Guatemalans start voting in presidential run-off
Guatemalans started streaming into polling stations Sunday morning to vote in their country's presidential run-off.
More than 2,500 polling stations across the Central American country opened their doors at 7 a.m. (1300 GMT) for the election, a follow-up to the first round in September.
Opinion polls are tipping a win for Patriota Party candidate Otto Perez Molina, who received 36.10 percent of the vote in the first-round election.
A victory for Molina would make the 60-year-old retired army general the first military man to rule since Guatemala's 36-year civil war ended in 1996.
His rival is Manuel Baldizon of the Renewed Democratic Liberty Party, who was second in the first round with 22.68 percent of the vote.
Under the Guatemalan constitution, if no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the two front-runners will compete in a run-off.
All citizens over the age of 18, accounting for about half of the country's population of 14.7 million people, are eligible to vote.
The polls will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT Monday) and the first election results are expected to be released three hours later.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-11-06 22:34:14 FeedbackPrintRSS
GUATEMALA CITY, Nov. 6 (Xinhua)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Elections start in Nicaragua
Elections start in Nicaragua
Nicaraguans went to the polls Sunday to choose their country's president, vice president, 90 deputies of the National Assembly and 20 Central American parliamentarians.
Voting began at 7 a.m. local time (1300 GMT) and voting centers will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). A total of 12,985 polling stations have been installed in 153 municipalities across Nicaragua's 16 provinces.
Five candidates are competing for the presidency. The latest opinion polls had incumbent President Daniel Ortega comfortably ahead with about 48 percent support.
Fabio Gadea of the Independent Liberal Party Alliance was second with 30 percent, while former president Arnoldo Aleman, a candidate for the Constitutional Liberal Party, was polling 10 percent in the survey.
Under the country's electoral law, in order to claim victory in the first round, a candidate must either win at least 40 percent of valid votes, or win at least 35 percent and have an advantage of 5 percent or more over the closest runner-up.
The elections are organized by the Supreme Electoral Council.
About 100 observers from the European Union, as well as 80 observers from the Organization of American States, are monitoring the elections.
A total of 20,000 national police and army security troops have been deployed to ensure that the voting proceeds without trouble.
In Nicaragua, all people over 16 years of age are eligible to vote and more than 3.4 million of Nicaragua's 5.8 million population have registered to vote in this election.
Editor: Deng Shasha
English.news.cn 2011-11-06 21:16:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
MANAGUA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua)
Nicaraguans went to the polls Sunday to choose their country's president, vice president, 90 deputies of the National Assembly and 20 Central American parliamentarians.
Voting began at 7 a.m. local time (1300 GMT) and voting centers will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). A total of 12,985 polling stations have been installed in 153 municipalities across Nicaragua's 16 provinces.
Five candidates are competing for the presidency. The latest opinion polls had incumbent President Daniel Ortega comfortably ahead with about 48 percent support.
Fabio Gadea of the Independent Liberal Party Alliance was second with 30 percent, while former president Arnoldo Aleman, a candidate for the Constitutional Liberal Party, was polling 10 percent in the survey.
Under the country's electoral law, in order to claim victory in the first round, a candidate must either win at least 40 percent of valid votes, or win at least 35 percent and have an advantage of 5 percent or more over the closest runner-up.
The elections are organized by the Supreme Electoral Council.
About 100 observers from the European Union, as well as 80 observers from the Organization of American States, are monitoring the elections.
A total of 20,000 national police and army security troops have been deployed to ensure that the voting proceeds without trouble.
In Nicaragua, all people over 16 years of age are eligible to vote and more than 3.4 million of Nicaragua's 5.8 million population have registered to vote in this election.
Editor: Deng Shasha
English.news.cn 2011-11-06 21:16:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
MANAGUA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua)
Backgrounder: Key facts about Nicaragua's general elections
Backgrounder: Key facts about Nicaragua's general elections
Nicaraguans will cast their votes Sunday to choose a president, vice president, 90 deputies of the National Assembly and 20 Central American parliamentarians.
The following are some key facts about the elections.
In Nicaragua, citizens over 16 years old are eligible to vote, and over 3.4 million of Nicaragua's 5.8 million have registered to vote in Sunday's elections.
Polls are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. local time (1300 GMT) and close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). A total of 12,985 polling stations will be installed in 153 municipalities across Nicaragua's 16 provinces.
Five candidates are competing for the presidency, but latest opinion polls show that Nicaragua's incumbent President Daniel Ortega, candidate of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), is ahead with a solid lead of about 48 percent of votes.
