Xinhua News Agency back issues from Saturday, May 24:
Abbas aide says Israel still obstructs peace negotiations
May 24, 2008 ... Abbas aide says Israel still obstructs peace negotiations RAMALLAH, May 24 (Xinhua) -- An aide to Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas on Saturday accused Israel of keeping obstructing anyprogress in the peace negotiations with the Palestinian NationalAuthority (PNA). Nabil ...
Arab FMs meet on Mediterranean union proposal
May 24, 2008 ... Arab FMs meet on Mediterranean union proposal CAIRO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Some ten Arab foreign ministers begantheir meeting here on Saturday to coordinate stances on a "Union forthe Mediterranean" initiative proposed by French President NicolasSarkozy, the state Egyptian MENA news ...
Hamas: Israel's responses to Gaza ceasefire not encouraging
May 24, 2008 ... Hamas: Israel's responses to Gaza ceasefire not encouraging GAZA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement said onSaturday Israel's responses to an Egyptian offer for a ceasefiredeal in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip were not encouraging. Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan said ...
Israel builds more roadblocks in W. Bank: UN agency
May 24, 2008 ... Israel builds more roadblocks in W. Bank: UN agency JERUSALEM, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel has set up more roadblocksin the West Bank since last September, despite its repeated pledgesto facilitate the movement of local Palestinians, local dailyHa'aretz Saturday quoted a UN agency's ...
Palestinian officials to visit Cairo seeking fuel for Gaza
May 24, 2008 ... Palestinian officials to visit Cairo seeking fuel for Gaza GAZA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian energy officials will visitCairo next week to discuss with Egyptian counterparts ways ofsolving fuel and power shortage problems in Gaza Strip. During their talks, the Palestinian ...
Israel should withdraw from Golan Heights unconditionally: Iran
May 24, 2008 ... Israel should withdraw from Golan Heights unconditionally: Iran TEHRAN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran said on Saturday that Israelshould withdraw from the occupied Golan Heights without setting anyconditions, the official IRNA news agency reported. "The Zionist regime (Israel) is ...
21 killed in bus accident in west Iran
May 24, 2008 ... 21 killed in bus accident in west Iran TEHRAN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A bus collided with a truck in Iran' swestern province of Hamadan, killing 21 people and wounding another11, Iran's Press TV reported on Saturday. The incident occurred at around midday (0730 GMT) on ...
U.S., Iraqi troops detain hundreds in Baghdad Shiite militia strongholds
May 24, 2008 ... U.S., Iraqi troops detain hundreds in Baghdad Shiite militiastrongholds BAGHDAD, May 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. and Iraqi troops swept Shiiteneighborhoods in southwestern Baghdad on Friday, detaining hundredsof suspects, witnesses and police sources said on Saturday. The troops ...
Hamas invites Frensh FM to visit Gaza
May 24, 2008 ... Hamas invites Frensh FM to visit Gaza GAZA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)ruling Gaza Strip called Saturday on French Foreign Minister BernardKouchnerto visit the territory to learn about the suffering of itspeople. Taher al-Nounou, a spokesman ...
Major news items in leading Turkish newspapers
May 24, 2008 ... Major news items in leading Turkish newspapers ANKARA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The following are major news items inleading Turkish newspapers on Saturday. TURKIYE (Turkey): -- Turkish security forces impounded on Friday 40 kgs of hashishand 16 kgs of cocaine in separate ...
Major news items in leading Iranian newspapers
May 24, 2008 ... Major news items in leading Iranian newspapers TEHRAN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The following are major news items inleading Iranian newspapers on Saturday. Tehran Times: -- Iraq has formed a special committee to investigate a recentassassination attempt on Iranian ...
Lebanese cabinet invited to presidentian election in parliament
May 24, 2008 ... Lebanese cabinet invited to presidentian election in parliament BEIRUT, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Parliament Speaker NabihBerri has invited Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and his government totake part in the scheduled presidential election on Sunday, TheDaily Star reported on ...
UAE to implement compulsory health insurance by year-end
May 24, 2008 ... UAE to implement compulsory health insurance by year-end ABU DHABI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) willimplement a compulsory health insurance on a national level by theend of the year, local newspaper Khaleej Times reported on Saturday. The UAE Ministry of ...
