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North Korea envoy hands over China's Xi a note of peace

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:58:46 -0400

BEIJING - A senior North Korean envoy delivered a letter from his leader Kim Jong-un to Chinese President Xi Jinping and told him that Pyongyang was ready to take "positive action" to re-join stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks. The letter was handed over by envoy, Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae. Choe told Xi that North Korea is willing to take positive actions to solve problems ...

Myanmar visit to turn new page in history Japanese PM

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:50:01 -0400

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a message published in Myanmar official media here Saturday that his current official visit to Myanmar will bring Japan-Myanmar cooperation to even higher level and serve as an opportunity to lay down a foundation for turning a new page in history. Abe said he will exchange views with President U Thein Sein in the forthcoming meeting, expected to take ...

US aquarium showcases newly discovered species

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:50:01 -0400

Danny Muoz, a marine biologist at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, is part of the team behind an exhibit of more than a dozen newly discovered species for the facility's new Wonders of the Deep gallery. "To explore the oceans from where these little creatures come is important, because besides finding many food sources, there could be many medicines that humanity needs to eradicate ...

China planning to give private businesses larger role in economy

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:20:05 -0400

China is planning to give a larger role to private businesses and market forces in its economy. The move comes in a major policy shift intended to improve living conditions for the middle class and to make China a stronger competitor on the global stage. According to the New York Times, in a speech to party cadres, Chinese Prime Minister, Li Keqiang, said the central government would reduce the ...

China Pakistan vow to deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:20:03 -0400

Beijing, May 25 (Xinhua-ANI): China and Pakistan agreed to cement their strategic partnership and deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation in various areas, according to a joint statement issued Thursday during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to the South Asian country. In the statement, China reaffirms that its relationship with Pakistan is always a priority in its foreign policy and ...

Monkey teeth give clues on when Neanderthal baby was weaned

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:50:02 -0400

Researchers from the US and Australia have claimed that they can now use fossil teeth to calculate when a Neanderthal baby was weaned. The new technique is based in part on knowledge gained from studies of teeth from human infants and from monkeys at the California National Primate Research Center at the University of California, Davis. Using the new technique, the researchers concluded that ...

Ex-AFL chief warns CA of need of robust approach to anti-corruption

Sat, 25 May 2013 01:40:02 -0400

Former Australian Football League (AFL) chief executive Adrian Anderson has said that Cricket Australia (CA) and state cricket associations needed a robust national approach to anti-corruption. Stating that one global betting exchange turns over a billion dollars a year on Australian cricket, Anderson, who is conducting a review of CA's integrity and disciplinary systems, estimated that 60 per ...

Russia plans four spacecraft launches in 2014

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:00:01 -0400

Russia's Energia Rocket and Space Corporation will make four launches next year from the Pacific Ocean-based Odyssey platform under the Sea Launch programme, an official said. Corporation president Vitaly Lopota said that after 2014, Energia will be able to make five or more launches a year. Next year's launches will be the first since one of Sea Launch's Zenit vehicles carrying an Intelsat-27 ...

PM to undertake five-day visit to Japan Thailand from Monday

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:50:03 -0400

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undertake a five-day official visit to Japan and Thailand from Monday. He will first visit Japan from May 27 to May 29 and then visit Thailand on May 30 to 31. The focus of the visit to Japan is expected to be on strategic content and ways to expand bilateral energy and economic ties, while the visit to Bangkok will be aimed at signing a long awaited ...

North Koreas bid to return to n-talks welcomed by Moscow

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:50:01 -0400

Russia regards as a "positive development" reports that North Korea is willing to return to six-party talks on the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, a Russian diplomat said. China's Xinhua news agency and South Korea's Yonhap reported Friday that Choe Ryong Hae, a special envoy for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, met Chinese President Xi Jinping and reaffirmed that Pyongyang "is ready ...

Obama Urges Military to Stamp Out Sexual Assaults

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:15:03 -0400

U.S. President Barack Obama says sexual assaults in the U.S. military undermine trust in the armed forces. The president used a commencement speech at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland Friday to tackle recent reports of widespread sexual violence in the military. "Those who commit sexual assault are not only committing a crime, they threaten the trust and discipline that ...

Jumper kills 5-year-old in South Korea suicide

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:11:47 -0400

The old cliche about suicidal people being selfish just got some backing with the tragic death of a young girl. In a freak accident, a suicidal man in South Korea jumped to his death and landed on a 5-year-old. The man, 39, died ...

The love hunter goes on the prowl in China

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:09:40 -0400

But Gao isn't a street-snap photographer. His job involves searching out potential wives for some of China's richest bachelors. The 25-year-old is one of China's premier "love hunters," a new breed of matchmaker who differentiate themselves from the more conventional end of the trade. "It all matters -- the girl's looks, her figure, temperament, height and ...

Key step cleared to Switzerland-China free trade deal

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:09:35 -0400

BERNE, Switzerland -- Switzerland and China cleared the final hurdle Friday towards a landmark free-trade agreement, as Beijing seeks to underscore its growing global ties via deals with European ...

Lions all the more eager for victory in Australia after three defeats | Eddie Butler

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:27:54 -0400

Brian O'Driscoll scores for the British and Irish Lions in the first Test against Australia at the Gabba in 2001. Photograph: Darren England/Getty ...

Western Aid Finances Afghan Projects From Silly to Sublime

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:23:47 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan ...

New fighting in central Sudanese state

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:12:11 -0400

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - New fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and rebels in a central state where insurgents launched a major attack last month, both sides said on ...

Hezbollah chief promises victory in Syria conflict

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:00:09 -0400

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah delivers a broadcast speech during a rally commemorating 'Liberation Day,' which marks the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon in 2000, in Mashghara village, Bekaa valley, Lebanon on May 25, 2013. ...

South Korea aghast as more missiles fly

Sat, 25 May 2013 13:58:17 -0400

North Korea fired a sixth short-range missile into the East Sea on Monday, defying warnings from UN chief Ban Ki-moon and South Korea after a flurry of similar tests at the weekend. The latest firing was confirmed by the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said it was unclear if the North was testing guided missiles or rockets from multiple launchers. However, North Korea said Monday that ...

Antony says no miracles to resolve India-China disputes

Sat, 25 May 2013 13:31:09 -0400

Noting that a spirit of cooperation and competition prevailed between India and China, Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday said negotiations to resolve the disputes between the two will take their own time and he does not expect any "miracles"."It is cooperation and competition... naturally. Both are neighbours and we have to work together. There are many areas where our ...

Taiwan has new terms

Sat, 25 May 2013 13:30:40 -0400

TAIPEI--The government of Taiwan on Saturday imposed new conditions that would further delay the Philippines' investigation of the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Filipino coast guards three weeks ago. Amadeo R. Perez, chair of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco), the Philippines' de facto embassy in Taiwan, said previous problems had been solved and eight agents ...

Four scientists exposed to radiation in Japan lab mishap

Sat, 25 May 2013 13:18:09 -0400

An equipment malfunction at a Japanese research center exposed at least four scientists to radiation, regulators said Saturday. The researchers suffered internal radiation exposure when the output of a proton beam increased unexpectedly and vaporized part of a gold target, resulting in radioactive substances leaking from the controlled area, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency said. Investigators ...

China Switzerland sign free-trade pact

Sat, 25 May 2013 13:18:02 -0400

Switzerland and China have signed a free-trade agreement leaders of both nations called a historic achievement. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in Switzerland to sign the accord, said the trade pact "has huge meaning for global free-trade." "This free-trade deal is the first between China and a continental European economy, and the first with one of the 20 leading economies of the ...

