Xinhua News Agency back issues from Sunday, August 17:
Hamas, four factions agree to launch dialogue immediately
Aug 17, 2008 ... Hamas, four factions agree to launch dialogue immediately GAZA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement and fourPalestinian factions agreed in Gaza on Saturday to launch aninternal dialogue immediately and welcomed the Egyptian and any Arabsponsorship of the dialogue ....
Xinhua Middle East news advisory -- Aug. 17
Aug 17, 2008 ... Xinhua Middle East news advisory -- Aug. 17 CAIRO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The following are some of major MiddleEast news stories due to be covered or pursued by Xinhua News Agencyon Sunday. -- The Israeli cabinet holds a weekly session expected tobrainstorm the possible ...
Major news items in leading Turkish newspapers
Aug 17, 2008 ... Major news items in leading Turkish newspapers ANKARA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The following are major news items inleading Turkish newspapers on Sunday.TURKIYE (Turkey): -- Representatives of 45 African nations have met in Turkey'slargest city of Istanbul upon the ...
Jordan's energy sector needs billions of investment in 12 years
Aug 17, 2008 ... Jordan's energy sector needs billions of investment in 12 years AMMAN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A senior Jordanian energy officialsaid Jordan needs an annual fund of 1.2 billion Jordanian dinars (about 1.7 billion U.S. dollars) to develop the infrastructure of theenergy sector, local ...
Erekat: Rice to visit Mideast over peace talks on Aug. 25
Aug 17, 2008 ... Erekat: Rice to visit Mideast over peace talks on Aug. 25 RAMALLAH, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekatsaid on Sunday U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will arrivein Israel and the Palestinian territories on Aug. 25. Erekat told Palestinian Radio ...
Israel to open key commercial crossing into Gaza after months of closure
Aug 17, 2008 ... Israel to open key commercial crossing into Gaza after months ofclosure GAZA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel will open a commercial crossingpoint into Gaza Strip after months of closure to improve the flow ofgoods into the besieged territory, Palestinian sources said onSunday ....
Euro-Arab cinema festival opens in Amman
Aug 17, 2008 ... Euro-Arab cinema festival opens in Amman AMMAN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Caravan of the Euro-Arab Cinema kickedoff on Sunday in Jordan's capital of Amman with aims to enhancetrans-Mediterranean cultural dialogue, local daily Jordan Timesreported. "The August 17-25 event includes ...
Abbas forces detain 17 Hamas members in West Bank, says Hamas
Aug 17, 2008 ... Abbas forces detain 17 Hamas members in West Bank, says Hamas RAMALLAH, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement saidsecurity forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas arrested 17 Hamasmembers and activists across the West Bank on Sunday. Hamas said in a statement that ...
Jordan to set up zones in Jordan Valley, Dead Sea
Aug 17, 2008 ... Jordan to set up zones in Jordan Valley, Dead Sea AMMAN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Jordan plans to set up developmentzones in the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, in efforts to ensurethe country's sustainable economic growth, local daily Jordan Timesreported on Sunday. Labor ...
Hamas: Palestinian, Israeli meetings exploited to serve electoral aims
Aug 17, 2008 ... Hamas: Palestinian, Israeli meetings exploited to serve electoralaims GAZA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement on Sundaysaid meetings between Israeli and Palestinian officials werecapitalized as electoral campaign for the benefit of the Israelis. The latest such ...
1st LD: Turkish army says planes hit PKK hideout in northern Iraq
Aug 17, 2008 ... 1st LD: Turkish army says planes hit PKK hideout in northern Iraq ANKARA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish warplanes have struckmilitants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in northernIraq late on Saturday, a military statement said on Sunday. Turkish General Staff said ...
Urgent: Turkish army says planes strike PKK in northern Iraq
Aug 17, 2008 ... Urgent: Turkish army says planes strike PKK in northern Iraq ANKARA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish warplanes have ...