Xinhua Middle East news advisory -- May 24
May 24, 2008 ... Xinhua Middle East news advisory -- May 24 CAIRO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The following are some of major MiddleEast news stories due to be covered or pursued by Xinhua News Agencyon Saturday. -- Ten Arab foreign ministers from Egypt, Libya, Tunisia,Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, ...
U.S. soldier killed in bomb attack south of Baghdad
May 24, 2008 ... U.S. soldier killed in bomb attack south of Baghdad BAGHDAD, May 24 (Xinhua) -- An American soldier was killed by aroadside bomb attack in south of the Iraqi capital, the U.S.military said on Saturday. The soldier, assigned to Multi-National Division-Center (MND-C)was ...
Major news items in leading Egyptian newspapers
May 24, 2008 ... Major news items in leading Egyptian newspapers CAIRO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The following are major news items inleading Egyptian newspapers on Saturday. Al Ahram: -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will have talks with PrincePhilippe Crown Prince of Belgium in Cairo ...
UAE, Spanish FMs meet over bilateral ties, regional issues
May 24, 2008 ... UAE, Spanish FMs meet over bilateral ties, regional issues ABU DHABI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE) and Spain met here on Saturday over bilateralties and regional issues, the official Emirates News Agencyreported. During the meeting, ...
Hamas says Egyptian ceasefire efforts still go on
May 24, 2008 ... Hamas says Egyptian ceasefire efforts still go on GAZA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian efforts to promote a ceasefirein Gaza Strip are still going on and did not fail, a Hamas officialsaid on Saturday. Hamas has "received Israel's response to the Egyptian initiativeand handed ...
Three PKK rebels captured in Turkey
May 24, 2008 ... Three PKK rebels captured in Turkey ANKARA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Security Forces arrested threerebels of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in southernTurkey, Turkish General Staff said in a statement issued onSaturday. In an operation against the PKK, the ...
Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2100 GMT, May 24
May 24, 2008 ... Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2100 GMT, May 24 TEHRAN -- Iran said on Saturday that Israel should withdraw fromthe occupied Golan Heights without setting any conditions, theofficial IRNA news agency reported. "The Zionist regime (Israel) is not in a position to ...
Spanish king arrives in UAE for state visit
May 24, 2008 ... Spanish king arrives in UAE for state visit ABU DHABI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- King Juan Carlos of Spain arrivedhere on Saturday for a state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. During his stay in the UAE, King Carlos will hold ...
PNA denies Hamas accepts Abbas forces deployment on Rafah crossing
May 24, 2008 ... PNA denies Hamas accepts Abbas forces deployment on Rafahcrossing RAMALLAH, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian official on Saturdaydenied reports that Hamas accepted the deployment of PresidentMahmoud Abbas' forces on a crossing point between Gaza and Egypt forthe reopening of the ...
Two people killed in bomb attack in northern Iraq
May 24, 2008 ... Two people killed in bomb attack in northern Iraq MOSUL, Iraq, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A bomb attack targeted a U.S.foot patrol in Iraq's northern city of Mosul on Saturday, killingtwo Iraqi civilians and wounding three U.S. soldiers, a local policesource said. The attack ...
French-proposed Mediterranean union needs more understanding: Egyptian FM
May 24, 2008 ... French-proposed Mediterranean union needs more understanding:Egyptian FM CAIRO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed AbulGheit said Saturday a French-proposed Mediterranean union initiativeshould be well formulated and needs more understanding. The Egyptian ...
Three people killed in bomb explosion in Baghdad
May 24, 2008 ... Three people killed in bomb explosion in Baghdad BAGHDAD, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A bomb explosion struck a minibus inwestern Baghdad on Saturday, killing three passengers and woundedfour others, an Interior Ministry source said. The attack took place in the afternoon when a bomb ...
Mine blast derails train in eastern Turkey
May 24, 2008 ... Mine blast derails train in eastern Turkey ANKARA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Five cars of a train derailed when amine, planted by the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), explodedin eastern province of Bingol on Saturday, without causing anycasualties, the semi-official Anatolia news ...
