News Dec 1

News Bulletin

Chinese premier visits AIDS patients, workers

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao says government funding for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS will increase year-by-year. Wen Jiabao made the announcement at a special symposium composed of AIDS experts and grassroots medical workers who gathered in East China's Anhui Province over the weekend. Wen Jiabao also visited people living with HIV/AIDS and thanked workers dealing with the disease in Funan County in the eastern part of the province. According to the ministry of health, there are over 264,000 HIV cases in China, including some 77,000 AIDS patients.

China urges practical steps to help developing countries in confronting crisis

Chinea`s Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei is urging the international community for the creation of a global development partnership to help developing nations in confronting the ongoing global financial crisis. As the special envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao, He Yafei, made the call at the plenary session of the U.N.-sponsored follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development. Yafei told delegates the spreading international financial crisis and the complicated and perilous international economic situation, is posing a challenge to efforts to implement the Millennium Development Goals.

China expects economic growth by 10 pct in 2009, expert

China's economy is expected to grow by 10 percent in 2009 despite the impact of the financial crisis and global economic downturn according to a researcher with the country's Cabinet. Zhang Liqun, the Development Research Center of the State Council researcher says although dim world economic situation has led to weak overseas demand, domestic consumption and investments, vast development potential decided the country's economy will grow at fast paces.

Beijing fulfils "blue sky" day goal one month in advance

As Sunday marked another day of good air quality in Beijing, the city has met its 2008 target of 256 blue sky days. According to the Beijing Environmental Protection Monitoring Center , that`s 25 more than the period covering the same time frame last year. The center's statistics show that from January to November, major pollution indices reporting on concentrations of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, fell by up to 27.8 percent. Since 1998, Beijing has invested more than 15 billion U.S. dollars to improve its air quality.

China Opposes EU Criticism of Spy Execution

China was strongly opposed to the accusation of the European Union and Austria over its execution of Wo Weihan, a man spying for Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang says "Chinese judicial organs made the verdict and this was completely a matter within the Chinese judicial sovereignty". He made the statement in response to a reporter's questions: The EU and Austria expressed strong dissatisfaction over Wo's execution in their statement. China's action undermined the mutual trust and mutual respect of human rights talks and would lead to severe effects on human rights talks. The U.S. has also expressed concerns over Wo's case.

IAEA monitors safety of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant

The International Atomic Energy Organization representative to Iran says cooperation between the IAEA and Iran on the security and safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is in line with existing protocols and agreements. Christer Viktorsson also says Iran is now fully cooperating with the IAEA to maintain safety at the facilities. Christer made the remarks at the First International Seminar on Nuclear Power Plant, Environment and Sustainable Development that opened in Tehran on Sunday.

Top DPRK leader inspects air force unit

The official KCNA news says that Kim Jong il, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has called on boosting the combat capability of the Air Force Unit 1016 of the Korean People's Army. The DPRK leader made the call during an inspection of the air force unit that included observing airmen of the Air Force Unit undergoing training exercises. Kim Jong il emphasized that the soldiers should pay attention to their dress, as "the appearance of soldiers is one of the important criteria proving the dignity, spirit and discipline of a regular army."

Hijacked Ukrainian ship might be freed Tuesday: maritime official

Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program says the release of the Ukrainian ship MV Faina seized two months ago may culminate this week with the release of the vessel and her 17 member crew. Mwangura told Xinhua negotiations have been finalized and the release will probably happen on Tuesday along with the ship`s military hardware consisting of tanks and other weapons. Mwangura's remarks were backed by Somali pirates. In response to the escalating hijackings, including 39 successful captures this year, warships from a host of countries including the UN are patrolling the vast international maritime corridor off Somalia, escorting merchant ships and responding to distress calls.

Obama to announce national security team on Monday

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team is set to introduce his national security team at a press conference in Chicago on Monday morning. Without elaborating, the team said in a press release to reporters that vice president Joe Biden will attend the announcement. However, press reports say Senator Hillary Clinton is expected to be nominated as secretary of state while Robert Gates will likely maintain his posting as the current defense secretary.

U.S. space shuttle Endeavour lands in California after mission

U.S. space shuttle Endeavour has landed safely in California Sunday afternoon after a 16-day trip. NASA announced earlier in the day that it had to reroute the space shuttle's landing in California after canceling two landing attempts in Florida's Kennedy Space Center due to the high winds there. The space shuttle and its 7-member crew were returning from a successful trip which had helped upgrade the International Space Station for housing bigger crews. Four spacewalks were also conducted during the trip to repair the ISS's power system. Endeavour's mission was the last by a U.S. space shuttle this year. The next NASA shuttle flight is scheduled for February to install the space station's last solar wing panel.

Entertainment News

"Four Christmases" Tops Thanksgiving Weekend Box Office

Comedy "Four Christmases" won the Thanksgiving holiday weekend box office crown with an estimated 46.7 million U.S. dollars in North America. The film starring Vince Vaughn and Oscar-winning Reese Witherspoon from Warner Bros. beat out a strong second week showing from the teen-hot vampire romance "Twilight" with the third-best Thanksgiving weekend opening performance ever in Hollywood history. Summit Entertainment's "Twilight" last week's leader, is on its way to franchise status with a massive 119.7 million dollars take over two weeks.

Zhang Liangying to Hold Her First Shanghai Concert

Zhang Liangying, one of the three finalists in the reality TV show "Super Girl" in 2005, will hold her first concert in Shanghai on December 13. One of her numerous fan groups has reserved 1,000 tickets for the show. The success of "Super Girl," a Chinese version of "American Idol," set a trend for Chinese television shows. While many contestants have faded into obscurity, Zhang has made it big. Zhang says "I have collected a lot of songs over the past three years. I hope the audience will like me at the concert. It's different from listening to my song on a CD or MP3.”

"Fit Lover" Stars Shine at Movie Promotion Event off Screen

Hong Kong actress Karena Lam and Taiwan pop star Alec Su attended an event in Guangzhou on Friday to promote their new romantic comedy "Fit Lover," a sequel to last year's popular hit "Call For Love". The new film by director Zhang Jianya features 12 top Chinese and Japanese actors, including Leo Koo, Fan Wei, Huang Xiaoming, Tong Dawei, Lu Yi, Deng Chao and Naoki Hosaka. The story centers on Nie Bing, a high-profile TV hostess played by Lam, who is given a magic car by a mischievous angel. Each time she drives the car, a different handsome man appears.

Pregnant for 3rd Time? Angelina Jolie: Not True.

Angelina Jolie has been forced to deny she is pregnant again following tabloid reports suggesting the actress is expecting her fourth biological child with Brad Pitt. Speculation surrounding a reported pregnancy has dogged the Hollywood supercouple in recent months - rumors which were denied by the Oscar winner's publicist earlier this month. Publication In Touch magazine has most recently claimed Jolie is pregnant again, reporting that the actress announced the happy news to a waiter in a London restaurant after he tried to pour her an alcoholic drink.