USAID: U.S. to double economic aid to Jordan in 2008
Aug 17, 2008 ... USAID: U.S. to double economic aid to Jordan in 2008 AMMAN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States will almost doubleits financial support to Jordan in 2008, local daily The JordanTimes Sunday quoted an official with United States Agency forInternational Development (USAID) as ...
Shiite pilgrims flock to holy city of Karbala amid tough security
Aug 17, 2008 ... Shiite pilgrims flock to holy city of Karbala amid tough security BAGHDAD, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of thousands of Shiitepilgrims on Sunday congregated in the holy city of Karbala to markthe climax of a Shiite ritual amid massive security measures. Every year, Shiite ...
Abbas: Hamas avoids dialogue to keep ruling Gaza
Aug 17, 2008 ... Abbas: Hamas avoids dialogue to keep ruling Gaza RAMALLAH, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Hamas made pretexts to shun beinginvolved in inter-Palestinian dialogue to keep its rule in the GazaStrip, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday. "Hamas wants a dark emirate in the Gaza ...
Israeli gov't approves release of over 150 Palestinian prisoners
Aug 17, 2008 ... Israeli gov't approves release of over 150 Palestinian prisoners JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli cabinet has approved therelease of between 150 and 220 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday,local media reported. The Prime Minister's Office released a statement saying, "This ...
Three Turkish soldiers wounded in blast in southeastern Turkey
Aug 17, 2008 ... Three Turkish soldiers wounded in blast in southeastern Turkey ANKARA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Three soldiers of the Turkishsecurity forces were injured in a landmine explosion in southeasternTurkey on Sunday, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported. The report said the ...
International Free Gaza campaigners threatened: Palestinian official
Aug 17, 2008 ... International Free Gaza campaigners threatened: Palestinianofficial GAZA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- International activists who plan tosail to Gaza to challenge the Israeli blockade against the enclaverecently received threats against them and their families, aPalestinian official ...
Jordan's stock market index closes lower
Aug 17, 2008 ... Jordan's stock market index closes lower AMMAN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The shares price index of Jordan'sAmman stock market closed at 4,331 points on Sunday, down 103 ...
Palestinian human rights group concerned over political arrests
Aug 17, 2008 ... Palestinian human rights group concerned over political arrests GAZA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian human rights group onSunday said it was concerned over the ongoing holding of Hamas andFatah prisoners in both Gaza Strip and West Bank. "Exposing Hamas and Fatah prisoners ...
Hamas: rocket attack is Israeli fabrication to keep crossings closed
Aug 17, 2008 ... Hamas: rocket attack is Israeli fabrication to keep crossingsclosed GAZA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement said in astatement that Sunday's rocket attack from Gaza at southern Israel"is an Israeli untrue claim to justify closing Gaza border crossingpoints." The ...
Israel may use force to halt boats trying to sail to Gaza: report
Aug 17, 2008 ... Israel may use force to halt boats trying to sail to Gaza: report JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli defense may use forceto block two boats heading Gaza sailed by U.S.-based activists inprotest against Israeli blockade, local daily Ha' aretz reportedSunday. The ...
Prisoners release Israel's bid to widen Palestinian internal split: Hamas
Aug 17, 2008 ... Prisoners release Israel's bid to widen Palestinian internalsplit: Hamas GAZA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Sunday saidthe expected release of some 200 Palestinian prisoners was anIsraeli bid to widen Palestinian internal crack. In a statement sent to the ...
Qassam rocket hits southern Israel: report
Aug 17, 2008 ... Qassam rocket hits southern Israel: report JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Qassam rocket was fired Sundayafternoon from the northern Gaza Strip and landed in an open area inthe southern Israel, causing no injuries or damage, reported anIsraeli newspaper. There was no ...
Palestinians reject Israel's permanent status security plan
Aug 17, 2008 ... Palestinians reject Israel's permanent status security plan GAZA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Leaders and spokesmen of differentPalestinian political groups rejected an Israeli permanent securityplan published on Sunday to be implemented after a final Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is ...
