling raises serious questions regarding independence and objectivity of the American judicial system," ministry spokesman Alexandr Lukashevich told reporters. "Despite the obvious flaws of the evidential base submitted by the prosecutors and use of the i ...
Sarkozy to announce candidacy for 2012 election shortly: report 2012-02-10 14:16:54 PARIS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sarkozy will soon announce his candidacy for a second five-year mandate instead of doing it in March, as previously scheduled. According to a report issued by Europe 1, a French radio broadcaster, the leader will make the announcement within 15 days, before 25 Feb. "A persistent rumor has even mentioned the date of 16 February, with a large meeting in Paris or Marseille the following weekend," it said. Elected in 2007, Sarkozy repeatedly declined to comment on ...
Germany expels 4 Syrian diplomats 2012-02-10 14:08:07 BERLIN, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Germany had expelled four Syrian diplomats from the embassy of Syria to Germany after two men suspected of spying were arrested,the foreign ministry said on Thursday. "After the two people suspected of spying for Syria were arrested, I have decided to expel four members of the Syrian embassy in Berlin," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle announced in a statement in Berlin. Westerwelle said he had summoned Syria's ambassador and notified of him the decision ...
Russia closely watching Syria situation: military official 2012-02-10 14:03:23 MOSCOW, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia's military leadership has been closely watching the situation in and around Syria, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on Thursday. He told Rossiya 24 television channel that the situation was worsening and Russia "can't remain indifferent". Antonov noted that Russia and Syria have close military- technical ties, and Russian specialists have been deployed at various military sites in that region. "I think the region is quite promising from the ...
Eurozone defers decision on second bailout for Greece, sets conditions 2012-02-10 13:49:52 BRUSSELS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Eurozone finance ministers on late Thursday set three conditions for the Greek authorities to receive a second bailout package deemed vital for Athens to avert a chaotic default next month. "Despite the important progress achieved over the last days, we did not yet have all necessary elements on the table to take decisions today," Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker said after a meeting of eurozone finance ministers was closed. Juncker made the comments ho ...
Greek debt deal sparks strong reactions in Athens, deputy minister quits 2012-02-10 09:34:01 ATHENS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The fresh round of painful austerity measures Greek coalition party leaders agreed to on Thursday in exchange for further aid by international lenders to avert a default in March sparked strong reactions in Athens. A few hours after an official statement by Prime Minister Lucas Papademos that the leaders of parties supporting his transitional administration clinched a full agreement on the policies negotiated with the European Union (EU)/International Monetary Fund ...
World's biggest offshore windfarm opens in Britain 2012-02-10 09:25:52 LONDON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The world's largest offshore windfarm opened off the coast of Cumbria, Britain on Thursday, according to British authorities. Britain's Department of Energy and Climate Change said in a statement that Edward Davey, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, opened the offshore windfarm near Walney in Cumbria. With 102 turbines and a total capacity of 367.2 MW, the windfarm could provide enough power for 320,000 households. "Britain has a lot to be p ...
Sarkozy says to keep Fessenheim nuclear plant running 2012-02-10 09:24:45 PARIS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday vowed to keep Fessenheim nuclear plant running, local media reported. "We will not close this station, it's out of the question," the president said during his visit to the country's oldest nuclear power plant in Alsace in northeastern France. "I will never accept the closing of the Fessenheim station for political reasons," he said. Sarkozy's remarks came ahead of a two-round presidential election scheduled in April ...
U.S. health practitioners gather for latest information on integrative healthcare 2012-02-10 08:46:54 NEW YORK, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- As fashion lovers flock to the New York Fashion Week unveiled on Thursday, over 1,100 healthcare professionals and practitioners of integrative healthcare gathered on the same day in the Big Apple for the 2012 Integrative Healthcare Symposium, sharing the latest information and practices on the betterment of the human body, mind and soul. "At this year's event, attendees will be able to hear from more than 56 experts and leaders representing several disciplines in ...