Bollywood Reflects India-China Love-Hate

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:40:03 -0400

The film reflects not only prevailing nationalist sentiment, but also communist and revolutionary struggles across the globe. It refers to the 1937 plea by the Chinese Communist Party to Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian National Congress to assist in its struggle against ...

China pledges to step up partnership with Africa

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:36:56 -0400

/enpproperty--> BEIJING - Top legislator Zhang Dejiang said on Saturday that China is willing to work with African countries to advance the China-Africa new-type strategic partnership to a higher level. Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks at a reception held by the African Diplomatic Corps in China to mark the 50th founding ...

China premier criticises EU for telecom probe solar panel tax

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:36:29 -0400

China'sPremierLi Keqiang has slammed the European Union for plans to probe the country's telecom products and impose taxes on its solar panels, Chinese state media reported on ...

Pennsylvania native strives to fly from worlds wonders

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:33:54 -0400

Jon Potter didn't need to be asked twice. When a guard pointed to the top of the Bent Pyramid, Potter quickly climbed up through cracks in its limestone face. The 22-year-old Lawrenceville native carried the equipment of a small ...

Female suicide bomber injures 18 in southern Russia

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:30:53 -0400

Bombings have become common in Dagestan. On May 20th, four people died after two bombs exploded the regional capital of Makhachkala, where a suicide bomber struck on Saturday. (Abdula Magomedov/Associated ...

Saudi Arabia warns against Irans nuclear programme

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:29:57 -0400

Oracle Financial Services rallies on strong response for OFS The promoters had received bids for 17.34 million shares against 4.43 million shares offered for ...

North Korea fires sixth missile in three days

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:09:01 -0400

A North Korean soldier stands guard on the banks of Yalu River, near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, May 20, 2013.(Photo:Agencies) North Korea fired two short-range missiles on Monday, making six launches in three days, and it condemned South Korea for criticizing what it said were its legitimate military drills. South Korea's Defense Ministry ...

Tanzania says work on China-funded gas pipeline to continue

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:51:54 -0400

Sat May 25, 2013 11:51am EDT * Tanzania says disputed gas pipeline to be completed next year * Parliament approves budget with pipeline proposals * Govt says to reform state-run power utility By Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala DODOMA, May 25 (Reuters) - Tanzania will continue building a China-funded $1.2 billion gas pipeline from the south of the country to the commercial capital Dar es Salaam despite ...

In Malawi an NGO Saves Rural Dwellers from Waterborne Illnesses

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:48:33 -0400

CHIKHWAWA DISTRICT, MALAWI -- A few years ago, residents of Malawi's southern district of Chikhwawa were often stricken with diarrhea often caused by cholera, an illness spread by unclean drinking water from unprotected sources like wells and rivers. Today, the situation is under control, thanks to an international NGO that's drilling boreholes in the area for fresh drinking water and ...

Black Widow Suicide Bomber Wounds 12 in Russia

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:48:33 -0400

Police say the bomber detonated her explosives in the central square in Makhachkala, Dagestan's capital. At least two of the wounded are in critical ...

Africa celebrates progress and 50 years of unity

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:33:43 -0400

ADDIS ABABA (Ethiopia): African leaders on Saturday opened extravagant celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the African Union, with the continent's myriad problems set aside for a day to mark the progress that has been made. African Union chairman and Ethiopian Prime ...

Hostages taken by Islamists rescued Nigerian army

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:33:43 -0400

A handout picture released on May 25, 2013 by the Nigerian military shows members of the Nigerian defence headquarter team inspecting an alleged Boko Haram base in Kirenowa. Nigeria declared a state of emergency in three northeastern states on May 14 as it launched a military offensive to end Boko Haram's four-year insurgency. (Via ...

Japan to join TPP talks at next round in July

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:22:52 -0400

Up to 30 researchers are feared to have suffered internal radiation exposure after an experiment went awry at a Japan Atomic Energy Agency ...

Visiting Abe assures Myanmar of support from ‘whole of Japan’

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:22:49 -0400

Wholehearted support: Myanmar opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi meets with visiting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Yangon on Saturday. | ...

Hezbollah Syrian government forces push for advance in Qusair

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:22:48 -0400

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government forces and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah launched a fierce campaign to seize more rebel territory in the border town of Qusair on Saturday, sources on both sides of the conflict ...

Sato aiming to return Japan spikers to glory

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:22:40 -0400

Up to 30 researchers are feared to have suffered internal radiation exposure after an experiment went awry at a Japan Atomic Energy Agency ...

China will build tower taller than Burj Khalifa in 7 months

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:22:11 -0400

.' Moreover, this may happen as soon as this year. Chinese architects plan to construct a building taller even than Burj Khalifa's 828 meters. The name of this ambitious project is "Sky City." It will be located in China's Changsha and it will be really impressive in size. However, if constructed, the building will break Burj Khalifa's record with only 8 to 10 ...

11 dead as Philippine troops clash with militantsEleven people were killed in the southern Philippines on Saturday as troops clashed with a militant group blamed for the countrys deadliest terror attacks the military said.

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:10:47 -0400

Philippines on Saturday as troops clashed with a militant group blamed for the country's deadliest terror attacks, the military said. The fighting left seven Filipino marines dead and nine others wounded on the island of Jolo, ...

Clashes at Moscow gay rally 30 arrested

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:10:44 -0400

MOSCOW: Gay-rights campaigners and their opponents clashed at an unsanctioned rally in the Russian capital on Saturday, but a heavy police presence in Ukraine kept the two sides apart at that country's first-ever gay pride march. Russian police said they arrested at least 30 gay rights campaigners and Christian Orthodox vigilantes in Moscow. The campaigners tried to unfurl banners denouncing ...

Ukraine Gays Hold First March Protected by Police

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:49:23 -0400

KYIV -- About 100 Ukrainian gay rights activists held the country's first gay rally Saturday, helped by police who arrested 13 people for trying to break up the march. The activists walked for about 250 meters along Prospekt Peremohy (Victory Avenue) in the capital, Kyiv, while Orthodox Christian activists nearby chanted slogans denouncing them. "Ukraine is not America. Kyiv is ...

China S.Korea in Sudirman Cup badminton final

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:48:15 -0400

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Eight-time champions China reached their 10th consecutive Sudirman Cup badminton final on Saturday, seeing off Denmark in Kuala Lumpur and setting up a clash for the title with South Korea.Three-time champs South Korea reached their seventh Cup final when they defeated a spirited Thailand 3-1 in the other semi-final earlier in the day.Sunday's final will be the fourth ...

School bus catches fire in Pakistan 16 children killed

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:43:14 -0400

Islamabad, May 25/Nationalturk- In a tragic incident, a school bus caught fire in Pakistan's Gujarat city on Saturday, causing death of 16 school children and a teacher. Police said van, which was carrying school children of Rajayki, Chak Khagha and Mangowal villages to Jinnah Public School in Gujarat, about 112 kilometres (70 miles) north of the eastern city on Lahore, caught fire this ...

‘Abenomics’ boosting Japan’s economy

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:34:46 -0400

TOKYO - After years of grinding malaise, Japan suddenly has some of its bling back. A humbled Sony - once a titan of Japan Inc. - recently sprang back into the black for the first time in five years, courtesy of a plunging yen. Honda, another corporate icon, triumphantly announced a return to Formula One racing, rejoining an exclusive club of high-performance carmakers after having slunk away ...

