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Dalian Wanda Group to buy UK yacht maker and hotel property

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:45:23 -0400

LONDON - China's largest premier commercial property and entertainment conglomerate, Dalian Wanda Group Wednesday entered into 320million pounds definite acquisition deal with leading British yacht company, Sunseeker International Ltd, under which Wanda will acquire a majority shareholding of 91.81% in pre-eminent luxury motor yacht manufacturer. Under the agreement, the remaining 8.19% stake ...

Kim Jong-un on 'luxury yacht' in North Korea

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:35:12 -0400

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has used a luxury boat to tour the country's east coast amid indications that the 90-feet-long yacht may have been smuggled into the country in defiance of UN sanctions that bans importing of luxury items to the impoverished country. A website that tracks events in the reclusive state said the yacht, a Princess 95MY made by British-based ...

US Japan South Korea urge meaningful denuclearisation

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:20:02 -0400

The US, Japan and South Korea Wednesday called for "meaningful" steps on denuclearisation by Pyongyang in exchange for better ties with them, Xinhua reported. After their envoys concluded a trilateral meeting here on issues related to North Korea, the three countries said: "We agreed a path is open for the DPRK (North Korea) toward improved relations with the United States, Japan and the ROK ...

Beetles Housefly Larvae Show Great Potential for Animal Feed Sector

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:15:12 -0400

PARIS French start-up company Ynsect has identified a cheap, nourishing and locally produced alternative to soybeans as a vital source of protein in animal feed. The clue is in its name. Ynsect is not alone in looking to invertebrates to meet a jump in demand for meat and fish, and so for feed, in coming decades. Black soldier flies, common housefly larvae, silkworms and yellow ...

US Congressional Human-Rights Panel Condemns Sudan

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:15:07 -0400

CAPITOL HILL Members of a U.S. Congressional human-rights panel are calling on Sudan to stop alleged state-sponsored violence and abuses against civilians. The government is fighting rebel movements in the western Darfur region and two southern states, and stands accused of a long string of rights violations, including alleged "scorched earth" tactics against villages in Blue Nile State. At a ...

American Medical Association Obesity is a Disease

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:15:06 -0400

The largest U.S. doctors' group said obesity is a disease. The decision, announced this week by the American Medical Association at its annual meeting, could lead to increased funding for obesity research and help people obtain insurance coverage for treatment for obesity. The AMA said obesity requires a range of medical interventions for treatment and prevention. Most insurance companies ...

Tourism Protests Keep New Luxor Governor Away in Egypt

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:15:05 -0400

LUXOR A hardline Islamist appointed governor of Luxor stayed away from his new office on Wednesday as protesters barred access and demanded Egypt's president revoke a nomination they fear will hurt local tourism. Adel Mohamed al-Khayat, appointed by President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, is a member of al-Gamaa al-Islamiya, the movement accused of killing 58 foreign tourists ...

Africa Must First Tackle Poverty Says Ex-Malawi President

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:15:02 -0400

Malawi's former president says democracy and independence alone are not the ultimate answer to addressing the growing poverty levels in Africa. But Bakili Muluzi also says the democratic strides Malawi has achieved will remain meaningless if citizens continue to live in abject poverty. "Independence alone is not enough. Democracy alone is not enough People don't eat democracy,rdquo; ...

President Xi Obama summit was very successful China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:30:01 -0400

The first summit between President Xi Jingping and his US counterpart Barack Obama held earlier this month proved very successful, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday. During a telephonic conversation Wednesday with US Secretary of State John Kerry, the Chinese foreign minister also said that President Xi and Obama during the summit in California agreed to build a new model of ...

One killed 150 injured in China restaurant blasts

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:40:01 -0400

A series of blasts ripped through a restaurant in China's Shanxi province Wednesday night, killing one person and injuring over 150 others, officials said. The incident took place in a two-storey building housing the restaurant in Shuozhou city, Xinhua reported. Among the 156 injured, dozens are fire fighters who were at the scene when the final blast occurred. Three fire-fighting trucks were ...

China holds talks with North Korea

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:20:01 -0400

China and North Korea Wednesday held a "strategic dialogue" on denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui met his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye Gwan, and told him that it was in the interest of all parties concerned to realise denuclearisation on the peninsula, safeguard its peace and stability and resolve all relevant issues through dialogue and ...

US women in all combat units by 2016 Pentagon

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:50:02 -0400

American women will be fully integrated into frontline and special combat roles, including elite forces such as Army Rangers and Navy SEALs, by January 2016, the Pentagon has said. More than 200,000 women are in the active-duty military, representing about 14.5 percent of the overall force, according to Pentagon figures. Most serve in the army. While air force, army, navy, Marine and special ...

Over 8000 held for food crimes in China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:20:02 -0400

More than 8,200 people have been arrested in China since a crackdown on food safety crimes was launched in January, authorities said Wednesday. The ministry of public security said police uncovered more than 4,500 cases involving food safety offences and closed about 6,300 workshops and markets that produced or sold illegal food products. Police confiscated more than 150,000 illegal products, ...

Radioactive element found in groundwater near Japan n-plant

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:10:01 -0400

High levels of a toxic radioactive isotope have been found in groundwater near the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, the plant operator said Wednesday. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said tests showed Strontium-90 was present at 30 times the legal rate, BBC reported. The radioactive isotope tritium was also detected at elevated levels. The nuclear plant was crippled by ...

80 Sri Lankans held while trying to migrate to Australia

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:10:01 -0400

At least 80 Sri Lankans were detained by the navy Wednesday for attempting to illegally migrate to Australia, the navy said. The trawler in which the detainees were travelling was intercepted by the navy. They were handed over to police for investigation, Xinhua reported. On May 30, as many as 52 Sri Lankans were detained, and later handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department. The ...

Australian charged in attack on Indian restaurateur

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:50:01 -0400

Police in Australia charged a man Wednesday in connection with a vicious gang attack on the owner of an Indian restaurateur earlier this month. The 19-year-old man handed himself in to the police in connection with the attack on Himanshu Goyal, 22, while he was closing his restaurant in Bridge Mall at Ballarat in the Australian state of Victoria June 7, according to media reports. The eight ...

Cricket Australia rejects Channel Nine claims of influencing team selection

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:50:01 -0400

Cricket Australia has rejected claims by Channel 9 that it would influence team selection and scheduling as part of its new deal on TV rights. The channel's managing director Jeff Browne said that as part of the network's 400 million dollars deal for international cricket rights, he expected to have a say in both matters. But CA chief executive James Sutherland rejected the deal's impact, ...

Sri Lanka calls for Tamil refugees in Australia to return

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:30:01 -0400

Sri Lankan external affairs minister has asked the Tamil refugees in Australia who fled the nation's bloody civil war to come home. The Tamils had quietly slipped into Canberra for talks on combating people smugglers. According to the Age, G.L. Peiris said Sri Lanka was now in a perfectly stable condition, with an economic boom in the once devastated northern Tamil regions. He, however, warned ...

