Xinhua News Agency back issues from Friday, March 20:
Xinhua Middle East news advisory -- March 20
Mar 20, 2009 ... Xinhua Middle East news advisory -- March 20 CAIRO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The following are some of majorMiddle East news stories due to be covered or pursued by Xinhua NewsAgency on Friday. -- Monitoring developments as rival Palestinian groups endedtheir first round of ...
Feature: Six years after invasion, Iraqis cautiously hopeful for better future
Mar 20, 2009 ... Feature: Six years after invasion, Iraqis cautiously hopeful forbetter future Feature: Six years after invasion, Iraqis cautiouslyhopeful for better future by Jamal Hashim BAGHDAD, March 20 (Xinhua) - At sunset of a normal day, the al-Rabie commercial street that bisects ...
Major news items in leading Turkish newspapers
Mar 20, 2009 ... Major news items in leading Turkish newspapers ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The following are majornews items in leading Turkish newspapers on Friday. YENI SAFAK (New Dawn): --According to the German government's reply, Turkish citizenswill be able to enter ...
Major news items in leading Israeli newspapers
Mar 20, 2009 ... Major news items in leading Israeli newspapers JERUSALEM, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The following are major newsitems in leading Israeli newspapers on Friday. Ha'aretz: -- The Israel Defense Forces was instructed Thursday to launchtwo official inquiries into soldiers' ...
U.S. dies from non-combat incident in Iraq
Mar 20, 2009 ... U.S. dies from non-combat incident in Iraq BAGHDAD, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. soldier died of a non-battle related cause in Iraq, the U.S. military said on Friday. The soldier died on Thursday, a military statement said withoutproviding details about how and where exactly ...
Chinese minister: Asia-Pacific region dynamic area with huge development potentials, water challenges
Mar 20, 2009 ... Chinese minister: Asia-Pacific region dynamic area with hugedevelopment potentials, water challenges Chinese minister: Asia-Pacific region dynamic area with huge development potentials, waterchallenges ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Water is a criticalmaterial foundation ...
Beirut conference stresses good trade ties between Lebanon and China
Mar 20, 2009 ... Beirut conference stresses good trade ties between Lebanon andChina Beirut conference stresses good trade ties between Lebanon andChina BEIRUT, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The importance of trade ties betweenLebanon and China was the top subject of discussion in a conferenceheld ...
Major news items in leading Egyptian newspapers
Mar 20, 2009 ... Major news items in leading Egyptian newspapers CAIRO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The following are major news items inleading Egyptian newspapers on Friday. Al Ahram: -- Cairo is currently preparing for a fresh round of dialogueamong Palestinian factions in two week's ...
Israel's Netanyahu receives extension for cabinet-making maneuver
Mar 20, 2009 ... Israel's Netanyahu receives extension for cabinet-making maneuver JERUSALEM, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister- designateBenjamin Netanyahu was granted on Friday a two-week extension forhis ongoing efforts to piece together the country's next government. Netanyahu's ...
Iran welcomes Obama's message, urges "concrete" action of change
Mar 20, 2009 ... Iran welcomes Obama's message, urges "concrete" action of change TEHRAN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Friday welcomed U.S.President Barack Obama's video message for a "new beginning" ofengagement with the Islamic Republic, but still urged Washington totake "concrete" action of ...
China grants Morocco 1.5 mln USD to rev up technological cooperation
Mar 20, 2009 ... China grants Morocco 1.5 mln USD to rev up technologicalcooperation China grants Morocco 1.5 mln USD to rev up technologicalcooperation RABAT, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China has granted Morocco 10 millionyuan (about 1.5 million U.S. dollars) to fund bilateral cooperationprojects in ...
Drug dealer, three companions arrested on Beirut airport road
Mar 20, 2009 ... Drug dealer, three companions arrested on Beirut airport road BEIRUT, March 20 (Xinhua) -- An important drug dealer IbrahimHasan Allaw and three companions were arrested early Friday atBeirut airport highway, the official National News Agency (NNA)reported. Allaw and a ...