For the first time Pakistan gives representation to a Sikh in Sindhs Zimmi welfare

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:11:39 -0400

AMRITSAR: For the first time a Sikh has been included in the Sindh Zimmi welfare committee, Pakistan to ensure development of Gurdwara's, the welfare of the Sikh community in Sindh along with equal distribution of funds provided by the ministry of minorities. ...

Philippine military on high alert for midterm election violence

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:09:37 -0400

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared on Friday the highest state of alert throughout the country to make smooth operation of coming Monday's national and local elections. "The red alert status is to ensure that all units in the AFP are prepared and are ready for the election this coming Monday," AFP spokesman Domingo Tutaan told a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo on ...

Bangladesh workers see possible survivor in rubble after 17 days

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:09:37 -0400

Rescuers work at the site of the eight-story Rana Plaza building that collapsed in Savar, near Dhaka, Thursday, May 9, 2013.(Photo:Agencies) Rescue workers in Bangladesh say they may have found a survivor buried amid the wreckage of a garment factory building that collapsed 17 days ago. Workers at the site had been clearing the rubble since the collapse April 24. More than 2,500 people were ...

Taiwan protests Philippine naval ships in disputed waters

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:46:31 -0400

Protesters hurl eggs at the Philippines representative office in Taipei, Taiwan and the Philippines are embroiled in a diplomatic row over the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine Coast Guard personnel earlier this month. -- PHOTO: ...

China Switzerland sign MOU on concluding FTA talks

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:39:45 -0400

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L, back) and Swiss President Ueli Maurer (R, back) attend a signing ceremony after their talks in Bern, Switzerland, May 24, 2013. Photo: Xinhua China and Switzerland here on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on concluding negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).The MOU was signed during a meeting between visiting Chinese Premier Li ...

US should help mediate territorial dispute between Taiwan and Philippines

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:39:39 -0400

China Seas region. The two countries reached a diplomatic impasse after a Taiwanese fisherman was shot dead on May 9 by the Philippine Coast Guard in waters claimed by both sides. Philippine President Benigno Aquino's personal apology was not accepted by Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who regarded it insincere for the lack of official representation and compensation. Taipei held naval ...

China-Switzerland FTA to benefit both sides

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:37:43 -0400

/enpproperty--> BEIJING - China and Switzerland on Friday announced the completion of talks concerning a new free trade agreement (FTA), the first to be signed between Beijing and continental Europe. A memorandum of understanding was signed during a meeting between visiting Premier Li Keqiang and Swiss President Ueli Maurer. The two sides also announced the establishment of a financial ...

China-Germany ties play leading role in China-EU ties

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:37:42 -0400

/enpproperty--> BERLIN - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is scheduled to start a visit to Germany on Saturday, the last stop of his first overseas trip after he took office. The fact that Germany is the the only European Union (EU) member included in Li's ongoing four-nation trip evinces the importance of China-Germany ties in the China-EU relationship, said Shi Mingde, China's ...

Landslide kills 7 in NW China

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:37:41 -0400

/enpproperty--> XI'AN - Seven people died and 12 others were injured after a landslide buried a dormitory building in Northwest China's Shaanxi province on Saturday morning, local authorities said. The landslide happened around 10 am in Cangcun Township of Huangling County, burying a two-story dormitory owned by a coal mine, according to the county's publicity bureau. The ...

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto who caused controversy for Japan sex slaves comments apologises for saying US military should visit brothels

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:28:38 -0400

One of Japan's leading politicans has apoligised for suggesting US servicemen should visit brothels in his prefecture - but stopped short of apologising for saying that wartime sex slaves were a necessary ...

Del Rosario urges China to to be ‘a responsible and positive force’

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:27:16 -0400

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines - Warning that escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) "could lead to conflict," Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario urged China at a foreign policy forum in Tokyo to act responsibly instead of resorting to aggression in the wake of its its rapid rise as an economic and military power in ...

Top team to visit China to discuss trade deficit

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:18:50 -0400

The government asked the Delhi High Court to initiate contempt proceedings against Idea Cellular, the chairman of the telco's parent company Kumar Mangalam Birla and five other top ...

British spies tried to recruit London killer

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:10:03 -0400

MI5 tried to recruit one of the two Islamists accused of butchering a soldier in London. Abu Nusaybah, who says he is a childhood friend of murder ...

Kerry US Working with AU to Reduce SudanSouth Sudan Violence

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:47:16 -0400

ADDIS ABABA -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he is working with the African Union to end violence along the border between Sudan and South Sudan. America’s top diplomat met separately with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Ethiopia. Kerry says Sudan and South Sudan "are in a very delicate place right now" and it ...

Obama Calls on Americans to Remember Military Families

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:47:15 -0400

As Americans observe Memorial Day weekend, U.S. President Barack Obama is calling on his fellow citizens to remember the men and women who have given their lives in service to the country, and to remember the military families who make sacrifices of their own. In his weekly address Saturday, Obama noted that members of the U.S. military often risk their lives without seeking the limelight or ...

Green phoenix rises from the ashes as Japan shifts its focus

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:45:18 -0400

The word "Fukushima" may be synonymous with nuclear meltdowns, ghost towns and contaminated rice fields. The north-east region of Japan, however, once famed for its green mountains and fresh vegetables, is in the midst of the most ambitious of rebranding projects: it is attempting to transform itself into a ...

7 Filipino marines 5 Abu Sayyaf militants killed in Sulu clash

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:43:09 -0400

Soldiers load the bodies of Filipino marines killed during a clash with Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu province south of the Philippine capital Manila. At least seven marines and four militants have been killed as the military launched an offensive against gunmen blamed for recent kidnappings and of trying to sabotage a road project in Sulu. -- PHOTO: ...

Tonga see off Japan

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:41:17 -0400

Tonga scored four tries on Saturday to beat Japan 27-17 in the opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup at Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium in Yokohama. Two early tries by Fetu'u Vainikolo and a kick by Fangatapu Apikotoa saw Tonga take a 12-0 lead. Takeshi Kizu ran in a try in the 20th minute to give the hosts some life but a try by Will Helu and a penalty and conversion by Apikotoa allowed ...

Japan PM vows all possible help for Myanmar economy

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:34:01 -0400

Japan's premier on Saturday pledged "all possible assistance" to kick-start Myanmar's ailing economy, hailing a major industrial zone near Yangon as a symbol of development for the impoverished ...

Search crews in Australia finding signs of missing Hamilton man

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:28:25 -0400

A Hamilton man who is lost in a mountainous region of Australia may be leaving behind clues for search crews to find, his family says. Australian officials are still searching for Prabhdeep Srawn, 25, who went missing in Australia's Snowy Mountains eleven days ago. According to his cousin Ruby Singh-Sahota, crews have found a water bottle that might be his. The bottle was found half full ...

Taiwan sets new condition for NBI team’s visit

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:24:51 -0400

Philippine special envoy Amadeo Perez (Center) AFP FILE PHOTO TAIPEI, Taiwan--Taiwanese authorities issued additional conditions on Saturday that could possibly delay further a trip here by a team from the National Bureau of Investigation to complete its investigation into the circumstances around the killing by the Philippine Coast Guard of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters off Batanes, ...