Fabio Gadea of the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) Alliance is second with 30 percent, while Arnoldo Aleman, who was president from 1997 to 2002 and is the candidate for the Constitutional Liberal Party, is third in polls with about 10 percent of the votes.
Under Nicaragua's electoral laws, a candidate must win at least 40 percent of valid votes in the first round in order to win, or get at least 35 percent of the vote and have an advantage of 5 percent or more over the closest runner-up. The elections are organized by the Supreme Electoral Council.
The Nicaraguan Congress has 90 members, who all are elected for the five-year 2012-2017 term that runs parallel to the presidency.
About 100 observers from the European Union (EU) and 80 observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) are going to monitor the elections.
A total of 20,000 national police and army security forces will be deployed in Nicaragua Sunday to ensure that the voting process will go smoothly.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-06 13:22:11 FeedbackPrintRSS
MANAGUA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua)
Nicaraguans will cast their votes Sunday to choose a president, vice president, 90 deputies of the National Assembly and 20 Central American parliamentarians.
The following are some key facts about the elections.
In Nicaragua, citizens over 16 years old are eligible to vote, and over 3.4 million of Nicaragua's 5.8 million have registered to vote in Sunday's elections.
Polls are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. local time (1300 GMT) and close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). A total of 12,985 polling stations will be installed in 153 municipalities across Nicaragua's 16 provinces.
Five candidates are competing for the presidency, but latest opinion polls show that Nicaragua's incumbent President Daniel Ortega, candidate of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), is ahead with a solid lead of about 48 percent of votes.
Fabio Gadea of the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) Alliance is second with 30 percent, while Arnoldo Aleman, who was president from 1997 to 2002 and is the candidate for the Constitutional Liberal Party, is third in polls with about 10 percent of the votes.
Under Nicaragua's electoral laws, a candidate must win at least 40 percent of valid votes in the first round in order to win, or get at least 35 percent of the vote and have an advantage of 5 percent or more over the closest runner-up. The elections are organized by the Supreme Electoral Council.
The Nicaraguan Congress has 90 members, who all are elected for the five-year 2012-2017 term that runs parallel to the presidency.
About 100 observers from the European Union (EU) and 80 observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) are going to monitor the elections.
A total of 20,000 national police and army security forces will be deployed in Nicaragua Sunday to ensure that the voting process will go smoothly.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-06 13:22:11 FeedbackPrintRSS
MANAGUA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua)
Profiles of Nicaragua's three main presidential candidates
Profiles of Nicaragua's three main presidential candidates
Nicaragua will hold general elections on Sunday to choose the country's president for the 2012-2017 term.
The following are profiles of the three main presidential candidates:
Daniel Ortega, leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), has a solid lead in recent opinion polls with 48 percent of voter support.
Born on Nov. 11, 1945, in a small town in central Nicaragua, Ortega attended law classes at Managua's Central American University in 1962.
He became a member of the FSLN in 1963, and was a member of the party's executive committee from 1964-1967. He was arrested many times in the early 1960s before fleeing to Cuba in 1974. He later returned to Nicaragua secretly. He was elected secretary-general of the FSLN in July 1991.
Ortega was elected president of Nicaragua in 1984, but was voted out of power in 1990. His renewed attempts to gain re-election in 1996 and 2001 all failed and it was not until 2006 that he was elected again with about 38 percent of the vote.
During his election campaign, Ortega promised to fight hunger, endemic poverty and Nicaragua's high rate of illiteracy.
He married poetess Rosario Murillo in 1979 and the couple have eight children.
Fabio Gadea, who turns 80 on Wednesday, is a candidate of the Independent Liberal Alliance (PLI) and is running second in opinion polls with 30 percent of support.
Born on Nov. 9, 1931, in the city of Ocotal in Nicaragua's northern most province of Nueva Segovia, Gadea is a radio journalist and businessman, and represents the Nicaraguan right-wing opposition.
He has twice been a member of the Central American Parliament in 2004-2005 and again since 2007, and campaigned on promises to fight corruption.
Gadea has also proposed to reduce the number of Congress members to 62 from 90, and cut the number of Supreme Court magistrates to six from 16 in a bid to save budget expenses.
Gadea, who has said he would not seek re-election if he was relected, is father-in-law of the 3rd presidential candidate Arnoldo Aleman.
Nicaragua's former president Arnoldo Aleman is also seeking re-election as a candidate of the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC), but opinion polls are only giving him about 10 percent of support.