U.S. airstrike kills 13 suspected insurgents in Iraq: police
Mar 20, 2009 ... U.S. airstrike kills 13 suspected insurgents in Iraq: police BAQUBA, Iraq, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. airstrike bombedmilitants' hideouts in the volatile province of Diyala, northeast ofBaghdad, killing 13 suspected insurgents, an Iraqi police sourcesaid on Friday. The ...
Urgent: Syrian President arrives in Amman
Mar 20, 2009 ... Urgent: Syrian President arrives in Amman AMMAN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad onFriday arrived in Jordan's ...
1st LD: Syrian President arrives in Amman
Mar 20, 2009 ... 1st LD: Syrian President arrives in Amman AMMAN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad onFriday arrived in Jordan's capital of Amman, starting his firstvisit to the kingdom in five years. Assad was received by Jordan's king Abdullah II at the MarkaAirport, ...
Minister: China to realize MDGs for water 6 years ahead
Mar 20, 2009 ... Minister: China to realize MDGs for water 6 years ahead ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China will realize the UNMillennium Development Goals (MDGs) of halving the populationwithout access to safe drinking water six years ahead of time, aChinese minister said on Friday at ...
Egypt opens Rafah crossing for third day
Mar 20, 2009 ... Egypt opens Rafah crossing for third day CAIRO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian authorities continued toopen the Rafah land crossing at the border with the Palestinianterritory of Gaza Strip for a third consecutive day on Friday, thestate MENA news agency reported. More ...
Iran urges for U.S. "concrete" action of change in response to Obama's message
Mar 20, 2009 ... Iran urges for U.S. "concrete" action of change in response toObama's message Iran urges for U.S. "concrete" action of change inresponse to Obama's message TEHRAN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Friday urged Washington totake "concrete" action of change, while welcoming U.S ....
Urgent: Two U.S. navy ships collide in Hormuz strait: report
Mar 20, 2009 ... Urgent: Two U.S. navy ships collide in Hormuz strait: report CAIRO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Two ...
1st LD: Two U.S. navy ships collide in Hormuz strait: report
Mar 20, 2009 ... 1st LD: Two U.S. navy ships collide in Hormuz strait: report CAIRO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. Navy vessels collided inHormuz strait on Friday, according to reports reaching here fromManama. The Bahrain-based US Navy Fifth Fleet was quoted as saying ...
China, Japan, South Korea keen on water cooperation
Mar 20, 2009 ... China, Japan, South Korea keen on water cooperation ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China, Japan and SouthKorea signed here Friday a joint statement to underline exchangemechanisms and promote trilateral cooperation on water challenges. China's Minister of Water ...
Iran's supreme leader vows nuclear path can't be blocked
Mar 20, 2009 ... Iran's supreme leader vows nuclear path can't be blocked TEHRAN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei vowed Friday that the country's path to nuclear success cannot be blocked. "The world has come to know that the path to the Iranian nation's ...
Jordan, Syria agree on Pan-Arab solidarity ahead of Arab summit
Mar 20, 2009 ... Jordan, Syria agree on Pan-Arab solidarity ahead of Arab summit AMMAN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's King Abdullah II andvisiting Syrian President Bashar Assad here Friday highlighted theimportance to achieve reconciliation among Arabs and support pan-Arab solidarity, the Royal ...
China stresses importance of exchange mechanism for water cooperation with Japan, South Korea
Mar 20, 2009 ... China stresses importance of exchange mechanism for watercooperation with Japan, South Korea China stresses importance ofexchange mechanism for water cooperation with Japan, South Korea ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Minister of WaterResources Chen Lei here Friday ...
UN coordinator content about Lebanese-Syrian exchange of diplomatic missions
Mar 20, 2009 ... UN coordinator content about Lebanese-Syrian exchange ofdiplomatic missions UN coordinator content about Lebanese-Syrianexchange of diplomatic missions BEIRUT, March 20 (Xinhua) -- UN special coordinator for Lebanon,Michael Williams, expressed here Friday his contentment ...