Smith to lead Australia A in Africa

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:40:01 -0400

Cricket Australia's (CA) National Selection Panel (NSP) Wednesday named a 15-man squad for Australia A's tour to Africa in July and August. All-rounder Steve Smith will lead the side, and right-hand bat Aaron Finch has been named as his deputy. The side will play three four-day matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa A in July before the tri-series involving South Africa A and India A in ...

Now a sign-language service via iPads

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:10:02 -0400

East Japan Railway Co. has started testing a sign-language interpretation service in Tokyo on Monday using a videophone application on an Apple iPad tablet for guiding hearing-impaired people. According to the Japan Times, the company earlier used written messages for guiding such people. Through this application, passengers at information booth can use sign-language to ask their queries to a ...

Nua Nan Bank JCB LOVE TSCC Debit Card to be launched in Taiwan in August

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:50:03 -0400

The Japan Credit Bureau (JCB), in collaboration with Hua Nan Bank, has announced that it will launch the Nua Nan Bank JCB LOVE TSCC Debit Card in Taiwan in August. It is the first debit card that has an option to be equipped with TSCC, a contactless payment service which can be used as a fare card on trains and buses. The debit card will also be accepted at some shops and restaurants. In ...

Japan registers trade deficit

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:10:02 -0400

Japan registered 993.9 billion yen of goods trade deficit in May, the government said Wednesday. Exports increased 10.1 percent from a year earlier, while imports rose 10 percent, the finance ministry said in a preliminary report. The figures were calculated on a customs-cleared basis, reported ...

Sex tape official stands trial in China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:50:01 -0400

The trial of a former official embroiled in a sex tape scandal opened Wednesday in a court in southwest China's Chongqing city. The Chongqing No.1 Intermediate People's Court will hear the case of Lei Zhengfu, former secretary of Chongqing's Beibei district committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Lei, who also stands accused of accepting bribes, was dismissed from his post and placed ...

Beckham travels to China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:20:02 -0400

Retired soccer champ David Beckham is in China to build enthusiasm for the game in the world's most populous country, where fans are pretty discouraged at the moment over the poor performance of their national team. The former England international, who became a goodwill ambassador for Chinese soccer earlier this year, arrived in Beijing Monday, two days after China's national squad suffered a ...

Australia A squad to add players from defeated Champions Trophy team

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:03 -0400

Cricket Australia (CA) will reportedly be sending certain players from the defeated ICC Champions Trophy squad to join Australia A to maximise preparation time for the Ashes. Following a disappointing pool-round exit from the Champions Trophy, Australia will use the extra time before the opening tour match to give some players time with the A team, who completed a 93-run first-class win over ...

Analysts Assess Impact of Military Attack on Iran

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:15:08 -0400

The United States and the European Union believe Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, but Tehran says its program is for peaceful, civilian purposes. The international community has been trying for years to persuade Iran to end its uranium-enrichment program, but to no avail. Low-enriched uranium can be used for civilian nuclear-power plants, but highly enriched uranium is an ...

Li Na enters second round at Eastbourne

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:10:01 -0400

Second seed Li Na of China defeated French woman Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-4 to reach the second round of the Aegon International here. Li, French Open champion two years ago but beaten in the second round at Roland Garros earlier this month, will next take on former champion Marion Bartoli of France, reports Xinhua. Fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki, the former World No.1, led Tamira Paszek 6-2, 2-2 ...

Sopranos Actor James Gandolfini Dead at 51

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:32:45 -0400

LOS ANGELES -- James Gandolfini, the burly actor best known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of a conflicted New Jersey mob boss in the acclaimed HBO cable television series "The Sopranos," died on Wednesday while vacationing in Rome, the network said. Gandolfini, 51, who began his career in theater in New York, making his Broadway debut in a 1992 revival of "A Streetcar Named ...

Human Rights Film Fest Highlights Abuses Conflicts in US and Abroad

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:32:43 -0400

NEW YORK -- Ninety-nine Percent--The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film, a portrait of the protest movement that began in 2011 in New York’s financial district, is one of the more unusual of 20 new offerings at this year’s Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York. It was shot by teams around the United States, and anyone who wanted to participate could do so. "We thought ...

Pro-Pac Packaging buys Eco Food Pack Australia

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:24:08 -0400

National packaging group, Pro-Pac Packaging, has acquired Eco Food Pack Australia, which develops and sells food packaging trays for fresh meat, seafood and ...

Chinas Li Na reaches last eight without play

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:20:57 -0400

China's Li Na advanced to the quarter-finals of the Eastbourne International tennis tournament on Wednesday as her French opponent Marion Bartoli pulled out due to a viral infection.Li, the second seed, was told by her coach 10 minutes before the match kicked off.Bartoli, ranked 15th in the world and the 2011 champion, said in a statement, "I'm really disappointed to have to ...

China beat Australia 69-64 in womens basketball friendly

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:20:56 -0400

Chinese women's basketball team resisted the challenge from their Australian counterpart to hold off the latter 69-64 in Game 1 of Sino- Australian Women's International Basketball Challenge here on Wednesday.About 2,000 fans crowded into Wuyang Coal Mine Sports Center to support Chinese girls. After almost-one-month training in Europe, Chinese team coach Tom Maher called 29-year-old ...

China launches Wushu Carnival for diplomats

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:20:55 -0400

Wushu has opened its arms to the foreign diplomats as the Wushu Carnival with the Diplomatic Corp in China kicked off here at the China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) on Wednesday.Ambassadors, officials and staffs at the foreign embassies in Beijing may join the Wushu class every Sunday afternoon at CFAU, learning Tai-chi, Bagua, Shaolin...etc.The three-month Wushu Carnival will end on late ...

Sudanese president receives Chinas representative on African

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:20:45 -0400

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday received the Chinese government's representative on African affairs Zhong Jianhua.According to a statement by the Chinese embassy in Khartoum, during the talks, the two sides exchanged view points on bilateral relations and the situations between Sudan and South Sudan.Also on Wednesday, Zhong held talks with Sudanese Presidential Assistant Nafie ...

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says There Is No Alternative to Abenomics

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:20:40 -0400

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe picked up on one of the key economic philosophies of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher at a speech in the heart of London's financial district Wednesday night when he said "there was no alternative" to his Abenomics approach to rebuilding Japan's economy.Abe was in London as the final part of his visit to Britain for the G8 ...

Virgin Australia new route airport agreement

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:19:29 -0400

Virgin Australia has announced a new service between Melbourne and Hamilton Island, while partnering with Brisbane Airport to support the development of necessary infrastructure. Virgin Australia will operate its Boeing 737-800 aircraft between Melbourne and Hamilton Island from 15 August 2013; the first airline to offer business class on this route since 2004. "Melbourne to Hamilton ...

China Vietnam establish fishery hotline

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:17:15 -0400

Agricultural authorities from Beijing and Hanoi agreed on Wednesday to establish a fishery emergency hotline, as the leaders of the two countries vowed to prevent disputes from derailing ties. On his first official trip to China, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and President Xi Jinping also witnessed the signing of another nine agreements in areas including defence, economy and public ...