Born on Jan. 23, 1946 in the Nicaraguan capital Managua, Aleman is a lawyer, and he was an officer during the Somoza government. In 1980 he was temporarily arrested by the Sandanista junta before taking up residence in the United States.
He returned to Nicaragua in 1988 and immediately got involved in politics. He was elected Mayor of Managua in 1990 and president for 1997-2002.
In 2002, Aleman was formally charged with corruption and money-laundering and served prison time under house arrest due to health problems, but his 20-year sentence was overturned in 2009.
Aleman said in his campaign that he wants to return the rule of law and democracy to Nicaragua and will strive to create one million new jobs.
There are more than 3.4 million eligible voters in the country. On Sunday, voters will cast their ballots for president, vice-president, 90 deputies to Nicaragua's Congress and 20 to the Central American Parliament.
Polls will open at 7:00 Sunday (1300 GMT) and close at 18:00 (0000 GMT Monday).
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-06 13:06:51 FeedbackPrintRSS
MANAGUA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua)
Nicaragua will hold general elections on Sunday to choose the country's president for the 2012-2017 term.
The following are profiles of the three main presidential candidates:
Daniel Ortega, leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), has a solid lead in recent opinion polls with 48 percent of voter support.
Born on Nov. 11, 1945, in a small town in central Nicaragua, Ortega attended law classes at Managua's Central American University in 1962.
He became a member of the FSLN in 1963, and was a member of the party's executive committee from 1964-1967. He was arrested many times in the early 1960s before fleeing to Cuba in 1974. He later returned to Nicaragua secretly. He was elected secretary-general of the FSLN in July 1991.
Ortega was elected president of Nicaragua in 1984, but was voted out of power in 1990. His renewed attempts to gain re-election in 1996 and 2001 all failed and it was not until 2006 that he was elected again with about 38 percent of the vote.
During his election campaign, Ortega promised to fight hunger, endemic poverty and Nicaragua's high rate of illiteracy.
He married poetess Rosario Murillo in 1979 and the couple have eight children.
Fabio Gadea, who turns 80 on Wednesday, is a candidate of the Independent Liberal Alliance (PLI) and is running second in opinion polls with 30 percent of support.
Born on Nov. 9, 1931, in the city of Ocotal in Nicaragua's northern most province of Nueva Segovia, Gadea is a radio journalist and businessman, and represents the Nicaraguan right-wing opposition.
He has twice been a member of the Central American Parliament in 2004-2005 and again since 2007, and campaigned on promises to fight corruption.
Gadea has also proposed to reduce the number of Congress members to 62 from 90, and cut the number of Supreme Court magistrates to six from 16 in a bid to save budget expenses.
Gadea, who has said he would not seek re-election if he was relected, is father-in-law of the 3rd presidential candidate Arnoldo Aleman.
Nicaragua's former president Arnoldo Aleman is also seeking re-election as a candidate of the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC), but opinion polls are only giving him about 10 percent of support.
Born on Jan. 23, 1946 in the Nicaraguan capital Managua, Aleman is a lawyer, and he was an officer during the Somoza government. In 1980 he was temporarily arrested by the Sandanista junta before taking up residence in the United States.
He returned to Nicaragua in 1988 and immediately got involved in politics. He was elected Mayor of Managua in 1990 and president for 1997-2002.
In 2002, Aleman was formally charged with corruption and money-laundering and served prison time under house arrest due to health problems, but his 20-year sentence was overturned in 2009.
Aleman said in his campaign that he wants to return the rule of law and democracy to Nicaragua and will strive to create one million new jobs.
There are more than 3.4 million eligible voters in the country. On Sunday, voters will cast their ballots for president, vice-president, 90 deputies to Nicaragua's Congress and 20 to the Central American Parliament.
Polls will open at 7:00 Sunday (1300 GMT) and close at 18:00 (0000 GMT Monday).
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-11-06 13:06:51 FeedbackPrintRSS
MANAGUA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua)
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos : Offensive against FARC rebels will continue
Santos: Offensive against FARC rebels will continue
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos warned on Saturday that no member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group will be safe while they stay armed.
"We do not know what will happen or what they will decide (but what is clear) is that no member of the FARC will be safe in our territory," Santos told the press in the southern region of Cauca where the FARC's top leader was killed.
"There is no corner of the country where the police and the army won't arrive," said the president from a military base in Popayan, Cauca.
The operation "Odysseus" held on Friday in a rural area of this region has resulted in the death of FARC leader Guillermo Leon Saenz, better known as alias "Alfonso Cano."