News Analysis: Iraq prepares for post-U.S. occupation era
Mar 20, 2009 ... News Analysis: Iraq prepares for post-U.S. occupation era by Xinhua writers Fu Yiming and Gao Shan BAGHDAD, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Six years after the U.S.-ledinvasion on Iraq, which paralyzed the oil-rich Middle East country,Washington is determined to withdraw its troops out ....
Kuwait cancels 14-billion-dollar refinery project
Mar 20, 2009 ... Kuwait cancels 14-billion-dollar refinery project KUWAIT CITY, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait announced on Friday itcancelled an oil refinery project worth 14 billion U.S. dollars,which is the second cancellation of a major oil project in threemonths. "The decision is in line ...
World Water Forum urges urban action to meet water challenge
Mar 20, 2009 ... World Water Forum urges urban action to meet water challenge ISTANBUL, TURKEY, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing World WaterForum, held in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul, urged on Fridaypriority in action of world cities to meet water challenges. "Mayors and local ...
Turkey strongly condemns terrorist attack in Afghanistan
Mar 20, 2009 ... Turkey strongly condemns terrorist attack in Afghanistan ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Friday stronglycondemned the terrorist attack in southern Afghanistan, said anstatement issued by the Foreign Ministry. The statement said, "Turkey stands in solidarity ...
Roundup: Asia-Pacific Day of World Water Forum highlights regional cooperation
Mar 20, 2009 ... Roundup: Asia-Pacific Day of World Water Forum highlightsregional cooperation Roundup: Asia-Pacific Day of World Water Forumhighlights regional cooperation by Xinhua Writers Li Weijie, Zheng Jinfa ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Asia-Pacific Day ofthe ongoing ...
Egyptian woman killed in building collapse
Mar 20, 2009 ... Egyptian woman killed in building collapse CAIRO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian woman was killed when abuilding collapsed partially in the northern coastal city ofAlexandria on Friday, the official MENA news agency reported. Three others were injured when part of the ...
Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, March 20
Mar 20, 2009 ... Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, March 20 RABAT -- China has granted Morocco 10 million yuan (about 1.5million U.S. dollars) to fund bilateral cooperation projects in thefield of technology, local MAP news agency reported late Thursday. The grant agreement was ...
Urgent: DPRK resumes border phone line communication: Yonhap News
Mar 20, 2009 ... Urgent: DPRK resumes border phone line communication: Yonhap News SEOUL, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic ofKorea on Saturday reconnected cross-border ...
Death toll in Japan nursing home fire rises to 9
Mar 20, 2009 ... Death toll in Japan nursing home fire rises to 9 TOKYO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Death toll from a nursing home firein Japan late Thursday evening has risen to 9 after two more peoplehave died in hospital, police said Saturday. Police earlier had recovered seven bodies after the ...
Major news items in leading Japanese newspapers
Mar 20, 2009 ... Major news items in leading Japanese newspapers TOKYO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The following are the major newsitems in leading Japanese newspapers on Saturday: The Daily Yomiuri -- Seven people died and four others were injured when a firebroke out at a nursing home ...
Major news items in leading Indian newspapers
Mar 20, 2009 ... Major news items in leading Indian newspapers NEW DELHI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The following are major newsitems in leading Indian newspapers on Saturday: The Hindu: -- Air Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik will be the next Chief of theAir Staff. He will take charge from ...
Heavy fighting kills 5 rebels in northern Sri Lanka
Mar 20, 2009 ... Heavy fighting kills 5 rebels in northern Sri Lanka COLOMBO,March 21 (Xinhua) -- At least five Tamil Tiger rebels were killed onFriday in Sri Lanka's northern Puthukkudiyiruppu area as thegovernment troops continued their offensive against the rebels inthe area, said the military on ...
Second Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan this week
Mar 20, 2009 ... Second Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan this week CANBERRA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister KevinRudd announced on Friday the 10th Australian soldier in Afghanistandied on Thursday while trying to protect his mates from a dangerousimprovised explosive ...