DHL setting its sights on Chinas western regions

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:16:06 -0400

tsche Post DHL, one of the first foreign courier companies to enter China, will tailor its services for the country's booming western regions, a top company executive said on Tuesday. A growing number of enterprises are relocating to these regions to better manage costs and increase efficiency. The company, with headquarters in Bonn, Germany, will provide a range of solutions, including ...

Japanese exports rise to US and China as the currency tumbles

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:12:42 -0400

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "shock and awe" tactics to revive the world's third biggest economy paid off in May with the biggest rise in exports since ...

Italy rallies to beat Japan advances to semis

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:11:57 -0400

Italy rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat Japan and countryman Alberto Zaccheroni 4-3 Wednesday, earning a spot in the Confederations Cup semifinals. First-half substitute Sebastian Giovinco scored the winner in the 86th minute of an entertaining match at the Arena Pernambuco, pounding home a cross from Claudio Marchisio. After a dismal start for the Azzurri that saw Japan score twice in ...

Australia stocks hit as Fed talks slower stimulus

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:04:18 -0400

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks fell early Thursday, declining after Wall Street slid following indication from the U.S. Federal Reserve ...

Japan stocks drop after Fed some auto shares rise

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:04:17 -0400

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks fell early Thursday after the Federal Reserve signaled an intention to scale down its bond purchases, although a weakened yen helped support the market. The Nikkei Stock ...

Kobe Bryant Statue in China Sets Twitter Abuzz

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:03:01 -0400

L.A. Lakers Player Beats Strange Defamation Claim Over TMZ-Related Tweet Outside the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts' Sculpture Museum stands the seemingly misplaced statue of Bryant, dressed in his Lakers uniform with a basketball under his ...

Italy vs Japan Live Stream Free Soccer Watch Online Confederations Cup 2013 Football

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:02:01 -0400

Italy vs Japan in the Confederations Cup 2013 soccer tournament takes place on Wednesday night with Japan needing to get some points to keep their hopes alive of getting out of the group stages of the competition. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. ET and can be watched online through free live stream (details ...

Asian mkts fall on Bernanke comments China data eyed

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:59:29 -0400

US stocks tumbled more than 1 per cent on Wednesday and benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield surged 17 basis points to 2.355 per cent, its highest in 15 months, while the dollar advanced broadly on the back of rising yields. Bernanke said on Wednesday the US economy is expanding strongly enough for the Fed to begin slowing the pace of its $85 billion monthly purchases of Treasuries and ...

Slavery US gives bad marks to China and Russia in its annual report

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:52:22 -0400

The State Department report on slavery notes that more countries are prosecuting traffickers and providing services to rescued victims. But China and Russia are failing to make progress, the US ...

More From Mad Mad World

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:50:35 -0400

"Happy Birthday to You," the ditty sung around the world in tribute to everyone from toddlers to centenarians, belongs to the public, according to a lawsuit filed ...

Former Investigators Want New Probe of 1996 TWA Crash

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:27:12 -0400

Six former investigators want the U.S. government to reopen its probe of the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800. The plane went down shortly after takeoff from New York City, killing all 230 people on ...

US Criticizes China Russia in Fight Against Human Trafficking

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:27:11 -0400

The United States has declared China and Russia among the worst countries in fighting human trafficking, a designation that could lead to sanctions against both nations. In its annual report on human trafficking released Wednesday, the U.S. State Department downgraded China and Russia, along with Uzbekistan, to the lowest possible U.S. rating, known as Tier Three. Iran, North Korea, Cuba, ...

Numbers at 18-Year High as UN Observes World Refugee Day

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:27:11 -0400

LONDON -- Thursday is World Refugee Day - and the United Nations says the number of refugees worldwide is at its highest in 18 years, at over 45 million people. The Syrian conflict is a major driver behind the increase. Four-year-old Shahad laughs and jokes with her older sister in their makeshift home. She appears a happy, young girl; but the scars and burn marks on her smiling face tell the ...

Protests Continue in Turkey But Methods Changing

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:27:11 -0400

ISTANBUL -- Anti-government protests continue in Turkey, but the methods have changed. The two weeks of clashes in which four people died and about 5,000 were injured drew increasing numbers of supporters. Istanbul's Taksim Square. These "standing man" protests, as they are called, began Monday after the government quashed mass demonstrations, which it said were fomenting ...

NY City University Immigration Program a Success

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:27:10 -0400

NEW YORK -- While the United States Congress continues to wrestle with an immigration reform bill, every day more people become American citizens. In fact, last year the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service swore in almost 700,000 new citizens, including 84,000 in New York State. The immigration bill is the big issue on the minds of those seeking information about citizenship. The ...

Former Hungarian PM Who Breached Iron Curtain Dies at 80

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:27:10 -0400

Former Hungarian prime minister Gyula Horn, who played a key role in ending communism in eastern Europe, has died in Budapest after a long illness. He was ...

Chinese students eye Australia to learn

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:23:20 -0400

Educators in Australia can expect a surge of Chinese students over the next decade, a new survey has found.An HSBC survey conducted by Nielson found that although only 10 per cent of Chinese respondents are studying abroad today, this is expected to jump to 68 per cent in the next five to 10 years.The survey of 1000 mainland Chinese respondents showed that of those with overseas education ...

Japan May Trade Deficit Y993.9 Billion

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:22:07 -0400

Japan posted a merchandise trade deficit of 993.916 billion yen in May, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday - slipping into the red for the 10th consecutive month.The headline figure beat forecasts for a shortfall of 1.22 trillion yen following the downwardly revised deficit of 881.9 billion yen (originally 879.9 trillion yen) in April.Exports surged 10.1 percent on year to 5.767 trillion ...

Photos Stan Lees comic book convention and new superheroes for China India

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:18:25 -0400

Jamaal Hardy, left, and Gus Hardy pose with characters Ross Johnson, dressed as Wolverine, and Daniel Castro, dressed as Iron Man, at the Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con at the South Point Saturday, June 15, ...

Japan watchdog formally OKs new safety requirements at nuke plants paves way for resumption

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:16:35 -0400

Japan’s nuclear watchdog has formally approved new safety requirements for atomic plants, paving the way for the reopening of facilities shut down since the Fukushima disaster. The new requirements approved Wednesday by the Nuclear Regulation Authority will take effect on July 8, when operators will be able to apply for inspections. If plants pass inspection, they can reopen. All but ...

Italy edge Japan in thriller to reach semis

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:15:02 -0400

Italy started the second half as they ended the first. Giaccherini did well to keep the ball in on the byline, to the left, and fired the ball across goal towards Balotelli. It did not reach the AC Milan forward ...

Pumping up power of consumption Chinas solution or pitfall

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:13:17 -0400

Top economist sounds alert on overspending, report Andrew Moody and Lyu Chang in Beijing. Does China need to consume more? Despite the Chinese being famous across the world for snapping up luxury goods, household consumption as a share of GDP was 37.7 percent in 2011, according to the latest World Bank figures. That is far below the 65 to 75 percent in European countries and the United States. ...