U.S., Israel agree on missile radar defense system
Aug 17, 2008 ... U.S., Israel agree on missile radar defense system JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Israel haveagreed on the deployment of high-powered, early-warning missileradars in the Negev desert in southern Israel, local daily Ha'aretzreported Sunday on its website ....
More Iraqi refugees leave Egypt for home
Aug 17, 2008 ... More Iraqi refugees leave Egypt for home CAIRO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A second group of Iraqi refugees inEgypt on Sunday headed for home on board a free-of-charge flightarranged by the Iraqi government, the Egyptian official MENA newsagency reported. The 240 Iraqis flew home ...
Iran improves warplanes flight range: commander
Aug 17, 2008 ... Iran improves warplanes flight range: commander TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Air Force Commander BrigadierGeneral Ahmad Miqani revealed Sunday that Iran has revamped itsfighter jet fleet to fly distance of 3,000 kilometers withoutrefueling, the English-language Press TV ...
Iraqi govt. reserves right to prosecute Blackwater guards
Aug 17, 2008 ... Iraqi govt. reserves right to prosecute Blackwater guards BAGHDAD, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi government confirmed onSunday that it reserves the right to prosecute six security guardsof U.S. private security firm Blackwater for their role in killing17 civilians. "There ...
Turkish security forces seize 88 kg of heroin
Aug 17, 2008 ... Turkish security forces seize 88 kg of heroin ANKARA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces impounded88.2 kg of heroin in eastern Turkey on Sunday, the semi-officialAnatolia news agency reported. Acting on a tip-off, the security forces stopped and searched alorry in ...
Iran launches first home-made satellite into space
Aug 17, 2008 ... Iran launches first home-made satellite into space TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran announced Sunday that itlaunched a satellite into space earlier in the day, which is thefirst domestically made. The satellite, Omid (hope), was launched Sunday by using Safir(ambassador) ...
Road accident kills at least 10 in Egypt
Aug 17, 2008 ... Road accident kills at least 10 in Egypt CAIRO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people, including a three-year-old boy, were killed and 11 others injured in a trafficaccident in northern Egypt, the official MENA news agency reportedon Sunday. The tragedy occurred near the ...
Update: Iran launches first home-made satellite into space
Aug 17, 2008 ... Update: Iran launches first home-made satellite into space TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran announced Sunday that itlaunched a satellite into space earlier in the day, the country'sfirst domestically made. The satellite, Omid (hope), was launched Sunday by using ...
Tel Aviv stock exchange index closes higher
Aug 17, 2008 ... Tel Aviv stock exchange index closes higher JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Tel Aviv Stock Exchangegeneral share index closed at 827.97 ...
1st LD: Suicide bomber kills 15 people in Baghdad
Aug 17, 2008 ... 1st LD: Suicide bomber kills 15 people in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A suicide bomber struck a checkpointmanned by anti-Qaida fighters on Sunday night, killing 15 people andwounding 29 others, an Interior Ministry source said. A suicide bomber on a bicycle blew up ...
Urgent: Suicide bomber kills 15 people in Baghdad
Aug 17, 2008 ... Urgent: Suicide bomber kills 15 people in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A suicide bomber struck a ...
Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2100 GMT, Aug. 17
Aug 17, 2008 ... Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2100 GMT, Aug. 17 TEHRAN -- Iran announced Sunday that it launched a satellite intospace earlier in the day, the country's first domestically made. The satellite, Omid (hope), was launched Sunday by using Safir(ambassador) satellite-carrier ...
Dollar at lower 110 yen level in Tokyo
Aug 17, 2008 ... Dollar at lower 110 yen level in Tokyo TOKYO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar stood at the lower 110yen level early Monday in Tokyo. The dollar was quoted at 110.30-35 yen at 9 a.m., against 110. 45-55 yen in New York ...