Indonesia's non-oil and gas export expected to drop by 28 pct in 2009
Mar 20, 2009 ... Indonesia's non-oil and gas export expected to drop by 28 pct in2009 JAKARTA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's overseas sales of non-oil and gas products is expected to drop by 28 percent this year dueto the deepening fallout of the global economic downturn, accordingto local ...
India rejects U.S. request to pull back troops from Indian-Pakistan border: TV
Mar 20, 2009 ... India rejects U.S. request to pull back troops from Indian-Pakistan border: TV NEW DELHI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- India has rejected a call by theUnited States to pull back troops along the Indian-Pakistan borderas a gesture of goodwill, according to a report by local TV ...
Cambodia tries alternative products to offset impact of financial crisis
Mar 20, 2009 ... Cambodia tries alternative products to offset impact of financialcrisis PHNOM PENH, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia is trying tomanufacture alternative products with local investment and rawmaterials so as to offset the impact of the global financial crisis,national media said on ...
Australian economy entering recession: opposition leader
Mar 20, 2009 ... Australian economy entering recession: opposition leader CANBERRA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Australia's economy is likelyentering a technical recession, the opposition Leader MalcolmTurnbull said on Friday. "Certainly there aren't many people who believe that the Marchquarter ...
Vietnam's growth to shrink to 4.75 pct this year: IMF
Mar 20, 2009 ... Vietnam's growth to shrink to 4.75 pct this year: IMF HANOI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed its forecast for Vietnam's economy growth this year to4.75 percent from an earlier forecast of 5 percent due to theworsening global economic environment, ...
Indian foreign secretary expresses optimism over relations wth China
Mar 20, 2009 ... Indian foreign secretary expresses optimism over relations wthChina NEW DELHI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Indian Foreign Secretary ShivShankar Menon has expressed his optimism that relations betweenIndia and China are expanding and changing for the better despitetheir boundary ...
Security lapses blamed for attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan
Mar 20, 2009 ... Security lapses blamed for attack on Sri Lankan cricket team inPakistan ISLAMABAD, March 20 (Xinhua) -- An investigation report has shownthat the security lapses are to blame for the attack on Sri Lankancricket teams in eastern Pakistan, local media reported on Friday ....
Afghan operations kill 33 militants
Mar 20, 2009 ... Afghan operations kill 33 militants KABUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Afghan troops backed by the U.S. -led Coalition forces in two separate operations targeting militantsin south and east region have eliminated 33 militants, saidCoalition statements issue here on Friday. Afghan ...
US needs to remain engaged with Asia: Singapore official
Mar 20, 2009 ... US needs to remain engaged with Asia: Singapore official SINGAPORE, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The United States needs to workhard to deepen its economic engagement in Asia, a Singapore officialsaid here on Friday. Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang ...
Survey shows popularity of Thai ruling party not affected by censure motion
Mar 20, 2009 ... Survey shows popularity of Thai ruling party not affected bycensure motion BANGKOK, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Over 70 percent of respondents ina real-time survey conducted by Assumption University (ABAC)Thursday during the no-confidence debate against the Thai coalitiongovernment ...
Singapore internet service fees drop amid downturn
Mar 20, 2009 ... Singapore internet service fees drop amid downturn SINGAPORE, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's internet serviceproviders recently cut subscription fees to attract more customersduring the current downturn, local media reported on Friday. According to a report published on ...
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 0600 GMT, March 20
Mar 20, 2009 ... Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 0600 GMT, March 20 TOKYO -- Five people were killed and two missing after a firebroke out at a nursing home for the elderly in Gunma Prefecture ofJapan late Thursday evening, according to local media on Friday. The fire broke out at around ...
260 arrested in drug raids in New Zealand
Mar 20, 2009 ... 260 arrested in drug raids in New Zealand WELLINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand police have arrested260 people and recovered nearly 40 firearms in drug raids across theeast of the North Island, New Zealand media reported on Friday. The raids were carried out over the ...
1st LD Writethru: 7 dead in Japan nursing home fire
Mar 20, 2009 ... 1st LD Writethru: 7 dead in Japan nursing home fire TOKYO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were confirmed deadafter a fire broke out at a nursing home for the elderly in GunmaPrefecture of Japan late Thursday evening, according to local mediaon Friday. The fire broke out ...