Daimler creates dedicated China sales operation at Stuttgart HQ

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:12:53 -0400

German automobile giant Daimler AG, which owns the Mercedes-Benz car brand, has established a special sales unit in its Stuttgart headquarters dedicated to growing vehicle sales in China, amid a slowdown in China's luxury car market. The move comes after it integrated all sales activities for imported and locally produced passenger cars, under the umbrella of Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales ...

China seeks to boost share of satellite market

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:12:51 -0400

/enpproperty--> China is actively exploring commercial opportunities to boost its share of the global satellite-launching market, in an attempt to challenge US and European dominance of this field. China Great Wall Industry Corp, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, is using this year's Paris Air Show to showcase its next generation of heavy-lifting rocket, the ...

Iran cancels local drilling rigs deal to buy from China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:11:14 -0400

The North Drilling Company of Iran has cancelled contracts with local manufacturers and signed a contract with Chinese manufacturers to build 14 onshore and offshore drilling rigs, Mehr news has reported. Chinese financiers will secure 80% of the required fund for manufacturing the rigs, said NDC managing director Hedayatollah Khademi. The rigs are expected to be delivered within the next two ...

Unwanted visitor from west hops into South Australia

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:10:52 -0400

Streaky Bay 5680 An unwanted visitor from the west has prompted environmental concern on Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.Authorities believe spotted-thighed frogs reached SA by road, in someone's vehicle.They are becoming established in the Streaky Bay area and a recent sighting was reported at Port Lincoln.Ecologist Greg Kerr said there was a danger the frogs might displace other ...

U.S. Accuses 3 Countries of Abetting Human Trafficking

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:10:34 -0400

WASHINGTON ...

James Gandolfini star of The Sopranos dead in Italy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:10:02 -0400

Actor James Gandolfini, best known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of a conflicted New Jersey mob boss in the acclaimed HBO cable television series "The Sopranos," has died while vacationing in Rome, the network said on ...

Australia’s dreaded cost of living – manacle or myth | George Negus

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:58:35 -0400

Tony Abbott is keen to lower the cost of living faced by ordinary families. But there is a significant difference between cost of living and cost of ...

China and Russia’s Human Trafficking Leads to Sanctions

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:20:06 -0400

Playing cards showing details of missing children are displayed in 2007 in Beijing, China. The cards showing photographs and information of 27 missing children were created by Shen Hao, the founder of a missing persons website to be handed out in areas notorious for child trafficking. China has just been put on a list of countries of serious concern for human trafficking. (China Photos/Getty ...

Australia shares seen down after Fed comments eyes on China PMI

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:19:27 -0400

SYDNEY, June 20 (Reuters) - Australian shares are expected to drop on Thursday, following Wall Street's lead after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. central bank could begin to scale back its stimulus measures later this year. Investors will also focus on the China HSBC flash PMI for June, due at 0145 GMT, for signals on momentum in Asia's biggest economy after its ...

Buddhist Monks Form Badminton Team in China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:16:50 -0400

Beijing, Jun 19 (Prensa Latina) Monks of the ancient Buddhist temple Lingyin, a sanctuary in the province of Zhejiang, a place where those who seek spiritual peace go on a pilgrimage, made up the only formal badminton team in the religious circles in China. According to reports published today in Beijing, its members have been awarded in different competitions and reached the third position the ...

What World Cup qualification means for Australia

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:11:20 -0400

Australia . For Asia, the top two teams in each group automatically qualify. Australia sat equal third with Oman on six points, one point behind second-placed Jordan and seven points behind its greatest Asian rival, Japan. Although Australia and Iraq had a game in hand, such was the confidence level that Football Federation Australia CEO, David Gallop, went on the offensive by declaring that ...

China less likely to release property curbs

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:08:55 -0400

BEIJING - The government is not likely to release new tightening policies in the short-term to curb property prices, JP Morgan's chief China economist Zhu Haibin said Wednesday. He said that given the faltering economic recovery and varied regional conditions, the possibility for the central government to release new tightening policies targeting the property market remains low. It is more ...

Intl trade fair closes in NE China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:08:55 -0400

Heilongjiang province, with major contracts being signed. About $14 billion worth of foreign-related contracts and 587 domestic projects valued at 250.9 billion yuan ($40.9 billion) were signed during the five-day fair, according to the fair's organizing committee. Import and export contracts amounted to about $11.4 billion. Export trade deals mainly covered clothes, textiles, equipment ...

Moodys warns on Chinas local govt debt

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:08:54 -0400

Local government debt poses a key risk for Chinese banks, Moody's said Wednesday, the latest warning amid growing jitters of financial risks in the world's second largest economy. The rating agency said in a report that many local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) have seen their cash flow stagnate or decline, while their debt levels have risen. Among 388 ...

Death of Dolphin in China Sparks Outrage—and Questions

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:58:38 -0400

The death of a dolphin in China that was photographed with beachgoers handling it shortly beforehand has sparked outrage on the country's social media ...

US condemns China Russia and Uzbekistan for human trafficking

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:53:00 -0400

Uzbeks work in fields outside Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which has been criticised for 'subjecting its citizens to forced labour'. Photograph: Denis Sinyakov/AFP/Getty ...

FBI says it uses surveillance drones on U.S. soil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:52:08 -0400

FBI Director Robert Mueller gestures at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee at an oversight hearing about the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 19, ...

Thailand Skal visits South Korea

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:51:35 -0400

Skal International (SI) National President for Thailand, Mr. Andrew J. Wood, recently visited Seoul and took the opportunity to meet executives of SI Korea. South Korea successfully hosted the Skal Asian Area Congress in 2009 and the Skal World Congress in 2012. South Korea has 2 Skal Clubs - Incheon and Seoul. Skal International will hold its 74th World Congress in New York this year from ...

FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap Australia Iran South Korea qualify

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:46:10 -0400

Australia, Iran and South Korea secured their places at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in the last round of AFC qualifying on Tuesday. Iran secured their fourth finals appearance thanks to a 1-0 win over South Korea in Ulsan. Ahead of the game, each team knew a win would secure their place in Brazil, with Uzbekistan hoping to overtake the losers. With the Koreans going into the game a point clear, a ...

Chinese man gets 12 years for $100m s...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:38:32 -0400

A Chinese national was ordered to serve 12 years in a U.S. prison for selling more than $100 million worth of software pirated from American companies, including Agilent Technologies Inc. (A), from his home in China. Xiang Li, 36, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, after pleading guilty to copyright and wire fraud conspiracy charges in connection with software ...

Japan finds its land in China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:38:24 -0400

For decades, China and Japan have not been able to settle the dispute on the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku). Both countries consider the islands their own territory and find various historical reasons to prove their rightness. Numerous talks and meetings were conducted at the highest level, but the issue remains unresolved. A month ago, the territorial dispute flared up again. What can it lead ...

