News Oct 10

News Bulletin

CPC leadership convenes to discuss further rural reform

The 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has started its third plenary session to discuss important changes in rural reform and development policies. According to a statement issued after the session opening, a draft of the Central Committee decision on major issues concerning rural reform and development would be deliberated at the four-day meeting. The document is expected to guide reform and development in rural areas.

Chinese defense ministry condemns U.S. for arms sales to Taiwan

China's Defense Ministry has condemned the United States for its arms sales to Taiwan, saying China is strongly discontented and firmly opposed to the recent comments from the U.S. on bilateral military ties. Defense Ministry spokesman, Huang Xueping, was referring to Pentagon spokesman Stuart Upton's remarks on Monday that Washington's arms sales were consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei has summoned the charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy to China to raise strong protest against the U.S. move.

China calls for "unbiased, scientific, fair treatment" of dairy products

China has called for "unbiased, scientific and fair treatment" of its dairy products abroad following the melamine contamination case. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang says China "understands" the concerns of countries that have restricted imports of its dairy products, but Chinese food safety watchdogs have strengthened supervision of exported dairy products. He added that food safety has become a global challenge, and China is committed to stepping up its communication and cooperation with the international community to address the issue.

China confident, capable of overcoming economic challenges, says vice premier

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan says the country is fully confident and capable of overcoming the current economic difficulties. During a meeting with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, the vice premier pledged that China will work closely with other countries to safeguard stability of the global financial market. Wang Qishan said he believes China has great potential in domestic market and economic growth.

IMF chief calls for worldwide cooperation to avoid global recession

The head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Stauss-Kahn has said problems in the financial marekts and in the global economy can only be tackled if nations coordinate their efforts. He warned that the world is on "the cusp of a global recession," but if countries act together, the world economy would recover. The IMF unveiled a gloomy forecast for world growth, saying that the world economy is entering a major downturn in the face of the most dangerous financial shock in mature financial markets since the 1930s.

Dow Jones average dips below 8,600 on panic sell-off

Wall Street tumbled Thursday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipping nearly 700 points to below 9,000 points, the first time in five years. Investors worried that higher borrowing costs could make carmakers, insurers and energy companies the next victims of the credit crisis. The Dow closed down 678 points to below 8,600. It is down over 40 percent from a record high of above 14,000 one year ago.

DPRK blockades its nuclear plant against int'l inspectors

North Korea has formally informed international inspectors that their access to facilities at Yongbyon would no longer be permitted. The International Atomic Energy Agency also confirmed that North Korea has stopped its disablement work, which was initially agreed upon within the Six-Party Talks.

NATO to deploy ships off Somalia to escort food aid shipments

NATO defense ministers have agreed to send ships off the coast of Somalia to escort World Food Program food aid shipments to Somalians. A NATO spokesman says a NATO standing group of warships, composed of seven vessels in total, will be used for the mission. They would arrive in two weeks to stem piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Macedonia recognizes Kosovo's independence

Macedonia announced on Thursday that it has officially recognized Kosovo's independence. Macedonia's Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said his government made the decision following a parliament resolution calling for Kosovo recognition. Earlier Thursday, the Montenegrin government also decided to recognize the independence of Kosovo.

French writer wins 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature

This year's Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio. The Swedish Academy called him an "author of new departures and poetic adventures." 68-year-old Le Clezio has published more than 30 books, including short stories, novels and essays. This was the fourth of the prestigious Nobel Prizes handed out this year, with awards in chemistry, physics and medicine made in the past three days.

Sports News

IOC to Retest Doping Samples from Beijing

Any athletes who thought they got away with doping at the Beijing Olympics shouldn't rest easy. The drug police are coming back. The International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday it will retest samples from the games to search for a new blood-boosting drug at the center of the latest Tour de France scandals. The move reflects the IOC's aggressive attempts to nab drug cheats not just during an Olympics, but weeks, months and even years later once new tests become available. Results and medals could be at stake.

China's NE City to Hold First Ever Birkebeinerrittet Mountain Biking Race

The 2008 China Birkebeinerrittet Mountain Biking Race is scheduled to be held on Saturday in Changchun, capital of Jilin Province, Northeast China, an official said Friday. It is the first time that the well known competition comes to China. Over 100 Athletes from the USA, France, Norway and China will participate in Birkebeinerrittet China which is to be held in Jingyuetan National Forest Park. According to Morten Nygard Nergard, director of Birkebeinerrittet Organizing Committee, the 92-mile Birkebeinerrittet Mountain Biking Race was started in 1993 to commemorate the warriors of Norway.

Federer to Play Madrid Masters

World number two Roger Federer will play at next week's Madrid Masters, organizers said on Thursday. Federer won the Madrid Masters in 2006 and was a finalist in 2007 in the event, which this year begins on Saturday with qualification matches and ends on October 19. The Swiss had a layoff of two weeks as he skipped this week's Stockholm Open. The tournament could pit Federer against Rafael Nadal for the first time since the Spaniard assumed the No. 1 ranking, which the Swiss star had held for a record 237 weeks. Federer was knocked out of the Olympic tournament in Beijing before a potential matchup with Nadal, who won the gold medal.

Jordan Rally Kicks off on Oct. 16

Jordan Rally 2008, the fifth round of the prestigious Middle East Rally Championship, will kick off in Jordan on October 16 with 33 professional drivers competing. The rally gets into gear with a ceremonial start from Al Hussein Gardens on October 16. For the following two days, it will take place in and around the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley areas. The October 16-18 event is expected to see the Middle East champion, Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah, race to win the rally and regain his position as Jordan rally champion.

Entertainment News

Kylie Minogue to Open Asian Tour in November

After wowing European audiences with a tour running through August, Australian pop star Kylie Minogue will open her Asian Kylie "X" tour in November. The tour will kick off in Singapore on November 25, and head to Hong Kong on November 27. The showgirl will then go to Shanghai's Hongkou Stadium on November 29, the Shanghai-based News Times reported. "X," released in 2007, is the tenth album from Minogue, a breast cancer survivor.

Association to Sue Karaoke Bars over Copyright

The China Audio-video Copyright Association says it will file suit in mid October against Beijing-based bar operators refusing to pay royalties for songs and MTV videos they used. The association, which is responsible for charging karaoke bars, sent notice to the first batch of about 300 Beijing-based bars in late September. It urged them to pay the royalties before Oct. 10. It warned of legal action if they failed to meet the deadline, the association said in a statement. About 100 karaoke bar operators will be named in the suit filed by the association, which vowed to push through the fight until all operators made payment according to the law.

Hong Kong Actress Karen Mok Launches Her Own Brand of Perfume

Hong Kong actress-singer Karen Mok launched her own brand of perfume on Thursday in Hong Kong. Karen says she has been sleepless for several nights as it is the first time that an Asian artist has released their own brand of perfume. She said the perfume is just the beginning of her personal design brand and she will gradually introduce other products, like personaly designed lingerie.

Katie Holmes may sing in Eli Stone

With the grand opening of her Broadway show "All My Sons" in just over a week, Katie Holmes is getting geared up for success. It sounds like Holmes will be doing more than just acting in the Oct. 21 episode of "Eli Stone." She’ll also be showing off her singing skills. Marc Guggenheim, the show’s executive producer, says the first time I heard her sing, I was like 'Who are you?' She is a revelation. It was a great experience for us -- and hopefully for her, too!"