Ghaddafi thanks Germany Russia and China

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:08:19 -0400

Colonel Ghaddafi today in an interview thanked the governments of Germany, Russia and China for opposing a no-fly zone over Libya, promising new oil ...

Avian influenza kills one more person in China

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:06:00 -0400

Another fatal case caused by avian influenza H7N9 has been reported in China, the Committee on Health of Hunan Province said Wednesday. A 64-year-old woman died in the hospital of the city of Shaoyang in Central China. Thus, the number of deaths from the disease has reached people, whereas the number of people infected is left unchanged - 130. Reportedly, the deceased was the first patient in ...

China orders transparent handling of major accidents

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:05:56 -0400

China's central government has ordered increased transparency in the handling of major accidents and other items of public concern following a fatal high-speed train crash last month. The general offices of the State Council, or China's Cabinet, and the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee said in a circular issued on Tuesday that information on major emergencies and items ...

Last-four berths fixed China finish 15th

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:05:52 -0400

The men's water polo last-four berths were produced while hosts China finished 15th here on Tuesday evening at FINA World Championships. Hungary, Serbia, Croatia and Italy will vie for the final tickets on Wednesday. Hosts China greeted their first win at FINA worlds by beating South Africa 9-4 to take the 15th place among all the 16 participants. Tying on 7-7 after three periods, Beijing ...

Assault on Qusair Intensifies Ahead of Hezbollah Speech

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:43:41 -0400

Syrian anti-government activists say Syrian troops have launched the heaviest barrage of gunfire yet in a week-long battle to re-take the strategic town of Qusair from rebel ...

Easter Island statue erected in Japan tsunami town

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:42:07 -0400

TOKYO (AFP) - A giant statue from Chile's Easter Island on Saturday found a new home in a small tsunami-devastated Japanese town where it will become a symbol for its recovery.The new statue, with coral eyes and a stone hat, was erected near the town's shopping area, where makeshift stores now operate after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami destroyed almost the entire town.The ...

Japan mayor to apologise to US over brothels advice

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:41:57 -0400

TOKYO (AFP) - A Japanese politician who drew fire for calling "comfort women" a wartime necessity has been forced to apologise for suggesting US soldiers in Okinawa visit brothels to vent their violent frustrations.Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto had suggested that US servicemen in the southern prefecture of Okinawa, where relations are frequently tested by violent crimes including rapes and ...

English Woman Petitions Against Land Grab in China

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:40:46 -0400

Joanne Xu and Xu Shuai (Xu is the surname) are pictured in the article about their plight first published in Southern Metropolis Daily. The two have been caught in a Chinese land dispute involving corrupt officials, land grabs, and petitioning -- a path for seeking redress for official injustice in China. (Screenshot via The Epoch ...

Artist creates his own Japan in Switzerland

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:39:56 -0400

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang says a free trade accord with Switzerland should serve as an example for closer relations with other European countries. He believes a deal with the Swiss finance industry will also boost the economy in ...

Ex-sex slave says Japan mayors remark absurd

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:39:14 -0400

Kim said Saturday that anyone who makes such an "absurd comment" should quit politics. The 87-year-old and another victim, Kil Won-ok, were speaking to their supporters to share with them their painful past as so-called comfort ...

Seoul press doubtful over North Korea dialogue offer

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:33:26 -0400

SEOUL--South Korea’s press on Saturday expressed scepticism over an apparent offer by North Korea that it was willing to return to six-party nuclear disarmament talks. North Korean special envoy Choe Ryong-Hae met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and reportedly handed him a letter from leader Kim Jong-Un in a sign Pyongyang may be backing away from confrontation with the ...

Japanese government denies ghosts haunting PMs residence

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:33:16 -0400

Shinzo Abe and his wife moving into their official residence, the site of past assasinations, has revived talk of ghosts in the corridors, prompting the government to deny any knowledge of ...

South Korea edges Thailand to reach seventh Sudirman Cup final

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:30 -0400

Three-time champion South Korea defeated Thailand 3-1 here on Saturday to reach its seventh Sudirman Cup final.South Korea will meet the winner between defending champion China and Denmark, who will take on each other later Saturday.Thailand, making its debut in the world team badminton championships, lost to South Korea for the second time in five days.On Saturday, South Korean pair Ko Sung ...

Chinas pension insurance covers 486 mln people

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:25 -0400

China's urban and rural pension insurance program covered 486 million people as of the end of April, an official with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said Saturday.As many as 133 million elderly people are receiving monthly pensions, according to vice director of the ministry's rural pension department Liu Conglong.Over the past few years, the government has taken ...

Strong rain to relieve drought in parts of China

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:21 -0400

Strong rain will hit central and east China this Saturday and Sunday, easing drought in affected areas, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said Saturday. The rain will hit parts of Shanxi, Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi and Guangdong over the weekend, according to a CMA forecast. The rain will be very strong and some areas may see ...

Myanmar Japanese firms sign MoU on Thilawa SEZ development

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:14 -0400

Myanmar and Japanese firms on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on development of Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), in Myanmar's Yangon.The MoU on significant cooperation between nine Myanmar public companies and a Japanese consortium including -- Mitsubishi Corp., Marubeni Corp. and Sumitomo Corp which are engaging in the zone development, was signed between U Win Aung, ...

Thai PM says satisfied with Japan visit

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:11 -0400

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday said she was satisfied with her visit to Japan where she promoted investment opportunity to Japanese investors.On her "Yingluck government meets the People" weekly programme, the premier made remarks in her weekly-televised address regarding the four-day visit during which she held discussions with her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe ...

Philadelphia Soul Owners Taking Arena Football League To China

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:31:39 -0400

Arena Football League from the league. I sat down and chatted with Jaws (please see video at end of this post) this past Wednesday during a break at the Rothman ...

Model catches eyes at C. China auto show

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:29:39 -0400

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20 ancient tombs unearthed in SW China

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:29:33 -0400

/enpproperty--> CHONGQING - Twenty ancient tombs have been discovered near the Three Gorges Reservoir in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, archaeologists said Saturday. The tombs, which date back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC - AD 220), were discovered at the Ma'anshan Tomb Site on the bank of the Yangtze River in Fengdu County, according to the municipal cultural relics and ...

China claims second title under Langs charge

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:29:16 -0400

Hui Ruoqi,Guangzhou, Guangdong province,Shenzhen International Volleyball Tournament,Lang Ping,Cuba,,Iron Hammer,2013 China International Women's Volleyball ...

China edges through Indonesia to for Sudirman semifinals

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:29:15 -0400

China's Fu Haifeng (L) with partner Cai Yun plays a shot during their men's doubles match against Indonesia's Saputro Rian Agung and Pratama Angga at the quarterfinals of the Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championships in Kuala Lumpur, May 23, 2013. ...

Premier Lis visit will cement Pakistan-China ties

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:29:04 -0400

Premier Li Keqiang is congratulated by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari after being conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan honor, for the highest degree of service to Pakistan, in Islamabad on Wednesday. [Pang Xinglei/ ...

Sex Slave Row Mayors Japan Brothel Gaffe

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:21:51 -0400

A Japanese politician already under fire over comments about wartime sex slaves has apologised for suggesting US soldiers in Okinawa visit brothels. Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto claimed American servicemen should go to legal sex businesses in the southern prefecture to vent their violent frustrations and prevent sex assaults against local women. The remark has sparked disgust in the US and ...

At least four exposed to radiation after Japan laboratory leak agency

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:17:25 -0400

TOKYO (Reuters) - At least four people, and possibly up to 55, were exposed to radiation when radioactive material leaked during a laboratory experiment in Japan, the facility's operators said on Saturday, although authorities were not told of the leak for two ...