Sri Lankan student dies after vaccination
Mar 20, 2009 ... Sri Lankan student dies after vaccination COLOMBO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A 12-year-old female student of aleading school in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka died on Fridaymorning after some 27 students were hospitalized followingvaccination against Rubella on Thursday. Students ...
Pakistan police seize arms in SW Pakistan
Mar 20, 2009 ... Pakistan police seize arms in SW Pakistan ISLAMABAD, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani police seized a cacheof weapons in southwestern province of Balochistan on Friday, policesources said. The police arrested two suspected arms smugglers and seized thearms hidden in an ...
Inter-Korean military communication resumes
Mar 20, 2009 ... Inter-Korean military communication resumes SEOUL, March 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korean government said Saturdaythat the inter-Korean military communication has been resumed earlyon the day. "The military communication line was reopened before 8 a.m. (2300GMT Friday), and the ...
Prize-winning Indian students ready for Cannes film competition
Mar 20, 2009 ... Prize-winning Indian students ready for Cannes film competition NEW DELHI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Two students of Jamia MilliaIslamia (JMI) University in India who have won the Sony WorldPhotography Awards 2009 New Delhi, are bound for the Cannes FilmFestival in April, Indian ...
Australia's jobless rate predicted to reach 7 percent: Treasurer
Mar 20, 2009 ... Australia's jobless rate predicted to reach 7 percent: Treasurer CANBERRA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Australia is likely to suffer ajobless rate above 7 percent due to growing severity of the globaleconomic recession, Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan said on Friday. "So what we are ...
Lao CPI falls slightly in February
Mar 20, 2009 ... Lao CPI falls slightly in February HANOI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Consumer Price Index (CPI)dropped by 0.22 percent in February, causing the national inflationrate to remain at a low 1.6 percent in February, the Lao newspaperVientiane Times reported Friday, citing the source ...
Anti gov't protestors unhappy with current Thai coalition, burn coffin
Mar 20, 2009 ... Anti gov't protestors unhappy with current Thai coalition, burncoffin BANGKOK, March 20 (Xinhua) -- In front of Thailand's Parliamentin Bangkok where the no-confidence debate was going on Friday, agroup of the anti-government protestors burned a coffin to expresstheir ...
URGENT: DPRK to resume military communication channel with S. Korea
Mar 20, 2009 ... URGENT: DPRK to resume military communication channel with S.Korea SEOUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic ...
Indonesia sends warship to help secure Somali waters
Mar 20, 2009 ... Indonesia sends warship to help secure Somali waters JAKARTA,March 20 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia on Friday sent a warship to support maintaining security in the waters of Somali following the rampantpiracy there, Indonesian Military Commander General Djoko Santososaid here. "The ...
1st LD Writethru: DPRK to resume military communication channel with S. Korea
Mar 20, 2009 ... 1st LD Writethru: DPRK to resume military communication channelwith S. Korea 1st LD Writethru: DPRK to resume militarycommunication channel with S. Korea SEOUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic ofKorea (DPRK) informed South Korea that the inter-Korean ...
2nd LD Writethru: DPRK to resume military communication channel with S. Korea
Mar 20, 2009 ... 2nd LD Writethru: DPRK to resume military communication channelwith S. Korea 2nd LD Writethru: DPRK to resume militarycommunication channel with S. Korea SEOUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic ofKorea (DPRK) informed South Korea that the inter-Korean ...
S. Korea's foreign labor quota cut to one-third
Mar 20, 2009 ... S. Korea's foreign labor quota cut to one-third SEOUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean government will cutthe number of foreign labor workers to one-third of the quota lastyear in a bid to boost employment among South Koreans, the Ministryof Labor said Friday. The ...
East Asia urged to be more proactive amid crisis
Mar 20, 2009 ... East Asia urged to be more proactive amid crisis MANILA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- East Asian economies should increasespending on infrastructures, cut taxes and ease monetary policies tocushion the impact of the global economic crisis, said a reportissued on Friday. Short-term ...