U.S. allows women to serve closer to battlefield 2012-02-10 08:42:12 WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Department on Thursday announced it will open up over 14,000 positions to women, including those in direct ground combat units, allowing women to serve closer to the battlefield. In a notification to Congress, the Pentagon said it intends to change a 1994 rule that prohibits women from direct ground combat positions. The Pentagon said because the modern-day battlefield is "non-linear and fluid, with no clearly defined front line or safer rear area, ...
FBI releases records on Steve Jobs 2012-02-10 15:19:09 SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday released its background check files on late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. According to the 191-file accessible online through the FBI's records vault, most of the information was compiled years before Jobs introduced Apple's iconic products like iPhone. One was in 1991 when Jobs was considered for an appointment on George H.W. Bush's president export council and another is an investigation of a bomb th ...
Oracle to buy cloud-based software firm Taleo for 1.9 billion dollars 2012-02-10 08:38:54 SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Business software giant Oracle on Thursday said that it is planning to buy cloud-based human resources software company Taleo for about 1.9 billion U.S. dollars. The acquisition is Oracle's latest move to boost its offerings of cloud computing, or the delivery of software and other services over the Internet. Oracle said that it has agreed to pay 46 dollars per share, representing an 18-percent premium over Taleo's closing share price on Wednesday. Head ...
Apple to announce iPad 3 in early March: report 2012-02-10 08:37:07 SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Apple has chosen the first week in March to introduce the successor to the iPad 2 in one of its signature events in San Francisco, U.S. media reported Thursday. According to a report by technology news site AllThingsD, sources said the next generation iPad will be pretty much what have been said in Apple rumor reports, like similar form to iPad 2, faster chips and better graphics. AllThingsD said the new tablet, which will probably be named iPad 3, will fe ...
U.S. jobless claims hit near 4-year low 2012-02-10 08:34:22 WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The number of Americans initially applying for unemployment aid last week dropped to nearly a four-year low, a sign for recovery in the labor market, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday. The Labor Department said that the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for jobless benefits was 358,000 in the week ending on Feb. 4, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure. It is the second-lowest level since April 2008. As a r ...
U.S. has strong interest in supporting Europe: Obama 2012-02-10 08:33:41 ROME, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday ahead of a meeting at the White House with Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti that the European and U.S. economies are inherently bound together. In an interview to Turin-based La Stampa newspaper, Obama said the European and U.S. banks and financial markets are profoundly linked. "Relations with Europe play an important role in our efforts to create jobs and prosperity in the United States," Obama said, adding the U.S. ...
Maldives new president to form coalition gov't 2012-02-10 08:22:58 MALE, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) - Weeks after protests, newly appointed Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Waheed announced on Wednesday of forming a coalition government with the participation of all political parties including former President Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Waheed appearing before media for the first time at the President's House on Wednesday said discussions is underway to form a National Unity Government. "I will work with the spirit of coalition with various p ...
Violence escalates in Syria's Homs province 2012-02-10 10:46:55 DAMASCUS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The situation in Syria's restive Homs bodes ill as the unabated violence continued on Thursday in several hotspots across the unrest-torn province. Private Sham FM radio said Thursday that armed groups took over several mosques in Homs and fired on law-enforcement forces from the minarets. Meanwhile, Syria's private media cited sources as saying that Abdul-Razzq Tlas, a defected first lieutenant, was killed in Baba Amr neighborhood in Homs after severe clashes ...
Maldives ex-president appeals for help 2012-02-10 08:21:02 NEW DELHI, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed appeared on an Indian TV on Thursday, saying he was toppled by a small group of police officers and wanted the international community to help his country restore democracy. The first democratically elected former president talked to the local TV channel Times Now from an undisclosed place after being reportedly missing for about one day. Nasheed said that he now feared for his life and the safety of his family, who he ...
UN: Young people suffer from highest unemployment rate 2012-02-09 15:44:40 &$&$Edited and translated by People's Daily Online&$&$ The Economic and Social Affairs Department of the United Nations pointed out in its World Young People Report 2011 released on Feb. 6 that the economic crisis has exacerbated youth unemployment problem. The report says the unemployment rate of global youth has been higher than that of other age groups for a long time. The report shows that young people have many concerns about employment issue. One concern is the gap between ...