Tokyo stocks open 0.5 pct lower
Aug 17, 2008 ... Tokyo stocks open 0.5 pct lower TOKYO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Monday. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average went down 69.70 points, or 0.54 percent, to 12,949.71 in the first ...
Major news items in leading Japanese newspapers
Aug 17, 2008 ... Major news items in leading Japanese newspapers TOKYO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The following are major news items inleading Japanese newspapers on Monday: The Daily Yomiuri: -- The Japanese government plans to revise the Nationality Law toremove a provision requiring ...
Cambodian King to preside over inauguration of National Assembly
Aug 17, 2008 ... Cambodian King to preside over inauguration of National Assembly PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoniis scheduled to preside over the inauguration ceremony of theNational Assembly on Sept. 24, local newspaper the Mekong Timesreported Monday ....
Major news items in leading Indian newspapers
Aug 17, 2008 ... Major news items in leading Indian newspapers NEW DELHI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Following are major news headlinesin leading Indian newspapers on Monday.The Hindu: -- Ahead of the two-day extraordinary plenary meeting of theNuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in Vienna from ...
Major news items in leading Israeli newspapers
Aug 17, 2008 ... Major news items in leading Israeli newspapersJERUSALEM, Aug.17 (Xinhua) -- The following are major news items in leading Israelinewspapers on Sunday. Ha'aretz: -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Saturday criticizedmoves to cut the defense budget for 2009, saying ...
Thai attorney office prepares to extradite former PM
Aug 17, 2008 ... Thai attorney office prepares to extradite former PM BANGKOK, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thai attorney office is studyingrelative laws for preparing the extradition of deposed primeminister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman in an attempt toget them back to fight their charges in ...
Cambodian National Bank predicts 20 pct inflation for 2008
Aug 17, 2008 ... Cambodian National Bank predicts 20 pct inflation for 2008 PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has predicted annual inflation could rise to 20 percent thisyear, substantially less than earlier in the year, local newspaperthe Mekong Times reported ...
Urgent: 23 killed in fresh clashes in Pakistan's tribal area
Aug 17, 2008 ... Urgent: 23 killed in fresh clashes in Pakistan's tribal area ISLAMABAD, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 23 people were killed ...
1st Ld: 23 killed in fresh clashes in Pakistan's tribal area
Aug 17, 2008 ... 1st Ld: 23 killed in fresh clashes in Pakistan's tribal area ISLAMABAD, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 23 people were killed and25 others were injured in fresh sectarian clashes ...
Thai meteorological authority warns flooding
Aug 17, 2008 ... Thai meteorological authority warns flooding BANGKOK, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Meteorological Department ofThailand on Monday morning warned residents living near the banks ofMekong and its branch rivers to brace themselves for possibleflooding. In its daily forecast issued ...
2nd Ld Writethru: 23 killed in fresh sectarian clashes in Pakistan's tribal area: state TV
Aug 17, 2008 ... 2nd Ld Writethru: 23 killed in fresh sectarian clashes inPakistan's tribal area: state TV ISLAMABAD, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 23 people were killed and25 others were injured in fresh sectarian clashes at the Kurrumtribal agency in Pakistan's northwest, the state-run PTV ...
49 babies die during clinical trials at All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Aug 17, 2008 ... 49 babies die during clinical trials at All India Institute ofMedical Sciences NEW DELHI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- As many as 49 babies, many of whomhad not even celebrated their first birthday, have died at the AllIndia Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) while being subjected ...
Tokyo stocks rise in morning deals
Aug 17, 2008 ... Tokyo stocks rise in morning deals TOKYO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks went up Monday morning. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average jumped 231.06 points, or 1 ....
Dollar remains at lower 110 yen in Tokyo
Aug 17, 2008 ... Dollar remains at lower 110 yen in Tokyo TOKYO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar stood firm at thelower 110 yen level Monday in ...