Japan government says unaware of ghosts at PM residence paper

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:46:57 -0400

TOKYO (Reuters) - A delay in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife moving into their official residence, the site of past assassinations, has revived talk of ghosts in the corridors, prompting the government to deny any knowledge of ...

Taiwans space programme offers tsunami satellite images to aid relief

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:39:36 -0400

Taiwan's national space programme offered Wednesday its satellite images of the damage caused by powerful tsunamis that ravaged Asia at the weekend to affected countries and aid groups for free.The National Space Programme Office (NSPO) normally charges 3,000 euros (4,080 dollars) for each photograph covering an area of 600 square kilometres (240 square miles), the office said.The images ...

Context Launches Kyoto and Tokyo Japan Walking Tours

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:38:52 -0400

Context, the critically acclaimed walking tour company whose small-group, scholar-led "walking seminars" have revolutionized day tours in cities across Europe and North America, announces its continued expansion into Asia with the opening of tours in Tokyo and Kyoto. Working with local historians, Context has opened with five innovative tours in each city, designed to help curious ...

Shanghai China To Extend Visa-Free Stays To 72 Hours

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:38:44 -0400

From January 1, 2013, Shanghai extends visa-free stays to 72 hours for passengers from 45 countries. The 45 countries covered by the 72-hour visa-free policy are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, ...

San Francisco Travel Association Announces New Marketing Representation In Japan

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:38:34 -0400

The San Francisco Travel Association, in partnership with San Francisco International Airport (SFO), has retained AVIAREPS Marketing Garden Ltd. (AMG) as their new marketing representation office in Japan. San Francisco Travel and SFO first retained representation services in Japan in 1987, making San Francisco one of the first cities in the U.S. to have an office in Tokyo. In 2000, a ...

Interactive Meet North Koreas first family

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:37:46 -0400

The North Korean dictatorship established by Kim Il Sung after World War II was taken over by his son Kim Jong Il in the 1990s. Now Kim Jong Il’s health is failing and a transfer of power appears imminent. Click here to learn about his heir-apparent, Kim Jung Un, and other members of the Kim family, who hold powerful positions throughout the North Korean ...

Mumbai case Trial of Pakistani suspects adjourned till June 1

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:33:32 -0400

Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, charged with involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks was today adjourned till June 1 as the government is yet to appoint a chief prosecutor to handle the case. The trial suffered a major setback when chief ...

Friend of suspect in London attack arrested after BBC interview

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:33:30 -0400

LONDON: Counter-terrorism police are questioning a friend of Michael Adebolajo, one of two men suspected of the savage killing of a British ...

Italy edges China 10-9 to get quarterfinal berth at FINA worlds

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:31:40 -0400

A slim lead over host China 10-9 ensured Italy a quarterfinal berth at Swimming Worlds women's water polo here on Thursday. China trailed 7-3 after first half and almost completed a fully comeback, which being held off by Italy at the crunch time in the final period. In Group B, Canada trounced New Zealand 11-4 to claim first after taking all three matches. Australia was second with 4 points ...

China snatches 18 swimming golds to spearhead Military World Games

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:31:37 -0400

Chinese swimmers maintained their momentum in swimming at the Military World Games on Wednesday, grabbing four more gold medals and obtaining 18 in total out of 36 available in the pool. After four days' competition at the Military World Games, which is set to close on July 24, Chinese military athletes altogether collected 18 golds from swimming and piled up 22 gold, leading the medals ...

British Embassy in China establishes countdown clock for London Olympics

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:31:22 -0400

British Embassy in China established a countdown clock at the ambassador's residence here on Wednesday to mark the one-year countdown to the 2012 London Olympic Games. "The final countdown will begin. An exciting year of outstanding sporting and cultural events in Britain will set the stage for the greatest (sport) show on earth next summer," said ambassador Sebastian Wood. Zuo ...

Japan never had smooth ties with China DPM Taro Aso

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:31:20 -0400

Taro Aso (File photo) Japan has never in the past 1,500 years had a smooth relationship with China, Japanese deputy prime minister Taro Aso was quoted Sunday as saying during a visit to India. "India shares a land border with China, and Japan has had maritime contacts (with China), but for the past 1,500 years and more there has never been a history when our relations with China went ...

Aquino apologizes for Taiwan fishermans death

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:31:18 -0400

Benigno Aquino III Philippine President Benigno Aquino apologized Wednesday for the killing by the Filipino coastguard of a Taiwanese fisherman, and appealed for calm amid deepening outrage in Taiwan, his spokesman said. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino had sent the chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, which handles relations with Taiwan, to the island to make ...

Japanese PM says to follow Murayamas speech on history reflection

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:31:18 -0400

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said here Wednesday that he and his cabinet will follow the statement made by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995 on Japan's reflection and apologies to war-related history. Abe made the remark during a parliamentary committee session and said that he never denied Japan's invasion and colonial occupation, adding Japan deeply regrets having ...

17 children and six policemen killed in Pakistan

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:10:44 -0400

ISLAMABAD: ISLAMABAD: At least 17 children and a female teacher were burnt to death when a gas cylinder fitted into a school van exploded on Saturday in Pakistan's eastern city of Gujrat. At least 10 more children also sustained injuries when the van caught fire. According to police officials, the children were aged between five and 15 years. Emergency teams reached the scene to rescue the ...

Blast in mosque kills 12 people in eastern Afghanistan

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:58:23 -0400

KABUL - Authorities in eastern Afghanistan say explosives transported by suspected Taliban fighters accidentally detonated while they were stopped at a mosque, killing 12 people. Local official Qasim Desewal said Saturday that four civilians and eight militants died in the blast during evening prayers the night before in Ghazni province's district of Andar. He said that the Taliban had ...

Baby-formula art Dissident on China food scandal

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:51:33 -0400

A map of China made from more than 1,800 cans of baby formula created by dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei highlights the controversy over raging demand for milk powder from Hong Kong in mainland China. Hong Kong has passed a draconian law to limit ...

Pakistan Van Accident Kills 15 Children and Teacher

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:32:10 -0400

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan ...

Japan PM visit boosts huge Myanmar industrial zone

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:31:51 -0400

YANGON (AFP) - Japan's premier on Saturday backed the development of a major industrial zone near Yangon on a visit to Myanmar aimed at deepening economic ties with the former junta-ruled nation.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe observed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Thilawa project on the first day of a trip promoting Japanese business in a country which desperately needs ...

Radiation leak at Japan lab small impact expected

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:21:59 -0400

TOKYO (AP) -- A nuclear research lab in northern Japan has reported a radiation leak that may have affected 55 people, though none were hospitalized and no impact was expected outside the ...

China plans to reduce states role in the economy

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:08:22 -0400

The country’s new prime minister, Li Keqiang, said this month that the central government would reduce the state’s role in economic ...

North Korea Puts Bright Face on China Visit Despite Tensions

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:54:24 -0400

BEIJING ...

Irish market opens up to China

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:34:58 -0400

The Irish funds market has opened its doors to Chinese investors in a move by the Irish Funds Industry Association (IFIA). The Irish financial regulator, IFSRA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding one Thursday 23 October with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), its Chinese counterparts. This will enable Chinese investors to ...