Brazil officials reverse subway bus fare hike

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:07:30 -0400

A demonstrator holds up a Brazilian flag in front of a group of protestors gathered in the main plaza of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Some of the biggest demonstrations since the end of Brazil's 1964-85 dictatorship have broke out across this continent-sized country, uniting multitudes frustrated by poor transportation, health services, education and security despite a heavy ...

OConnor to start for Australia

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:06:08 -0400

Australia have picked James O'Connor at fly-half for Saturday's opening Test against the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium with Kurtley Beale included on the ...

Basketball Opals lose to China in opening game of series

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:00:41 -0400

China The Opals lost to 69-64 to China in the opening game of their series in Shanxi on Wednesday.Opals coach Brendan Joyce gave international debuts to Sara Blicavs, Natalie Burton and Kelly Wilson in the first encounter of the three-game series.Co-captains Belinda Snell and Jenni Screen led the scoring for the Opals, Snell delivering a game-high 24 points to go with seven rebounds, while ...

Hockey Australia beats India to confirm 2014 World Cup berth

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:00:41 -0400

Netherlands Australia confirmed its place in the 2014 men's hockey World Cup following a 5-1 thrashing of India at the Hockey World League in Rotterdam.Glenn Simpson, Matt Gohdes, Russell Ford and Matthew Swann scored for the Kookaburras in the quarter-final clash, while their final score was aided by an Indian own goal.The Kookaburras will meet the Netherlands in Saturday's ...

No we cant - Japans conservative values collide with plan to mobilise women for economy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:59:32 -0400

TOKYO (Reuters) - Days after Kaoru Shimada and other Japanese mothers rallied in Tokyo this year to press for more public daycare, she was shocked to read a local politician's blog blasting their "shameless" demands and asserting kids should be raised at ...

Trafficking in Persons Report U.S. downgrades Russia China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:38:45 -0400

Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The TIP report ranks governments, including the United States, on their efforts to combat and prevent human trafficking. While Tier 1 is the highest ranking, it does not mean that a country has no human trafficking problem. The TIP report ranks countries into one of three tiers based on their level of compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination ...

North Korea denies Hitler book given to officials

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:38:43 -0400

" to North Korean officials in January. Calling the report a "smear campaign" written by "human scum... moving desperately to deter" North Korea, the Ministry of People's Security, which is responsible for policing, said the defectors were being used by the U.S. and South Korea. ...

John Kerry calls Hamid Karzai to ease anger on Taliban office

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:34:55 -0400

Taliban announced the opening of their political office in Qatar. The rift delayed the announced visit to the region this week by the US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Karzai was upset that the Taliban used its formal name -- the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan -- making it look like a parallel institution to his government. Karzai also halted negotiations with the US on a ...

Somali Islamist rebels attack UN base 22 dead

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:34:26 -0400

It was the first significant attack on UN premises by al Shabaab since they were driven out of Mogadishu in fighting with AU and Somali government forces about two years ...

Turkish Government Wont Condemn Silent Protests

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:07:53 -0400

Turkey's deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc says he does not object to the silent anti-government protests that have sprung up across the ...

AIRSHOW-Lockheed Mitsubishi sign deal for F-35 assembly in Japan

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:02:49 -0400

Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:02pm EDT PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp has signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd to begin work on a final assembly and checkout plant (FACO) for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in Japan, the top U.S. arms maker said on Wednesday. Steve O'Bryan, Lockheed vice president of the $392 billion F-35 program, announced the contract agreement at the ...

RPT-Australias Intrepid faces tough fight over Indonesia mine

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:00:02 -0400

Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:00pm EDT By Sonali Paul and Fergus Jensen MELBOURNE/JAKARTA, June 19 (Reuters) - Australia's Intrepid Mines Ltd is learning that business in Indonesia is personal as it wages a difficult fight to win back rights to a $5 billion copper and gold prospect in East Java. Intrepid was booted off the site last year by its Indonesian partner who transferred the Tujuh Bukit mining ...

GM investing billions in China to tap lucrative luxury car market

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:55:37 -0400

Chinese officials and GM executives, including CEO Dan Akerson, lay a foundation stone at Shanghai GM's new Cadillac plant on June 19, 2013. General Motors has chosen the world’s second-largest luxury car market - China - to pit itself against automakers from Japan and Germany, despite the industry's lagging fortunes there. The US-based carmaker said on Wednesday that it would ...

Foreign Firms Hesitant On China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:55:23 -0400

A little less money coming into China these days, as May FDI data suggests. Multinationals are hesitant on investing in China, foreign direct investment data shows. Despite overall long term growth trends and a general bullishness on the richer Chinese consumer, the multinationals increased their investments in May by just 0.29% in a sign of cooling in the world's second biggest economy. ...

North Koreas nuclear program

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:47:13 -0400

Pyongyang reiterated its commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday and said it was determined to tackle the nuclear issue through ...

President Xi announces campaign for Communist Party of China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:28:33 -0400

Xi Jinping says the Communist Party of China needs to clean up its act to keep public support. Xi announced Tuesday that the party is launching a campaign to instill good habits in its members and officials, Xinhua, the official government news agency, reported. He said the party must be dedicated to "serving the people, being down-to-earth, upright and corruption-free" China remains ...

China customs nab Russian smugglers f...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:20:55 -0400

Customs officials at Manzhouli, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, discovered a haul of 213 wild bear paws that had been hidden in a vehicle by two Russian nationals, the biggest seizure of smuggled paws ever made by Chinese customs. The suspects have been detained by customs police in the city, pending further investigations, including the destination of the paws, officials from the ...

China builds worlds fastest supercom...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:20:55 -0400

BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese supercomputer producer announced Monday that China has once again built the world's fastest supercomputer, capable of performing 33.86 quadrillion operations per second, surpassing the U.S. Titan supercomputer. The Tianhe-2 has a peak performance speed of 54.9 quadrillion operations per second, according to the National University of Defense Technology, ...

Putin Obama face off over Syria at t...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:20:54 -0400

President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Monday, June 17, 2013.(Photo:Agencies) U.S. President Barack Obama sparred with Russia's Vladimir Putin over how to end the war in Syria on Monday during an icy encounter at a G8 summit where divisions over the conflict eclipsed the rest of the agenda. Speaking after talks with Obama, ...

1200-year-old tomb discovered in subu...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:20:54 -0400

A 1200-year-old tomb was discovered in a construction site in suburban Beijing. The identity of the owner has yet to be confirmed but is suspected to be a chief officer of the ancient Beijing area in Tang Dynasty(AD 618-AD 917). The basic structure of the tomb is well preserved and a significant number of splendid mural paintings are found on the ...

Shock as football player throws dog o...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:20:53 -0400

An Argentine soccer player was expelled from a minor league game and fired from his team for mistreating a dog that wandered onto the field. Fox Sports de Argentina broadcast images on Tuesday showing the player use both hands to grab the mid-size black-and-white dog by the collar and throw it toward the bleachers during the game. The dog struck a chain-link fence and fell down, but quickly got ...