Philippine President thanks Chinese-Filipino businessmen for supporting govt 2012-02-09 15:32:57 MANILA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III thanked on Thursday the Chinese-Filipino businessmen for supporting the government in its effort to improve the nation' s economy. Aquino made the statement during his keynote speech at the Seventh Biennial Convention of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) "The CFBCI has been very helpful on the economic front, supporting the government in its efforts to create jobs and strengthen the economy. You have activ ...
S.Korean parliament endorses special probe into hacking scandal 2012-02-09 15:33:53 SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean parliament on Thursday approved a bill allowing a special investigation into an election-day hacking of the national election watchdog's website. The bill, passed in a 183-9 vote in the 299-member parliament, will now require President Lee Myung-bak to appoint a prosecutor to reinvestigate the cyber attack on the National Election Commission's website on the day of October by-elections. The investigation will also look into a similar attack on the ...
Greek bailout talks end without settlement on pension cuts 2012-02-09 15:31:33 ATHENS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- After seven hours of negotiations, Greek leaders have agreed on almost all the austerity and reform measures in exchange for a bailout package. Yet one vital point remains unsettled, a statement from the prime minister's office said early Thursday. The unsettled point concerns pension cuts, and was left to the following discussions between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and the so-called troika of Greek's international lenders, namely the European Commission, the In ...
S. Korea's parliamentary speaker steps down over vote-buying allegations 2012-02-09 12:47:54 SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's parliamentary speaker Park Hee-tae announced his exit on Thursday amid allegations he attempted to bribe his way to the chairmanship of the ruling party in 2008. "I feel responsible for the problems involving myself and intend to resign," Park said in a statement read by parliamentary spokesman Han Jong-tae. "Please let me be held responsible when others are found to have been involved in the scandal," Park said in the statement. Park has been und ...
Tanzania signs pact to fight piracy with Mozambique and South Africa 2012-02-09 10:19:52 DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The governments of Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa have signed a tripartite pact to strengthen maritime security in Indian Ocean and fight piracy, local media reported on Wednesday. The inking of the agreement done by Tanzania Defense and National Service Minister Hussein Mwinyi and South African Defense Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, and Mozambican National Defense Minister Filipe Jacinto Nyussi was witnessed by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on Tuesday, ...
Egyptian PM says military rulers not to leave power until June 30 2012-02-09 10:18:34 CAIRO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal el- Ganzouri said Wednesday that the ruling military authorities will stay in power until June 30, despite the recent calls for an immediate power transfer. Ganzouri said that the new constitution and presidential elections will be completed before the date. He asked those who demand the military council cede power to remember what happened in Iraq, official MENA news agency reported. Meanwhile, the prime minister defended the move of ...
Abbas says reconciliation not contradict with Mideast peace 2012-02-09 10:16:02 RAMALLAH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday told U.S. peace envoy David Hale that there are no contradictions between the Palestinian reconciliation and peace with Israel. The state-run Wafa news agency quoted Abbas, who held talks in Ramallah with Hale, as saying that peace for the Palestinians is strategic and the internal Palestinian reconciliation is a national Palestinian need. The report said that Abbas reiterated to Hale that the Palestine Liberatio ...
Iranian diplomat warns of retaliatory strikes if U.S. attacks 2012-02-09 09:53:47 MOSCOW, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran has the potential to retaliate against U.S. forces anywhere in the world, the Iranian ambassador to Moscow said Wednesday. "The Americans know it very well what the country Iran is and what our potential is. Iran has a very good position to strike back at the U.S. everywhere in the world," Mahmoud Reza Sajjadi told reporters. He said an American attack on Iran would be "a huge mistake." Still, the ambassador said Teheran had no intention to launch first s ...
Turkey calls for int'l conference on Syrian crisis 2012-02-09 09:52:21 ANKARA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkey plans to convene an international conference with the participation regional players and world powers to solve the Syrian crisis, Turkish foreign minister said Wednesday. "Countries which are concerned with the situation in Syria have to find a solution. We are determined to establish a broad-based forum," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a televised interview. Turkey expects the international conference to take place as soon as possible wi ...