The Real News Network Chinas Top 1 Control 70 of Wealth

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:33:48 -0400

China's growing economic problems and dark political history left out of the Olympic spotlights August 15 - Minqi Li spoke with Paul Jay, Senior Editor at The Real News about the grim reality of China's economic situation in contrast to the spectacular display of the country's rich cultural history at the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony. The ceremony promoted a falsely ...

Japan leads at mens World Gymnastics Cships

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:31:42 -0400

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Russia's Evgeni Krylov fell on his opening tumbling pass and was injured at the World Gymnastics Championships, putting the perennial powerhouse's medal hopes in question. It wasn't immediately clear what Krylov's injury was or whether he'd be able to continue. He was unable to put any weight on his left foot and had to crawl off the podium. ...

Despite injuries inexperience China in second

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:31:42 -0400

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Another night like this, and the American men are golden. Rebounding from a rocky start, the United States finished with one dazzling routine after another. Not since the gold-rush days of the 1984 Olympics has the team looked this good, and the Arrowhead Pond was rocking with catcalls and chants of "U-S-A!, U-S-A!" The United States finished with ...

Final dress rehearsal before Cup for Australia NZ

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:31:37 -0400

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Reuters) -- World champion Australia and World Cup favorite New Zealand stages its final dress rehearsal ahead of rugby union's showcase event in the last match of the Tri-nations series Saturday. While the All Blacks have already won the Tri-nations, after three successive victories, much is at stake in Auckland with the Bledisloe Cup still up for grabs while a ...

Send money to India

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:31:36 -0400

Maruti's Swift Dzire overtook its sibling for the first time to become the country's second-highest sold car after Alto. We take a look at the entry-level sedans that are giving high-end hatchbacks a run for their ...

Rugby Three Australia forwards in doubt

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:31:34 -0400

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -- Australia forwards Toutai Kefu, Patricio Noriega and Glenn Panoho are doubtful for Saturday's Tri-nations test against New Zealand after failing to join in full training Tuesday because of leg injuries. Wallabies vice-captain Kefu, who suffered spinal concussion in Australia's 29-9 Tri-nations win over South Africa in Brisbane on August 2, is struggling to ...

9.0-Magnitude quake shakes Japan

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:33 -0400

An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale hit the sea off the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 8:05 a.m. Beijing Time Friday, according to the China Earthquake Networks ...

Abe says he never denied Japans invasion of China

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:32 -0400

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday he has never denied that Japan invaded China in the past, while indicating he will follow the 1995 statement issued by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama that apologized for Japan's wartime aggression in Asia, Kyodo News reports. Abe told a parliamentary committee session that Japan "deeply regrets having inflicted great damage and ...

4 dead many still trapped in Freeport Indonesias tunnel collapse

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:32 -0400

Four workers were killed while many others are still missing following the collapse of a mine tunnel of the local subsidiary of U.S. mining giant Freeport-McMoRan in eastern Indonesia's Papua Province early Tuesday, local press reported Wednesday. "Fourteen workers have been evacuated from the tunnel until Wednesday morning with four men dead,"Tito Karnavian, chief of the Papua ...

Obama photoshop published by South Korean news agency

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:31 -0400

Park Geun-hye shook hands with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.(Photo:Agencies) It seems to be what a South Korean news agency has done with an image of the President of South Korea meeting with the President of the United States that was published this week. Yonhap News published a photo claiming to show the pair's meeting at the White House, which actually happened, with the caption: ...

Indian bus plunges into river kills 38

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:31 -0400

Rescuers haul up a bus that plunged into the Beas River near Kullu, India, Wednesday, May 8, 2013.(Photo:Agencies) An official says a crowded bus plunged into a river and killed at least 38 people in a mountainous region in northern India on Wednesday. Sharab Negi, a district administrator, says 23 injured people, two of them in serious condition, have been rescued and taken to hospital. The ...

U.S. envoy on DPRK to visit ROK China Japan

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:30 -0400

The Obama administration is sending its special representative on Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) policy to the Republic of Korea (ROK), China and Japan next week, the State Department said Thursday. In his one-week visit to the three Asian countries starting Sunday, Glyn Davies will meet with senior government officials including his counterparts in the three governments, the ...

Philippine Coast Guard admits killing Taiwanese fisherman

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:30 -0400

The Philippine Coast Guard on Friday admitted responsibility for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman the day before, but said its personnel acted in self-defense when the foreign fishing vessel attempted to ram one of its ships. A report by Radio Station DZMM said PCG commandant Admiral Rodolfo Isorena has ordered a thorough investigation of the incident in which Taiwanese fisherman as Hung ...

China welcomes Canadian courts rule on Chinese fugitive

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:28 -0400

China on Friday welcomed the Canadian Federal Court's decision to uphold the deportation of Lai Changxing, one of China's most wanted fugitives.Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the remark in a statement posted on the ministry's website.Ma said Lai is the prime suspect in a smuggling case in the city of Xiamen and has been sought by law enforcement for several ...

China to make joint effort with Vietnam to advance bilateral relations FM

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:27 -0400

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (2nd R) meets with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem (2nd L) in Bali, Indonesia, July 21, 2011. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in Bali Thursday that China hopes to make joint effort with Vietnam to advance the bilateral relations on the right track. China and Vietnam have established a ...

China releases two more captive-bred giant pandas into the wild

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:27 -0400

Researchers at a giant panda breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province released two pregnant giant pandas into a semi-wild environment near the base on Thursday, as part of the base's efforts to help more captive-bred pandas adapt to the wild.The pandas, nicknamed "Ying Ying" and "Su Lin," were the second and third captive-bred pregnant pandas to be ...

China seeks shared development pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN FM

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:26 -0400

China strives for shared development and pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN countries to promote peace, stability and prosperity in East Asia, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the ASEAN Plus China Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Bali, Indonesia Thursday.Yang said this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN dialogue relationship and in the past 20 ...

China to use part of land sale revenues to boost education

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:24 -0400

China said on Tuesday that local governments should use 10 percent of their funds raised through land transfer fees to boost education spending.The Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Education said in a joint circular that local governments ranging from the provincial level to the county level must implement the new rule starting from Jan. 1.The money will be used to improve rural schools and ...

China Focus Students speech against education system causes sensation

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:23 -0400

NANJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- After making an impassioned speech attacking China's exam-oriented education system, a teenager from east China's Jiangsu province has found himself in the national spotlight.The speech, which has fuelled debate across the country last week, took place on April 9, when students and teachers at Qidong city's Huilong High School had gathered for a weekly ...

Fishermen mark open season of Songhua River in NE China

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:23 -0400

Performers and fishermen attend a festival to celebrate the open season of the Songhua River in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 15, 2012. As the open season of the Songhua River starts, some fishermen wore traditional clothes and joined in the celebrations in Harbin. The traditional celebrations of the open season date back to more than 1000 years ago. Local ...

Strong thunderstorm hits central China province

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:20 -0400

CHANGSHA, April 15 (Xinhua) -- A strong thunderstorm hit central China's Hunan Province on Sunday morning, grounding dozens of flights at the Huanghua International Airport in the provincial capital of Changsha.The provincial meteorological bureau issued an "orange" rainstorm alert Sunday morning, warning that cities of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Changde would see precipitation up to 50 ...

Chinas Communist Party requires officials to be loyal clean

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:19 -0400

The Communist Party of China (CPC) needs "loyal" and "clean" Party officials to serve at leading posts in prefecture-level cities in order to ensure good governance through the training of high-calibre leaders, according to a CPC order.Loyalty to the Party, capability to promote social harmony and abundant working experience at grass-roots communities should be the qualities ...