Report Immigration Reform Would Boost US Economy Finances

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:59:08 -0400

CAPITOL HILL -- A congressional report estimates that reforming America's immigration system and legalizing 11 million undocumented immigrants would boost U.S. economic growth and shrink the federal deficit. The report was seized upon by senators debating an overhaul to federal immigration laws. Legalizing millions of unauthorized immigrants would have an almost entirely positive effect ...

Malaria Risk Spikes for Worlds Poorest Children

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:59:07 -0400

LONDON -- The poorest children in the world's most impoverished communities are twice as likely to contract malaria as the least poor, according to ...

Taiwan and China look to create unified LED light technical standard

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:44:37 -0400

TAIPEI -- The Taiwan LED Lighting Industry Association (TLLIA) signed a letter of intent with its Chinese counterpart in Guandong province on a proposal to jointly promote a unified technical standard for LED lighting ...

Automotive giant GM plans to invest US$11 bil. in China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:44:28 -0400

SHANGHAI--General Motors will invest US$11 billion in China through 2016, executives said Wednesday, as the U.S. car giant broke ground on a plant to produce luxury Cadillacs for the world's biggest auto ...

HK forum to propose Taiwan China solution DPP ex-head

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:44:23 -0400

TAIPEI -- A forum highlighting the development of cross-straits relations and creativity will propose solutions to narrow the political differences between Taiwan and China, an official of opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said on ...

Sell-off-plan hedge fund increases its stake in Japans Sony report

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:44:20 -0400

TOKYO -- The hedge fund that has called on Sony to list part of its profitable entertainment arm has boosted its stake in the company, a report said Tuesday, days ahead of a shareholders' ...

Chinas Huawei to launch new smartphone for high-end market

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:44:13 -0400

SHANGHAI -- Chinese telecoms giant Huawei will launch a new smartphone on Tuesday to better compete with high-end rivals like Apple and Samsung overseas, a company official ...

Guillermo del Toro calls Pacific Rim a family movie

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:37:36 -0400

is a summer spectacle that sets out to be different from other movies of its kind. The Mexican-born filmmaker says he thinks of it as a family movie, since he deliberately tried to create the kind of story that would have won him over at age 12. Set for release July ...

Brazil protests proceed as smaller cities join the fray

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:27:33 -0400

1 of 6. Members of the Brazilian law enforcement troops confront protestors ahead of the Confederations Cup soccer match between Brazil and Mexico outside the stadium of Fortaleza June 19, ...

Ex-Communist Party of China official executed for child rapes state media reports

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:25:57 -0400

The case of Li Xingpong, the former deputy Communist Party chief of Yongcheng city, caused an uproar online after police said he had raped 11 girls, all under age 18, since the latter half of 2011. Abuse of power by Communist Party officials has long been a central cause of online activists, and Li's case was seen by some as emblematic of the problem. In response, the government has promised ...

Aerocar Worlds first flying car up for grabs for $1 million

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:24:33 -0400

IndiGo ruled the Indian skies in May, flying almost a third (29.5%) of domestic passengers, while Jet and JetLite together were at No 2, flying 22.5% of the total ...

Spain-Tahiti Preview La Roja seeking big win over Pacific islanders

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:21:47 -0400

Spain are expected to make wholesale changes to the team that beat Uruguay 2-1 on Sunday, with Victor Valdes, Fernando Torres and David Villa all in line for starts.Defender Cesar Azpilicueta could win his third cap for the senior side, while the likes of David Silva and Jesus Navas are also set to make their first appearances of the tournament.Tahiti have no new injury concerns after Nicolas ...

Japan to maintain spending at FY2013 level-Nikkei

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:18 -0400

June 19 | Wed Jun 19, 2013 3:00pm EDT June 19 (Reuters) - Japan plans to cap spending, excluding debt payments, at the current level of about 70 trillion yen ($736.80 billion) for the next two fiscal years as part of efforts by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to improve fiscal health, the Nikkei reported. Ministries and agencies will be asked to tighten their belts to curb any rise in social ...

Skeptics on China might be right but timing is a hurdle too

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:49:12 -0400

Take a banking system that is opaque at best. Add a global financial community well-versed in signs of stress following the 2008 meltdown in the West - and one that is on the lookout for them. Thus each twitch in a system - say, the spike in China's interbank rates - is a fresh fill-in-the-blank opportunity for China Cassandras to press their favourite theory of ...

Anti-Pervert Tights Become Internet Sensation in China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:49:08 -0400

These days, girls in China can keep perverts away by wearing "full-leg-of-hair stockings" in public. At least that's what an advertisement says on Sina Weibo, China’s version of Twitter. When a girl dons a pair of these tights, her legs look as hairy as a man's – or hairier. Netizens passed around images of these furry stockings, which became one of the most ...

NK offers fresh nuke talks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:39:33 -0400

A Chinese armed police officer salutes a car carrying North Korean officials as they return from China's Foreign Ministry after talks in Beijing Wednesday. China is holding talks with North Korea this week amid ongoing tensions on the Korean peninsula over the North's nuclear program. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui met North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan ...

Chinas Hunger For Pork Will Impact The U.S. Meat Industry

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:39:04 -0400

Smithfield Foods Inc., the world's largest pork producer by sales volume, has agreed to be acquired by Shuanghui International Holdings, a privately owned meat processing company headquartered in China, for $7.1 billion including debt, valuing the company's equity at $34 per share. Although the deal still needs to receive shareholder and regulatory approvals, we believe it can have a ...

UN chief hails Chinas peacekeepers

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:37:11 -0400

The courage and solidarity of Chinese troops on UN peacekeeping missions around the world has been praised by the organization's chief. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for his sixth visit to China. He said xie xie -- thank you in Chinese -- many times at the peacekeeping center of the Ministry of National Defense, noting that China has made great ...

British and Irish Lions 2013 George North passes fitness test to provide huge boost ahead of first clash against Australia

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:26:43 -0400

The Lions have received a massive confidence boost following yesterday's loss to the Brumbies with the news that George North will be fit for the opening Test against Australia on ...

Paul B. Farrell New China billionaires blowing massive bubbles

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:21:35 -0400

Billionaires have mastered this rule passed down from the great Chinese Buddhist masters: To be truly happy, they focus on money, block everything outside that Eternal Now, at least till you become a billionaire and can sign ...

U.S. Presses Taliban on Qatar Office in Bid to Save Talks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:20:40 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan ...

China Vietnam agree to set up hotline to resolve fishing incidents in South China Sea

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:18:49 -0400

BEIJING, China - China and Vietnam agreed on Wednesday to set up a hotline to resolve fishing incidents in disputed South China Sea waters that have been a frequent source of tensions between the two ideological allies. The two countries' agriculture ministers signed the agreement in Beijing. No details were immediately available. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea and its ...