U.S. airports continues to enrich passenger experience 2012-02-09 10:09:59 &$By Joanna Law, Staff of People's Daily Online USA in New York.&$ While passengers are surfing the web in an airport using Wi-Fi, they no longer think this is a wonder. Frequent travelers have become so used to airports’ multifarious facilities that rarely would they come to realize how significant transformation the U.S. airports have undergone. The function of many U.S. airports has shifted: they no longer serve as a transient place only for transiting; they are a place where pass ...
Greek austerity talks end without deal 2012-02-09 09:28:44 ATHENS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The coalition government leaders of Greece concluded their meeting on Thursday without reaching an agreement on austerity measures, local media reported. The talks that lasted about eight hours ended short of the proposals of the "troika" creditors, namely the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the European Central Bank. ...
Experts warn of influenza A outbreak in Norway 2012-02-09 09:24:11 OSLO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Health experts warned on Wednesday that Norway is facing an outbreak of influenza A, which is caused by a new strain of virus known as H3N2. More and more people were visiting doctors in recent days, with complains of having flu-like symptoms, said researchers with Norway's Public Health Institute. Among all patients who saw their doctors last week, 1.4 percent was diagnosed with flu, with the cases of the influenza A occupying a dominating position, which indicate ...
Russia, U.S. agree to exchange information on ICBM launches 2012-02-09 09:19:02 MOSCOW, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the United States have signed an agreement about two-way exchange of information regarding strategic missiles launches, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said in a statement that the third session of the Russian-U.S. consultative commission on the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) was held in Geneva from Jan. 24 to Feb. 7. "The sides agreed the number of launches of the inter- continental ballistic missiles (ICBM) o ...
Merkel's party bloc wins strongest support since 2009: poll 2012-02-09 09:17:34 BERLIN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party bloc garnered the highest level of support since her second term in 2009, as voters applauded the country's outstanding economic performance and the government's handling of debt crisis, a poll showed Wednesday. The survey, conducted by the Forsa polling institute for Stern magazine, indicated that Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party CSU earned the support of 38 percent of voters, th ...
Russia denies deal with Iran over military cooperation 2012-02-09 09:15:51 MOSCOW, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Iran have not reached any deals regarding bilateral military-technical cooperation during the latest bilateral meeting on Wednesday, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. Rogozin's remarks refuted the words of Iranian Ambassador Mahmoud Reza Sajjadi, who, after meeting with Rogozin, said Wednesday that Moscow and Teheran have reached an agreement concerning resumption of their cooperation in the military sphere. "We, undoubtedly, had discu ...
SAS airlines report fourth consecutive full-year net loss in 2011 2012-02-09 09:14:40 STOCKHOLM, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Scandinavian airline group SAS on Wednesday reported its fourth consecutive full-year net loss in 2011, mainly due to its subsidiary Spanair's bankruptcy application. The net loss of the group amounted to 1.69 billion Swedish kronors (about 0.25 billion U.S. dollars) last year, according to its annual fiscal report. The SAS launched 22 new routes in 2011 and the number of passengers increased by 2 million, up by 7.8 percent compared with 2010, the reported sai ...
Russia cuts contracted natural gas supply to Ukraine: official 2012-02-09 09:12:22 KIEV, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A senior Ukrainian official said Wednesday that Russia has cut the contracted volume of natural gas shipments to the East European nation as bitter cold caused soaring domestic demand in Russia. "Extremely cold weather boosted demand for gas in Russia. Thus, against the contracted daily level of 510 cubic meters of gas, Ukraine gets 460 million cubic meters of gas from Russia," Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Boyko told reporters. Boyko said Ukraine took em ...
Chaos in Brazilian resort threatens Carnival festivities 2012-02-09 09:09:49 RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing unrest in Salvador, triggered by a police strike that already lasted nine days, is now threatening the Brazilian resort's world-renowned Carnival festivities. Salvador, located in the northeastern state of Bahia, is long known for its tropical allure, beautiful beaches and historic sites. Along with Rio, the city hosts the annual Carnival festivities, which start next week and last several days, during which a total of 500,000 tourists are expect ...