UAE, Spain sign accords to boost bilateral ties
May 24, 2008 ... UAE, Spain sign accords to boost bilateral ties ABU DHABI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) andSpain signed two agreements and a memorandum of understanding hereSaturday to boost bilateral ties as Spanish King Juan Carlos starteda state visit to the Gulf country ...
Fighting erupts between Muslim rebels, government forces in southern Philippines
May 24, 2008 ... Fighting erupts between Muslim rebels, government forces insouthern Philippines MANILA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Fighting erupted Sunday between Muslimrebels and Philippine government soldiers in Basilan island inMindanao, southern Philippines, forcing civilians to flee theirhomes, ...
Peter Jackson confirms New Zealand setting for Hobbit films
May 24, 2008 ... Peter Jackson confirms New Zealand setting for Hobbit films WELLINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- World famous director PeterJackson and Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro said they will relyon New Zealand scenery for the setting of two movies based on theJRR Tolkien book "The Hobbit" ....
Sri Lankan gov't sends quake relief materials to China
May 24, 2008 ... Sri Lankan gov't sends quake relief materials to China COLOMBO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- An airplane carrying tents and otherhumanitarian materials donated by the Sri Lankan government lefthere early Sunday morning for China's Sichuan province, where adevastating earthquake has claimed ...
Philippines to build disaster-resilient school buildings
May 24, 2008 ... Philippines to build disaster-resilient school buildings MANILA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government is launchinga plan to build disaster-resilient school buildings to make schoolsless prone to damage during typhoons, said the National DisasterCoordinating Council (NDCC) ...
G8 environment ministers meeting opens in Kobe of Japan
May 24, 2008 ... G8 environment ministers meeting opens in Kobe of Japan KOBE, Japan, May 24 (Xinhua) - Environment ministers from theGroup of Eight (G8) gathered Saturday in the central Japanese cityof Kobe to discuss environmental issues in the run-up to the G8summit scheduled for July 7-9 in ...
Myanmar agriculture, fishery are most-hard-hit in cyclone: assessment
May 24, 2008 ... Myanmar agriculture, fishery are most-hard-hit in cyclone:assessment YANGON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Agriculture and fishery were the mosthard-hit sectors by a deadly cyclone storm in part of Myanmarespecially in the two divisions of Ayeyawaddy and Yangon, accordingto the local ...
Suspected insurgents kill police officer in Thai south
May 24, 2008 ... Suspected insurgents kill police officer in Thai south BANGKOK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Suspected insurgents shot and killeda 54-year-old police officer in Thailand southern province ofPattani Saturday morning, local media reported. The incident was reported at 7:00 a.m. (0000 ...
Interview: Bangladeshi female lawyer calls for efforts to realize equal rights
May 24, 2008 ... Interview: Bangladeshi female lawyer calls for efforts to realizeequal rights By Huang Yanan DHAKA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A prominent female lawyer in Bangladeshholds that in a still male-dominated society, women should beencouraged to work hard to realize real equal rights ...
Farmers in Thai north protest low price for sticky rice
May 24, 2008 ... Farmers in Thai north protest low price for sticky rice BANGKOK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,000 farmers blocked ahighway in Thailand's northernmost province Chiang Rai on Saturday,protesting the low price offered by local rice mills for glutinouspaddy rice they grow ....
Urgent: 2 killed in blast in NW Pakistan
May 24, 2008 ... Urgent: 2 killed in blast in NW PakistanISLAMABAD, May 24(Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed ...
1st Ld: 2 killed in NW Pakistan blast
May 24, 2008 ... 1st Ld: 2 killed in NW Pakistan blastISLAMABAD, May 24(Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed Saturday in a roadside bombblast in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar, according tolocal TV reports. The blast at the busy Nasir Bagh ...
1st Ld: G8 environment ministers meeting opens in Kobe of Japan
May 24, 2008 ... 1st Ld: G8 environment ministers meeting opens in Kobe of Japan KOBE, Japan, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Environment ministers from theGroup of Eight (G8) gathered Saturday in the central Japanese cityof Kobe to discuss environmental issues in the run-up to the G8summit scheduled for July ...