Why China hates its mens national soccer team

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:10:38 -0400

Referee Chris Beath shows a yellow card to China's Zhang Linpeng, right, during a friendly soccer match between China and Netherlands held at the Worker's Stadium in Beijing, China, Tuesday, June 11, 2013. Netherlands won 2-0. (Alexander Yuan, Associated Press) How much does soccer-loving China hate its men's national team? The mostly empty hotel lobby that greeted the team on ...

Kuwaits trade surplus with Japan widens for 1st time in 3 months

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:07:56 -0400

WAM TOKYO, June 19, 2013 (WAM) -- Kuwait's trade surplus with Japan jumped 26.4 percent in May to JPY 107.7 billion (USD 1.1 billion) from a year earlier, expanding for the first time since February. Kuwait maintained black ink with Japan for the 64th consecutive month, Kuwait News Agency, KUNA, quoted the Finance Ministry as saying on Wednesday. Kuwait's overall exports to Japan ...

Protesters out again in Brazilian cities

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:05:37 -0400

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Scattered street demonstrations popped up around Brazil Wednesday as protesters continued their collective cry against the low-quality public services they receive in exchange for high taxes and rising ...

Myanmar president vows to free political prisoners

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:05:07 -0400

Myanmar President U Thein Sein vowed on Tuesday to convince those opposing and suspecting the democratic reform. In his monthly radio speech to the nation, U Thein Sein said he never wants to see politicians in prison, assuring that such remaining political prisoners will be released soon and that he will never use political prisoners as political tools. He underlined that the seven-point ...

AIRSHOW-With Russian help Europe prepares to search for life on Mars

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:52:55 -0400

Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:52pm EDT * First of two missions to launch in 2016 * First direct search for life since NASA's 1970s Viking probes * Russia to provide launchers, landing system By Irene Klotz PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - The European Space Agency signed final contracts with Thales Alenia Space Italy for work on a pair of missions to assess if the planet Mars has or ever had life, officials ...

US allies plot next steps on North Korea

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:42:21 -0400

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States and its allies South Korea and Japan met Wednesday to plot their next steps on North Korea, amid a flurry of diplomacy as tensions gradually ease with the communist state.Glyn Davies, the US special representative on North Korea policy, met his counterparts from Japan and South Korea on what the State Department called "our common interest in ensuring ...

At start of visit to China UN chief highlights partnership for peace stability

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:42:20 -0400

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed a range topics central to the agenda of the United Nations regarding peace and security, human rights and development, as well as the situation in Syria and the Korean peninsula. In talks with President Xi Jinping, Mr. ...

More must be done to prepare pacific small islands for droughts UN official warns

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:42:19 -0400

19 June 2013 &#150 With thousands of people in the Marshall Islands without access to safe drinking water, the head of the United Nations office for disaster risk reduction today warned that Pacific small islands are threatened by drought and need to incorporate mitigation measures into their national planning and risk assessments. ';The worsening situation in the Republic of the ...

Gyula Horn former Hungarian prime minister dies

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:39:28 -0400

BUDAPEST, Hungary -; Gyula Horn, a former Hungarian prime minister who played a key role in opening the Iron Curtain, has died at the age of ...

Drewry Trans-Pacific Rate Holds at $1957

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:33:25 -0400

Drewry's Hong Kong-Los Angeles Container Rate Benchmark remained at $1,957 for a third week in the week of June 19, according to the latest release of the Drewry Hong Kong-Los Angeles Container Rate Benchmark. This comes less than two weeks ahead of the July 1 general rate ...

China has 570000 orphans most outside govt welfare system

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:31:38 -0400

China had some 570,000 orphans by the end of 2012, an increase of 11 percent on the same period of last year, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Wednesday in an annual report. Only 95,000 of all orphans were being raised by government-funded welfare agencies, while the remainder was taken care of either by relatives or by privately owned orphanages."The government has put a stop to ...

After The Obama-Xi Summit Pressure On Japan To Concede On SenkakuDiaoyu

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:30:51 -0400

Washington , D.C. in February to meet President Obama, he was given only one hour forty-five minutes of Obama's time. During the just concluded G8 summit in Northern Ireland there was no Obama-Abe meeting. Leading up to the summit, the White House brusquely rebutted the Japanese foreign ministry's supplications, agreeing finally only to announce that the two would "meeting ...

Russian Space Freighter ‘Buried’ in Pacific

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:23:09 -0400

MOSCOW, June 19 (RIA Novosti) - Fragments of a Russian cargo spacecraft that undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) last week splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, mission control said. The Progress M-19M, which arrived at the ISS on April 26 with over 2.5 tons of cargo - including food, water and oxygen for the crew - undocked on Tuesday for a weeklong flight to study the ...

Cervical cancer vaccines cut rates of HPV infections -U.S.

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:59:54 -0400

CHICAGO, June 19 | Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:59pm EDT CHICAGO, June 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. introduction of a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in 2006 has reduced infections with the human papillomavirus or HPV - the sexually transmitted virus that causes the disease - by more than half among girls and young women, U.S. health officials said on Wednesday. The results were better than ...

Karzai boycotts US-backed talks with Taliban because of Pakistani hand

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:59:24 -0400

Hamid Karzai suspended negotiation with Washington on Wednesday over a bilateral security agreement, angered by the perceived betrayal of Kabul by the Americans, who in turn appeared to have been suckered by Taliban. The terrorist group, given political stamp of approval by the Obama administration on Tuesday, killed four US soldiers in an attack hours after the talks agreement, despite ...

Lankan minister says India aiding separatist forces

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:59:21 -0400

COLOMBO: A key nationalist ally in the Sri Lankan government on Wednesday slammed India for aiding separatist forces in the country and backed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's plan to go ahead with tinkering the 13th amendment. "It was no secret that India aided the separatist forces in Sri Lanka," Wimal Weerawansa, ...

British Supreme Court ruling threatens Western sanctions against Iran

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:59:10 -0400

By Clare Hutchison LONDON (Reuters) - Western government sanctions against Iran suffered a big setback on Wednesday when Britain's top court ruled that the government was wrong to have imposed sanctions on the biggest Iranian private bank ...

China orders transparent handling of major accidents

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:56:47 -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 ...

Letter from India Indias Socialists Try to Find a Middle Way

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:52:18 -0400

NEW DELHI ...

UPDATE 1-China ships Ukraine grain under loanexport programme

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:32:40 -0400

Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:32pm EDT * Ukraine uses Chinese loan to buy grain for exports * State company wants to export wheat to China * Ukraine firm sees high flour exports to Middle East (Adds quotes, details, background) By Pavel Polityuk KIEV, June 19 (Reuters) - A Chinese state company has started a programme of purchasing grain from Ukraine's state-run grain corporation for export to ...

Rights Group Prosecute Alleged Arms Dealer

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:31:20 -0400

A human rights group is calling on Sierra Leonean authorities to investigate a suspected arms dealer. U.N. investigators have alleged Ibrahim Bah supplied arms to rebels during Sierra Leone’s civil war. to De Capua report on Ibrahim Bah The civil war lasted 11 years, ending in 2002. During that time, RUF and AFRC rebels committed many atrocities, including murder, amputations, ...