White House rejects Russia's call for dialogue in Syria 2012-02-09 09:08:49 WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- White House on Wednesday rejected Russia's recent call for negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition, saying the opportunity was not available anymore. "From the earlier days of this situation in Syria, there was an opportunity for the Assad regime to engage in dialogue with the opposition, with the Syrian people who were demanding peaceful transition," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. "Rather than take that opportunity, Assad brutally c ...
Nearly half of Obama donation from small donors: study 2012-02-09 09:06:06 WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- As the reelection campaign of U. S. President Barack Obama moves to court deep-pocketed donors, a new study released on Wednesday showed Obama's fundraising in 2011 is mainly driven by small donors, who gave him nearly half of the money he raised in the year. Obama received 48 percent of his total haul in 2011 from individual donors contributing an "aggregated .. 200 dollars or less," totaling 56.7 million, The Campaign Finance Institute said in a news release. ...
U.S., Japan agree to delink move of 8,000 marines from base relocation 2012-02-09 09:04:02 WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Japan on Wednesday agreed to delink the move of 8,000 marines from the Futenma base relocation, making a move towards resolving the thorny issue in relations between the two countries. Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said both sides have agreed to "delink the movement of Marines to Guam and resulting land returns south of (Kadena Air Base) from progress on the Futenma replacement facility." "By doing this, we can work the details ...
Mobile industry remains stagnant without Apple: data 2012-02-09 09:02:51 SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- New data released on Wednesday showed that excluding Apple, the mobile computing industry has remained flat for the past five years. According to data compiled by Morgan Keegan via technology news site AllThingsD, after the first iPhone was introduced in June 2007, the mobile industry revenue in the fourth quarter of 2007 was around 37.93 billion U.S. dollars. The revenue for the industry almost doubled in the same period last year, reaching 71. 4 billion dol ...
Amazon unveils streaming video deal with Viacom 2012-02-09 09:01:39 SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Amazon announced a license agreement deal with global media company Viacom on Wednesday, bracing up further to compete in the booming streaming video market. According to the company's press release, the deal with Viacom will allow Amazon Prime members to instantly stream TV shows from MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Spike, VH1, BET, CMT and Logo, increasing the total number of Amazon Prime Instant Videos to more than 15,000. The streaming will be ...
DPRK denounces U.S. 'strategy for supremacy' 2012-02-09 08:59:06 PYONGYANG, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. was accused of seeking to put the Asia-Pacific under its military control in a commentary issued by KCNA, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) official news agency, on Wednesday. According to the KCNA, the South Korea-based U.S. 8th Army's recent joint military maneuver in Japan was part of a "strategic flexibility" scenario aimed at maintaining and expanding U.S. military domination of the Asia-Pacific by using its forces in South Korea as ...
Pacific island countries holding workshop on Climate Change projects 2012-02-09 08:58:00 SUVA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The third and final series of the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) Workshop, that focuses on the coastal sector pilot demonstration projects, is underway in Apia, Samoa. The week-long training at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) brings representatives of the PACC project and other interested participants to help determine which climate change adaptation options they are implementing will confer ...
S. Korean speaker to announce resignation 2012-02-09 08:56:30 SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- South Korean National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae will announce resignation on Thursday, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency. ...
EU presses Philippine gov't, Muslim rebels to sign peace agreement 2012-02-09 08:55:19 MANILA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Union on Wednesday urged the Philippine government and Muslim rebels to sign a peace agreement to end the long-running conflict. EU envoys in Manila visited Cotobato to meet Philippine and rebel representatives and encourage them to intensify their negotiations "to reach a settlement at the earliest possible moment." "The EU believes that the timing is right for a decisive push towards an agreement and that such an opportunity must not be missed," an ...