Indonesia to set up holding company for state banks
May 24, 2008 ... Indonesia to set up holding company for state banks JAKARTA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government will set upa parent holding company for state-owned banks to comply with aregulation prohibiting any investor from owning a majority stake inmore than one bank. "We ...
2nd Ld: 2 killed in NW Pakistan blast
May 24, 2008 ... 2nd Ld: 2 killed in NW Pakistan blastISLAMABAD, May 24(Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed Saturday in a roadside bombblast in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar, according tolocal TV reports. The blast at the busy Nasir Bagh locality also injured threeother ...
Indonesian minister urges probe into May 1998 rapes
May 24, 2008 ... Indonesian minister urges probe into May 1998 rapes JAKARTA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- An Indonesian minister has delivereddocuments on the alleged May 1998 mass rape of mostly ethnic Chinesewomen to the Attorney General's Office (AGO), local press saidSaturday. State Minister for ...
JBIC, GEF ink MOU on climate change, biodiversity
May 24, 2008 ... JBIC, GEF ink MOU on climate change, biodiversity KOBE, Japan, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Japan Bank of InternationalCooperation (JBIC) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) onSaturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperativemeasures to tackle climate change and other ...
3rd Ld-Writhru: 2 killed in NW Pakistan blast
May 24, 2008 ... 3rd Ld-Writhru: 2 killed in NW Pakistan blastISLAMABAD, May24 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed Saturday in a roadside bombblast in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar, according tolocal TV reports. The blast at the busy Nasir Bagh locality also injured threeother ...
3rd Ld: UN head opens logistic air hub of assistance for Myanmar at Bangkok airport
May 24, 2008 ... 3rd Ld: UN head opens logistic air hub of assistance for Myanmarat Bangkok airport BANGKOK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Secretary- GeneralBan Ki-moon attended a ceremony at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport,Thailand, Saturday to officially open a UN Staging Area ( UNSA) ...
Kidnapped South Korean freed in southern Philippines
May 24, 2008 ... Kidnapped South Korean freed in southern Philippines MANILA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified kidnappers have freedwithout ransom a 30-year-old South Korean and a Filipino businessmankidnapped in March in a mountainous area in Mindanao, southernPhilippines, police said on Saturday ....
New Nepali gov't to be formed on May 29: CPN-M
May 24, 2008 ... New Nepali gov't to be formed on May 29: CPN-M KATHMANDU, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of Nepal(Maoist) (CPN-M) leader Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal Saturday said thenew government led by CPN-M would be formed on May 29, a day afterdemolishing the monarchy by the first ...
U.S.-led Coalition kills several militants in S. Afghanistan
May 24, 2008 ... U.S.-led Coalition kills several militants in S. Afghanistan KABUL, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-led Coalition forces havekilled several "extremists" and detained six others during an anti-insurgent operation in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan,according to a Coalition ...
Roundup: UN chief opens logistic air hub of int'l assistance for Myanmar at Bangkok airport
May 24, 2008 ... Roundup: UN chief opens logistic air hub of int'l assistance forMyanmar at Bangkok airport by Shen Min & Ling Shuo BANGKOK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General BanKi-moon attended a ceremony at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport Saturdayto officially open a UN ...
Pak gov't moves to withdraw president's powers
May 24, 2008 ... Pak gov't moves to withdraw president's powersISLAMABAD, May24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's new government on Saturday announced aplan to scrap the powers of the country's president to dissolveparliament, appoint services chiefs and governors, the country's lawminister said ....
Sri Lankan rights probe reports to be ready soon
May 24, 2008 ... Sri Lankan rights probe reports to be ready soon COLOMBO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A special presidential panelappointed to probe incidents of human rights abuses in the countryis now set to submit its reports on two cases to President MahindaRajapakse, officials said on Saturday ....
Myanmar's biggest industrial zone partly resumes production
May 24, 2008 ... Myanmar's biggest industrial zone partly resumes production YANGON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's biggest industrial zone ofHlaingtharya in Yangon, which was seriously destroyed in a recentsevere cyclone storm, has partly resumed operation with half of the800 factories going into ...