Foundation to Mark Mandelas 95th Birthday

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:31:20 -0400

The foundation says that on July 18, the former South African president's birthday, charities, businesses and individuals will take part in a day of service called the Mandela Day campaign. Participants are being asked to do good deeds for 67 minutes to mark Mr. Mandela's 67 years of activism and public work. Some of the suggested actions include volunteering at schools, ...

President Obama Delivers Berlin Speech

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:31:19 -0400

Flanked by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, U.S. President Barack Obama waves at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin June 19, ...

Paris Exhibit Captures Mandelas Journey

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:31:19 -0400

PARIS -- The fragile health of former South African president Nelson Mandela has been making headlines in recent days. But a new exhibition in Paris takes a step back - looking at Mandela's evolution from political prisoner to one of the world's most beloved and respected politicians. Produced by the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, the show kicks off a year of cultural events in ...

Inmates Fight Fires Gain Skills for Life After Prison

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:31:18 -0400

LOS ANGELES -- The western state of California is known for wildfires that can quickly burn out of control, and this year the fire season has been extremely busy. Because of the fire risk, the state has some of the most experienced firefighters in the industry. It also enlists the help of prisoners to stop the fires. Every morning, a select group of inmates in orange jumpsuits heads to work as ...

Stock Markets Watch Bernanke

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:31:18 -0400

Top officials of the U.S. central bank are discussing how much and how soon to reduce their efforts to speed up economic growth. The chairman of the Federal Reserve will report their decisions Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Ben Bernanke has previously said the bank will cut stimulus efforts if the unemployment situation improves further or inflation rises strongly. Stock markets have been ...

WikiLeaks Founder Completes Full Year in Ecuador Embassy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:31:18 -0400

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange waves from a window with Ecuador's Foreign Affairs Minister Ricardo Patino (R) at Ecuador's embassy in central London June 16, ...

Obama Silent on US Arms to Syrian Rebels

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:31:18 -0400

U.S. President Barack Obama says Syria's government has lost its legitimacy by killing tens of thousands of its citizens in a bloody civil war, but he refused to describe the type of military support Washington will provide rebel forces. Speaking at a news conference Wednesday in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama said reports the United States is heading into a new Middle ...

China’s Naval Ambitions and America’s Asia Problem

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:30:51 -0400

, entails plans for new economic and political bonds and a reinvigorated alliance system in the region. But China's territorial ambitions, if unchecked, could eventually create realities on the ground in Asia which will provide it with the legal basis to truly deny America strategic access. If that happens, we might find that - for all of our plans for a pivot toward Asia - Beijing actually ...

Paris tackles rudeness to tourists with new manual

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:29:35 -0400

PARIS, June 19 | Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:29pm EDT PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - One of the world's most visited cities but also famous for its rudeness, Paris has embarked on a campaign to improve its reputation and better cater to the needs of tourists. Waiters, taxi drivers and sales staff in the French capital all too often come off as impolite, unhelpful and unable to speak foreign ...

Pacific Potash CapitalAsia ink Brazil potash deal

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:29:14 -0400

Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:29pm EDT SAO PAULO, June 19 (Reuters) - CapitalAsia Investment on Wednesday signed an agreement to buy potash from Canadian junior miner Pacific Potash Corp's project in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, if it becomes commercially viable. Pacific Potash said in a statement it wants to build a mine in the region "as soon as possible," as Brazil's giant ...

Senators seek cost cuts for F-35 fighter jet Pentagon says its priciest program improving

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:27:20 -0400

WASHINGTON -- Senators sought cost-cutting opportunities Wednesday in the Pentagon's $400 billion program for the next-generation F-35, a fighter jet with a troubled testing record that military leaders said America couldn't afford not to build. Chairing the hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin lamented that the F-35 already has cost taxpayers billions more than what Congress signed up for more ...

Morris reaches last 16 in China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:26:04 -0400

David Morris has reached the last-16 a ranking event for the first time after defeating Gerard Greene 5-2 in the Wuxi Classic in China. Breaks of 77, 51 and 103 proved crucial for the Irishman will play Ali Carter in the next round. Neil Robertson and John Higgins safely negotiated their passages into the last 16. World number one Robertson reeled off the last three frames to ease out Martin ...

Vietnamese President Arrives in China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:25:19 -0400

Beijing, Jun 19 (Prensa Latina) President of Vietnam, Truong Tan Sang, arrived in Beijing on a three-day official visit, as guest of the leader Xi Jinping, to discuss issues of common interest. The visit of Vietnamese President to China is considered here palpable expression of intense and extensive relations of friendship and cooperation for mutual benefit. A note from the Chinese Foreign ...

Japan finalises new nuclear safety regulations

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:19:18 -0400

James Vincent is a journalist for The Independent covering science and technology. In the past he has written freelance for Wired, the New Statesman and the Financial ...

Vietnam president visits China

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:18:55 -0400

Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day state visit as Beijing and Hanoi aim to build their political mutual trust and strengthen trade ties amid a sea dispute.Sang's trip to China is of special importance as this is the first visit to China made by a Vietnamese leader since its neighbor's new leadership assumed power in March.An analyst said ...

Chinas largest city relaxes residency policies for migrants

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:18:48 -0400

Authorities in Shanghai announced on Wednesday that they will ease controls over residency permit applications for non-locals starting from July.The new regulation makes Shanghai the first Chinese metropolis to give nearly equal urban status to non-locals.According to a new residency permit regulation issued on Wednesday, non-Shanghai residents can apply for a residence permit evaluation by ...

Cambodia China celebrate 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:18:46 -0400

Cambodia and China on Wednesday jointly celebrated the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, vowing to further enhance the ties to a new high level.The event was highly attended by President of Cambodia's National Assembly Heng Samrin, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, members of the Cambodian government, parliament, and senate, and foreign ...

Hong Kong citizen killed in car-train collision in Malaysia

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:18:20 -0400

A Hong Kong citizen was killed and three injured when their car was hit by a passing train in Malaysia's tourist city of Kota Kinabalu on North Borneo, local media reported Wednesday.The victim in his 50s was driving with three family members when a train rammed into their car in a juncture near the Kota Kinabalu International Airport in the afternoon.He was trapped in the car before being ...

Interview Societe Generale sees strong China growth momentum

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:16:06 -0400

by Xinhua writer Wang Zichen HARBIN, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Eyeing strong growth momentum, Societe Generale China is aiming to think long term and build on its expertise to differentiate from competitors, said its chairwoman Anne Marion-Bouchacourt as the bank opened its seventh branch in the country ...

Japan Agrees Nuclear Power Plant Safety Rules

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:07:30 -0400

Japan's nuclear watchdog has approved new safety requirements for atomic power plants, paving the way for the reopening of facilities shut down since the Fukushima disaster. The new measures, approved by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, will take effect on July 8 when operators will be able to apply for inspections. If plants pass the inspections - a process expected to take several ...

Japan to Overhaul Nuclear Safety Guidelines

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:02:59 -0400

TOKYO ...