Japan announces new policy on U.S. Marines transfer 2012-02-09 08:54:15 TOKYO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Japan and the United States have reached an agreement on transferring the U.S. Marines station to the U.S. territory of Guam from the southeast island of Okinawa, separated from the relocation plan of Futenma U.S. Marines airbase in Okinawa, the Japanese government said Wednesday. The two governments issued a joint communique later Wednesday, saying that the transfer of the U.S. Marines station will be the first step, and the plan of building a replacement facility o ...
New violence erupts in Maldives as ex-president takes to street 2012-02-09 08:52:53 COLOMBO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A new spate of violence erupted in Maldivian capital Male after former President Mohamed Nasheed, who was overthrown with an alleged mutiny on Tuesday, took to the streets along with thousands of his supporters. The police and army attacked the protesters who were shouting slogans against the newly appointed President Mohamed Waheed and complained that his taking office was illegal and undemocratic. At noon the supporters of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), tog ...
Communist Party of India (Marxist) urges caution in cutting free trade deal with EU 2012-02-09 08:51:15 NEW DELHI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M) Wednesday raised concern about a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU) as it could affect large numbers of people in India. The CPI-M also urged the government to discuss with representatives of all sectors in the country before deciding on such an agreement and ensure transparency and full information on the issue. "Before proceeding further, the CPI-M demands that the government sho ...
Francophone countries' parliamentarians gather in Cambodia to strengthen cooperation 2012-02-09 08:49:42 PHNOM PENH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Some 30 parliamentarians from 13 French-speaking countries met here on Wednesday for boosting friendship relations and cooperation. The 3-day meeting would discuss ways to enhance human rights respect, women and children rights, democracy, rule of law, drug combat, and HIV/AID fight. Also, it would talk about helping sustain the economic and social development of respective countries. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President of Cambodian National Assem ...
DPRK accuses Japan of 'ambition to grab Tok Islets' 2012-02-09 08:47:32 PYONGYANG, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) official news agency has denounced what it called Japan's ambition to grab the disputed Tok Islets east of the Korean Peninsula. According to a KCNA commentary published on Wednesday, Japanese authorities recently made reckless remarks about grabbing the Tok Islets, which was "a wanton infringement upon the sovereignty of the Korean nation and an action to provoke a war". The Tok Islets were part of the territ ...
S. Korea proposes talks with DPRK on preventing tree diseases 2012-02-09 08:45:47 SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea proposed Wednesday inter- Korean talks over preserving disease-threatened pine trees at ancient tombs in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), local media reported. Via a communication channel at the border village of Panmunjom, South Korea's Forest Service suggested holding a working-level meeting later this month, according to Yonhap News Agency. The DPRK authorities have yet to agree to such a meeting. The move comes after the DPRK as ...
Former Maldivian president says he was threatened to resign 2012-02-09 08:43:23 COLOMBO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed said on Wednesday that he was threatened to resign from the post of president by police force at gunpoint. "I was forced to resign at gunpoint and there were guns all around me. They said if I don't resign they would not hesitate to use arms," Nasheed told media after participating in a meeting for the 100th anniversary of his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). If the people wanted a change, they could have got democracy ...
U.S. outlines regulations to combat overseas tax evasion 2012-02-09 08:41:40 WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua)-- The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday announced proposed regulations to prevent Americans from dodging taxes through foreign accounts. The regulations implement a 2010 law enacted by U.S. Congress to fight offshore tax evasion. The law requires foreign financial institutions to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. tax collector, information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers, or by foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a ...
EU mulls new sanctions on Syria 2012-02-09 08:39:57 BRUSSELS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) was studying on new sanctions against Syria, said a senior EU official on Wednesday. The new sanctions which are expected to be adopted on the next EU foreign affairs council on February 27th includes asset freezing of the central bank of Syria, and import banning on noble metals, phosphate and oil, according to the official. "Phosphate is one of the natural resources of Syria, and 40 percent of Syrian precious metals are exported to Eur ...