140 students arrested in Jakarta fuel protest riot
May 24, 2008 ... 140 students arrested in Jakarta fuel protest riot JAKARTA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian Police on Saturdayarrested 140 students during a raid into Jakarta ' s NationalUniversity to control violent protests against fuel price hikes. "We have arrested 140 students and ...
Roundup: Australian women strive for maternity leave
May 24, 2008 ... Roundup: Australian women strive for maternity leave By Jiang Yaping CANBERRA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The issue of paid maternity leave iscoming back in the political agenda this week, with calls forworking women to be entitled to paid leave for one year after givingbirth ....
Nepali PM asks CPN-M leader to take initiation for new gov't
May 24, 2008 ... Nepali PM asks CPN-M leader to take initiation for new gov't KATHMANDU, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Nepali Prime Minister Girija PrasadKoirala Saturday formally called upon Chairman Prachanda of theCommunist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) to take initiation, as thehead of the largest ...
Airbus to announce additional cost cutting measures
May 24, 2008 ... Airbus to announce additional cost cutting measures PARIS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Airbus, a subsidiary of the EuropeanSpace and Defense Co. (EADS), is planning to announce "additionalcost cutting measures within the framework of the Power 8 program"before this summer, the group's ...
2nd Ld: G8 environment ministers meeting opens in Kobe of Japan
May 24, 2008 ... 2nd Ld: G8 environment ministers meeting opens in Kobe of Japan KOBE, Japan, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Environment ministers from the Groupof Eight (G8) gathered Saturday in the central Japanese city of Kobeto discuss environmental issues in the run-up to the G8 summitscheduled for July 7-9 in ...
Bomb scare at subway station in Indian capital
May 24, 2008 ... Bomb scare at subway station in Indian capital NEW DELHI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- An anonymous phone call to policeSaturday afternoon threatening to blow up a metro station heretriggered panic at the facility, according the NDTV. The police control room received the threat call at ...
Urgent: UN head opens logistic air hub of assistance for Myanmar at Bangkok airport
May 24, 2008 ... Urgent: UN head opens logistic air hub of assistance for Myanmarat Bangkok airport BANGKOK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Secretary- GeneralBan Ki-moon attended a ceremony at ...
2nd Ld: UN head opens logistic air hub of assistance for Myanmar at Bangkok airport
May 24, 2008 ... 2nd Ld: UN head opens logistic air hub of assistance for Myanmarat Bangkok airport BANGKOK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Secretary- GeneralBan Ki-moon attended a ceremony at Bangkok's Don Mueang AirportSaturday to officially open a UN Staging Area (UNSA) here as ...
1st Ld: UN head opens logistic air hub of assistance for Myanmar at Bangkok airport
May 24, 2008 ... 1st Ld: UN head opens logistic air hub of assistance for Myanmarat Bangkok airport BANGKOK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Secretary- GeneralBan Ki-moon attended a ceremony at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport,Thailand, Saturday to officially open a UN Staging Area ( UNSA) ...
Bangladesh ranks number one peaceful country in South Asia
May 24, 2008 ... Bangladesh ranks number one peaceful country in South Asia DHAKA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh has ranked first among thenations in South Asia in the grading of peaceful states in 2008,said a study of the Global Peace Index. According to the study of the Global Peace Index, ...
Lightning kills 3, injures 1 in Bangladesh
May 24, 2008 ... Lightning kills 3, injures 1 in Bangladesh DHAKA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Three people, including two siblings,were killed and one was injured in lightning in Bangladesh'sChapainawabganj district, 245 northwest of capital Dhaka, duringheavy rainfall Saturday. Local sources were ...
News items from Asia-Pacific Desk of Xinhua
May 24, 2008 ... News items from Asia-Pacific Desk of Xinhua HONG KONG, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Following are news items from theAsia-Pacific Desk of Xinhua in Hong Kong Saturday: URGENT: Myanmar constitutional referendum continues in cyclone-hit area 1st Ld: Myanmar constitutional ...
G8 environment chiefs discuss biodiversity conservation
May 24, 2008 ... G8 environment chiefs discuss biodiversity conservation KOBE, Japan, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Environment ministers from theGroup of Eight (G8) held their first session on biodiversityconservation Saturday, highlighting biodiversity and climate changeare not isolated but closely related ...