Storms hit Western Australias southwest

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:19 -0400

Wind gusts have torn roofing from houses, uprooted trees, and brought down power-lines as storms hit the southwest region of Western Australia (WA) overnight, local media reported on Thursday.The southwest town of Waroona in WA has been the worst hit with at least two houses losing large parts of their roofs and downed power-lines causing power cuts, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) ...

Chinas top political advisor starts official good-will visit to New Zealand

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:17 -0400

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, April 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin arrived in Christchurch of southern New Zealand Sunday morning for a 4-day official good-will visit, at the invitation of the government of New Zealand.This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand. The bilateral relations achieved ...

Surging China demand buoys US pork

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:17 -0400

US pork exports will jump 23 percent or more this year because of surging demand and prices in China, the world's top consumer, according to Brett Stuart, the co-founder of farm-industry researcher Global AgriTrends. "The tinder is set," Stuart said during a conference call organized by AgStar Financial Services Inc, an industry lender in Mankato, Minnesota. "All we need is a ...

Chinas CPI growth may fall to 4 pct by year end bank report

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:16 -0400

China's consumer prices will likely fall in the second half of the year, trimming growth of the consumer price index (CPI) to 4 percent by the year's end, the Bank of Communications said in a report Thursday. The bank forecast the rise of CPI, the main gauge of inflation, would be controlled at around 5.2 percent from a year earlier this year. The report attributed the weakening ...

U.S. not concerned about Chinas influence in L.America White House official

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:16 -0400

CARTAGENA, Colombia, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States is not concerned about China's growing influence in Latin America, a senior White House official said here Saturday."We're not concerned at all," Ben Rhodes, deputy national security advisor for strategic communications, said at a press briefing on the sidelines of the sixth Summit of the Americas."In fact, if ...

Heavy rainfalls to persist in south China

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:15 -0400

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The National Meteorological Center said Sunday that heavy rainfalls will hammer south China over the next three days.Regions south of the Yangtze River and south China will experience heavy rains from Sunday to Tuesday, with some areas seeing rainstorms, the center said in a statement on its website.Meanwhile, a cold front will hit Inner Mongolia autonomous region ...

China bullish about Canton Fair

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:13 -0400

China is "prudently optimistic" about the result of this week's 111th Session of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, the Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday, a forecast that augers well for increased foreign trade."We have a prudently optimistic expectation about the export deals during this Canton Fair. We estimate that the value of orders placed by ...

Four Japanese tourists seriously injured in Australia crash

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:12 -0400

Four tourists were seriously injured early on Thursday in a crash involving a minibus and a truck in Bundaberg, 220 miles north of Brisbane in Australia's Queensland, the Department of Community said.About 10 tourists, believed to be from Japan, were on the minibus when the crash happened, the Department of Community said."Four were taken to Bundaberg Hospital with serious head and ...

Six remain trapped in colliery flooding in central China

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:11 -0400

Rescuers prepare to conduct rescue mission after a coal mine was flooded in Shilong district of Pingdingshan city, central China's Henan province, April 15, 2012. At least five people were killed in the colliery flooding accident which occurred Saturday afternoon, local authorities said. The total number of workers underground is unknown.(Xinhua/Zhu ...

China allocates 27 bln yuan from land sales for water conservation

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:10 -0400

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China used 27 billion yuan (4.29 billion U.S. dollars) from land sales to build farmland water conservation projects in 2011, the Ministry of Water Resources said Saturday.Local authorities must set aside 10 percent of their revenues accrued from land sales for farmland water conservation projects, according to the central government's No. 1 document issued at ...

China to work with U.S. other parties on Syria foreign minister

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:10 -0400

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Friday that China is willing to cooperate closely with the relevant parties including the United States for an early political solution to the crisis in Syria.In a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Yang said China is willing to work with the international community and will continue to ...

China targets irregular staff recruitment arbitrary charges

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:29:08 -0400

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China has vowed greater efforts to redress malpractice in staff recruitment by government entities and arbitrary charges imposed upon the supply chain by retail giants.Ma Wen, supervision minister and head of the Office of Redressing Malpractices under the State Council, or the cabinet, made the remarks while announcing major tasks for rectifying irregularities ...

Kobe Steel mulls shutting blast furnace in western Japan -Nikkei

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:24:26 -0400

TOKYO | Sat May 25, 2013 4:24am EDT TOKYO May 25 (Reuters) - Kobe Steel Ltd is considering shutting a blast furnace in Kobe, western Japan, to cut production capacity by 20 percent, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday, as it tries to turn around its loss-making iron and steel business. Its iron and steel operations posted an ordinary loss of 50.2 billion yen ($496.1 million) ...

African Union celebrates 50th anniversary

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:02:17 -0400

AFRICAN leaders have opened celebrations for the 50th jubilee of the continental bloc, with Africa's myriad problems set aside for a day to mark the progress that has been made. African Union (AU) chairman and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, in a speech to open the ceremony on Saturday, said the celebrations would look forward to "create a continent free from poverty and ...

A bath and recreation center in Pyongyong to open

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:43:09 -0400

King Jong-un visits "Begonia" (photo/Agencies) "Begonia", a bath and recreation center based in Pyongyong is on its soft operation. Besides in Pyongyong, "Begonia" also has two branches, one in Beijing and the other in the ...

UN Cyclone Mahasen threatens 8.2 million people

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:43:09 -0400

An internally displaced Rohingya boy wraps himself with a sarong as he walks in rain at a makeshift camp for Rohingya people in Sittwe, northwestern Rakhine State, Myanmar, ahead of the arrival of Cyclone Mahasen, Tuesday, May 14, 2013.(Photo:Agencies) The U.N. says a cyclone churning through the Indian Ocean appears to have weakened but could still bring "life-threatening" conditions ...

For weeks killers hunted for soldiersA man has said he was on the brink of meeting the same fate as drummer Lee Rigby at the hands of the two killers weeks before the attack.

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:20:14 -0400

Woolwich killers , both British men of Nigerian origin, went out hunting for soldiers in weeks before the attack in the same area. According to 46-year-old Paul Ramsamy, the pair confronted him after apparently mistaking him for a soldier because he was wearing combat trousers and boots. The incident took place in Greenwich as Ramsamy walked home. The father of two said the ...

-RPT-UPDATE 1-U.S. audit regulator reaches deal with China on document access

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:20:00 -0400

* U.S.-China deal reached after years of negotiations * Deal will pave way for auditor enforcement actions * U.S. had been blocked from probing Chinese audit failures By Dena Aubin and Sarah N. Lynch NEW YORK, May 24 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators ...

Interview China-US economic ties and the SED mechanism

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:16 -0400

The recently concluded second round of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) was widely considered a success. It enhanced strategic mutual trust and smoothed communications between the two countries, providing a basis for talks on more substantial issues. The second round of the S&ED eased previous tensions between the two sides and created a favorable environment for ...

Interview The change of climate in China-EU economic and trade ties

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:15 -0400

Due to the impact of the global financial crisis, in the first half of 2009, Sino-EU trade dropped by 22.8 percent compared with the previous year. At the China-EU Business Summit held in Nanjing on November 30, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao noted that both sides should promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. On December 1, the EU's Treaty of Lisbon went on effect, giving ...