Latest Greek debt negotiations reach stalemate 2012-02-09 08:38:20 PARIS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The second round of negotiations over a bailout package for Greece has become deadlocked over several key issues. In late October last year, EU leaders agreed to provide Greece with 130 billion euros (172.4 billion U.S. dollars) if it promised to implement more austerity measures. They also urged the private sector to accept debt writedowns on a voluntary basis. The Greek government then started talks with major stakeholders at home and abroad, namely major politi ...
Lavrov says Assad's fate shoube be decided by Syrians 2012-02-09 08:35:14 MOSCOW, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should be decided only by the Syrians. Lavrov, who just wrapped up a visit to Damascus, told a press conference that the Syrians should seek ways of national reconciliation themselves. "Any outcome of national dialogue should become the results of agreement between the Syrians themselves and should be acceptable to all the Syrians," Lavrov said. "It is neces ...
Annual Bicyrobot Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand 2012-02-09 08:35:27 &$
Greek party leaders agree in principle on debt deal to avert default 2012-02-09 08:18:03 ATHENS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Greek leaders have wrapped up a 7.5-hour talk and reached an agreement in principle on austerity and reform measures in exchange for a bailout package deemed vital to avert a potentially disastrous default next month, a statement from the prime minister's office said on early Thursday. "There was wide agreement on all the points of the program except for one issue that requires further talks with creditors," the statement said. It said the dialogue would continue ...
As GOP contest drags on, Obama big winner 2012-02-09 08:17:19 CHICAGO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Mitt Romney may continue to lead the Republican pack of presidential nominees, but as voters continue to resist his candidacy and fellow contenders vow to stay in the GOP race until late summer, one politician is beginning to rise above the rest: President Barack Obama. Romney's Republican rivals continue to plead their presidential cases to the American public. Their efforts to garner support overwhelmingly come at the expense of attacking Romney - the man favored ...
Peace returns after Maldives leader quits amid protests 2012-02-09 08:15:32 MALE, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Peace returned to the restive Maldives capital here late Tuesday after a morning of mounting protests forced Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected president, to resign. By afternoon, there was little indication of the political unrest, described by some people as a coup, according to Xinhua's correspondent in the city. Republic Square, the center of the protests, was calm again with locals interviewed saying they only knew of the morning's cla ...
Russia urges UN to continue seeking peaceful settlement to Syrian crisis 2012-02-09 08:12:58 MOSCOW, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council members should continue looking for coordinated approaches that would enable the Syrians themselves to resolve the crisis in the country, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday. According to the Kremlin press service, Medvedev made the remarks during his phone conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The president also said that Syrians should resolve the crisis themselves without external intervention. "The ...
Santorum wins Colorado caucuses, wraps up all three races 2012-02-08 16:31:06 WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum won the Colorado caucuses on Tuesday, the state's GOP announced. With wins in Missouri and Minnesota, he wrapped up all three races that took place on Tuesday. ...
West pushes for 'regime change' in Syria, further complicates crisis 2012-02-08 15:33:18 BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- During a UN Security Council meeting on Saturday, Russia and China vetoed a draft resolution on Syria, which urged President Bashar al-Assad to hand over his power. After the vote, French President Nicolas Sarkozy made a statement saying that France will seek further international support of the Arab initiative on Syria through setting up a liaison group. However, many international experts believed that forcing al-Assad to step down goes against both the UN Cha ...
Argentina seeks UN help to demilitarize Southern Atlantic 2012-02-08 15:29:42 BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Argentine President Cristina Fernandez on Tuesday accused Britain of militarizing the Southern Atlantic, vowing to ask the UN for help to remove British troops from the region. It is disturbing that Britain maintains a military presence in the waters around the Malvinas islands, known as the Falklands in Britain, Fernandez said, adding that the British deployment risks triggering war games in the region. She said her government would present once again its ...
Overview of old bazaar in downtown Tehran, Iran
2012-02-09 13:17:47 &$
Copyright 2006-2012 Feedage.com LLC
Privacy policy - Sitemap - Press - Terms of Service - Copyright information Contact Us - About Us - Feedage - Search Engine Consulting Language Detection Powered by  | |||||||||||||||||||
http://english.people.com.cn/rss/World.xml