New Zealand says Fiji is free to hold bilateral talks at Niue Forum
Aug 17, 2008 ... New Zealand says Fiji is free to hold bilateral talks at NiueForum WELLINGTON, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand has rejected claimsby Fiji that its delegation to next week's Pacific Islands Forum inNiue has been barred from meeting its international partners inAuckland, Radio New ...
Roundup: Myanmar steps up carrying out weather forecast program
Aug 17, 2008 ... Roundup: Myanmar steps up carrying out weather forecast program YANGON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar is organizing a quaternarycommittee involving international institutions to carry out programon releasing weather forecast news and weather-related publiceducation, aimed at ...
Over 7,000 police tasked to ensure security in Afghan capital
Aug 17, 2008 ... Over 7,000 police tasked to ensure security in Afghan capital KABUL, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan government in a bold stepto stabilize security in the country's capital deployed more than7,000 police on Sunday to ensure security in the war-torn Kabulcity, a statement of the ...
Joint operation kills 7 Taliban militants in S. Afghanistan
Aug 17, 2008 ... Joint operation kills 7 Taliban militants in S. Afghanistan KABUL, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) backed by the U.S.-led Coalition forces launched an operationSaturday night targeting Taliban militants in southern Afghanprovince of Zabul, killing ...
Interview: Niue to host a successful Pacific summit: premier
Aug 17, 2008 ... Interview: Niue to host a successful Pacific summit: premier ByHuang XingweiALOFI, Niue, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Niue Premier Toke Talagi saidthe preparations for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting arewell underway and he was confident Niue can host a successfulsummit ....
Pakistan coalition likely to table resolution against Musharraf
Aug 17, 2008 ... Pakistan coalition likely to table resolution against Musharraf ISLAMABAD, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's National Assembly, orlower house of parliament, will resume its session on Monday and theruling coalition may table a resolution asking President PervezMusharraf to take a ...
7 killed, 11 injured in Philippine rebel ambush
Aug 17, 2008 ... 7 killed, 11 injured in Philippine rebel ambush MANILA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Four soldiers and three militiamenwere killed while 11 others were wounded after suspected members ofMuslim rebels ambushed an army convoy Sunday morning in southernPhilippines, local media reported ....
Roadside bombing kills 10 police in S. Afghanistan
Aug 17, 2008 ... Roadside bombing kills 10 police in S. Afghanistan KABUL, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ten police were killed on patrol whentheir vehicle hit IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) in southernAfghan province of Kandahar Saturday evening, said an official onSunday. Matiwullah Khan, the ...
S. Korea, U.S. to conduct large-scale military exercise
Aug 17, 2008 ... S. Korea, U.S. to conduct large-scale military exercise SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean Defense Ministry saidSunday that a large-scale military exercise will be kicked off bySouth Korea and the United States in South Korea on Monday. According to South Korea's ...
S. Korea declares itself bird flu-free zone
Aug 17, 2008 ... S. Korea declares itself bird flu-free zone SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean government saidSunday that the country is a bird flu "clean zone" after threemonths without a confirmed case of the bird flu virus. "Under OIE (the World Organization for Animal Health) ...
Charge-sheet against Musharraf finalized: official
Aug 17, 2008 ... Charge-sheet against Musharraf finalized: official ISLAMABAD, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's ruling coalition'sdraft committee Sunday finalized the charge-sheet against PresidentPervez Musharraf, said Information Minister Sherry Rehman. The final round of the consultations of ...
New Zealand hospital lockdown goes on
Aug 17, 2008 ... New Zealand hospital lockdown goes on WELLINGTON, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A lockdown at New Zealand'sDunedin Hospital due to an outbreak of a norovirus has beenextended, Radio New Zealand reported. The continuation of the lockdown meant all outpatientappointments, including ...
Urgent: Afghan battle claims 37 lives including 32 Taliban insurgents
Aug 17, 2008 ... Urgent: Afghan battle claims 37 lives including 32 Talibaninsurgents KABUL, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A total of 37 people, including 32Taliban ...