Chinas economy on track for gradual slowdown in H2 as govt reiterates policy stance

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:12 -0400

China's economy is expected to head toward a gradual slowdown in the second half of this year, as the central government has stated that it will retain its current mix of tightened economic policies.Top officials from the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee agreed at a Friday meeting that the country will stick to its proactive fiscal policies in the second half of this year, with ...

China appeals to WTO against U.S. duties on Chinese diamond saw blades

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:10 -0400

The Ministry of Commerce on Friday announced that the country has made an appeal to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to conduct a review of the zeroing measure used by the United States in slapping anti-dumping duties on diamond saw blades from China.According to a statement on the ministry's website, the country has made the request following its previous complaint to the WTO in February ...

China to continue improvement of investment environment official

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:09 -0400

China will continue to facilitate foreign investment and enhance the protection of intellectual property rights in efforts to improve the investment environment, a senior official said Wednesday. "Improving investment environment and protecting the legal rights of foreign investors are not only the government's promises but also what the government is doing," Yu Jianhua, assistant ...

IFC to continue investments in China

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:07 -0400

International Finance Corp (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group which focuses on the development of the private sector in emerging markets, plans to invest more than $500 million in China during its next fiscal year. The funds will be mainly used to support private enterprise in western China in the fields of renewable energy, rural finance and agribusiness, according to Karin Finkelston, the ...

Chinas FDI looks ready to set new record

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:06 -0400

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China looks like it's heading toward a new record and could exceed $106 billion this year, a senior Ministry of Commerce official said, underscoring global investors' confidence in the world's second-largest economy. From January to June, the nation's FDI surged by 18.4 percent year-on-year to $60.9 billion, according to the commerce ...

Chinas investment does not match status as Australias top trade partner

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:04 -0400

China's investment in Australia does not match her status as the nation's largest trade partner, said Duan Jielong, China's Consul-General in Sydney on Tuesday. In a speech to Australia China Business Council (ACBC), Duan said as more and more Chinese companies come to Australia to invest, there seems to be some concerns about Chinese investment being too much and growing too fast. ...

Expert Chinas 130 national languages still thriving

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:03 -0400

China's 130 national languages have still been inherited and continue to develop among 1.3 billion people despite the impact of globalization and regional economic development, said a linguist from an authoritative dialect research agency on July 10, 2011.According to statistics, there are more than 6,000 languages in the world, of which more than 2,500 languages are in an extremely critical ...

Chinas yuan hits record high of 6.4470 against USD Tuesday

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:18:00 -0400

The Chinese currency Renminbi, or the yuan, gained 33 basis points to 6.4470 per U.S. dollar on Tuesday, the highest since China started the exchange rate reform six years ago, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trading system. In China's foreign exchange spot market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 0.5 percent from the central parity rate each trading day. The central parity ...

Chinas H1 logistical expenses up 18.5 year-on-year

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:58 -0400

China's expenditures on logistical services totaled 3.7 trillion yuan (around 570 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2011, an increase of 18.5 percent year-on-year, statistics showed. The spending accounted for 18 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing and the China Logistics Information Center said in a report ...

Chinas industrial profits up 28.7 pct in H1

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:57 -0400

Profits for China's industrial businesses rose 28.7 percent year-on-year to 2.41 trillion yuan (374 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of this year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced Wednesday. The NBS figures showed that combined revenues for the country's industrial firms rose by 29.7 percent from a year earlier to reach 38.86 trillion yuan from January to June. ...

Chinas Lunar Exploration Program

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:53 -0400

China had collected all the data needed to draw its first full map of the moon surface and was almost done with the mapping work, Sun Jiadong, the chief designer of the country's Chang'e -1 lunar probe has ...

Opposition party demands Parks apology over spokesman sacking

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:50 -0400

The main opposition Democratic Part(DP) urged President Park Geun-hye Friday to publicly apologize over allegations that her spokesman had sexually assaulted a young woman in the United States earlier this week. The allegations emerged after Park's office announced earlier in the day that the president had fired her spokesman, Yoon Chang-jung, during her five-day official visit to the U.S. ...

China stocks plunge on US debt train crash

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:43 -0400

Chinese stocks tumbled Monday as investors sold off holdings increasingly worried about a possible default of government debt by the United States which is to bring the global economy back to a serious slowdown. Also, railway shares plunged after the weekend deadly high-speed train wrecking accident in East China's Zhejiang Province which has killed at least 36 people and injured more than ...

China calls for stronger coordination between peacekeeping peacemaking peacebuilding

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:41 -0400

In order to address new challenges, coordination between UN peacekeeping operation, peacemaking and peacebuilding efforts needs to be strengthened, Wang Min, deputy permanent representative of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations said here on Wednesday.Wang made the remarks when he addressed a UN Security Council's open meeting on UN peacekeeping operations.He pointed out that as ...

China announces enforcement regulations for amended personal income tax law

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:40 -0400

The State Council, or China's cabinet, on Wednesday announced new regulations designed to facilitate the enforcement of the country's new individual income tax law, which features an increased monthly tax exemption threshold.Premier Wen Jiabao signed a State Council order to approve the creation of the regulations, which are set to take effect on Sept. 1, 2011.The National People's ...

Vice premier urges all-out rescue efforts after deadly train collision in China

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:39 -0400

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang (C) presides over an meeting on relief work and investigation of the high-speed train crash in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 24, 2011. Zhang is leading a work team in Wenzhou to assist in relief work and conduct an investigation into the accident. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang on Sunday urged local authorities to ...

China refutes claims RMB undervalued

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:39 -0400

As of July 21 of 2011, the RMB exchange rate reform had been implemented for 10 years. On that day, the average exchange rate of the RMB against the U.S. dollar was 6.4536, which was a new record since China exchange rate reform started. Since 2005, the RMB has appreciated by almost 22 percent against the U.S. dollar. However, such a great RMB appreciation still has not satisfied the United ...

China seeks win-win development with Asia

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:39 -0400

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Residents in Hekou in southwest China can still recall its former days as a quiet, anonymous town that attracted few visitors from neighboring Vietnam for business or sightseeing.But major changes have hit the town in Yunnan province. With two roads and one rail line linking it with Vietnam, Hekou has become a bustling hub for Vietnamese visitors buying bargain ...

Central bank governor China always confident in euro

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:17:37 -0400

China welcomed European Union's agreement on the 109 billion euro bailout plan for Greece and has been confident of the stability of the euro zone and other member countries in the past, present or future, said Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of People's Bank of China on July 23 during an interview with Financial Times. Bailout plan helps bring financial stability After eight hours of ...

17 Children Dead in Pakistan School Bus Accidental Blast

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:56:32 -0400

A police officer in the city of Gujrat said the 17 victims burned to death when their bus caught fire in the blast. He said several other children were injured and hospitalized. Gujrat is about 200 kilometers southeast of the capital, ...

What China-Switzerland FTA brings about

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:45:43 -0400

China and Switzerland on Friday concluded their talks over a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), which will be the first between Beijing and continental Europe.The achievement was hailed as a "milestone" by political leaders and business community, while Swiss media described it as one of the most important international deals in 40 years for Switzerland.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, ...

Radioactive substances leak at lab after incident in Japan

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:45:38 -0400

Japanese nuclear authorities said Saturday that radioactive substances leaked from a nuclear physics laboratory of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency in Ibaraki prefecture after an incident on Thursday, local media reported.About 55 researchers and others who engaged in an experiment to generate particles by applying a proton beam to gold may have been exposed to radiation as a result of inhaling the ...