"The only thing this does is double the enthusiasm, the strength and the perseverance of our armed forces" in the fight against this and other illegal organizations, Santos said, surrounded by military commanders.
Speaking to the rebels, the president reiterated his invitation to demobilize and surrender their weapons, so they can return to civilian life.
"What I just want to say is that it's time to demobilize, to decide to disarm, because as I have said many times, the alternative (if you ignore this recommendation) is a prison or a grave," he noted.
The death of Cano, the mastermind and chief representative of the political wing from the insurgent group, constitutes the most crushing blow to the organization since it came into being mid- 1960s.
News reports indicated that the body of the former guerrilla leader remained on the premises of the official forensic agency in Popayn, where tests were performed for his identification.
There is no official report on the cause of the death -- whether it was the result of the Air Force bombing in the early hours of Friday or gunshot wounds in combat.
The Saenz family who have no ties to the FARC is said to claim the body in the coming days for the funeral ritual.
English.news.cn 2011-11-06 05:00:24
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos warned on Saturday that no member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group will be safe while they stay armed.
"We do not know what will happen or what they will decide (but what is clear) is that no member of the FARC will be safe in our territory," Santos told the press in the southern region of Cauca where the FARC's top leader was killed.
"There is no corner of the country where the police and the army won't arrive," said the president from a military base in Popayan, Cauca.
The operation "Odysseus" held on Friday in a rural area of this region has resulted in the death of FARC leader Guillermo Leon Saenz, better known as alias "Alfonso Cano."
"The only thing this does is double the enthusiasm, the strength and the perseverance of our armed forces" in the fight against this and other illegal organizations, Santos said, surrounded by military commanders.
Speaking to the rebels, the president reiterated his invitation to demobilize and surrender their weapons, so they can return to civilian life.
"What I just want to say is that it's time to demobilize, to decide to disarm, because as I have said many times, the alternative (if you ignore this recommendation) is a prison or a grave," he noted.
The death of Cano, the mastermind and chief representative of the political wing from the insurgent group, constitutes the most crushing blow to the organization since it came into being mid- 1960s.
News reports indicated that the body of the former guerrilla leader remained on the premises of the official forensic agency in Popayn, where tests were performed for his identification.
There is no official report on the cause of the death -- whether it was the result of the Air Force bombing in the early hours of Friday or gunshot wounds in combat.
The Saenz family who have no ties to the FARC is said to claim the body in the coming days for the funeral ritual.
English.news.cn 2011-11-06 05:00:24
Cuba signs contracts worth over 300 million U.S. dollars at trade fair
Cuba signs contracts worth over 300 million U.S. dollars at trade fair
Cuba signed contracts worth over 300 million U.S. dollars at the International Fair of Havana that ended Saturday, officials said.
Cuba also initiating negotiations and contacts for other business transactions, said Abraham Maciquez, president of the trade fair organizing committee.
The Cuban Ministry of Transport signed four documents with companies in Canada and the Netherlands aimed at providing resources for the recovery of railroads, motor transportation and ports on the island.
The fair was attended by about 1,500 foreign companies and official delegations from some 20 countries.
The fair also involved more than 350 Cuban companies in areas such as health, food industry, electronics, construction, and services, a sector representing currently 70 percent of the national income.
The "fair is not a bilateral event between Cuba and foreign companies involved, but an international meeting of trade relations," Maciquez said. "It is a bridge, aimed at linking our continent with the rest of the world to promote trade and relations of all kinds in a climate of peace, tranquility and security."
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 23:01:18 FeedbackPrintRSS
HAVANA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua)
Cuba signed contracts worth over 300 million U.S. dollars at the International Fair of Havana that ended Saturday, officials said.
Cuba also initiating negotiations and contacts for other business transactions, said Abraham Maciquez, president of the trade fair organizing committee.
The Cuban Ministry of Transport signed four documents with companies in Canada and the Netherlands aimed at providing resources for the recovery of railroads, motor transportation and ports on the island.
The fair was attended by about 1,500 foreign companies and official delegations from some 20 countries.
The fair also involved more than 350 Cuban companies in areas such as health, food industry, electronics, construction, and services, a sector representing currently 70 percent of the national income.
The "fair is not a bilateral event between Cuba and foreign companies involved, but an international meeting of trade relations," Maciquez said. "It is a bridge, aimed at linking our continent with the rest of the world to promote trade and relations of all kinds in a climate of peace, tranquility and security."
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 23:01:18 FeedbackPrintRSS
HAVANA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua)
Chile ready to face possible world economic recession: President Sebastian Pinera
Chile ready to face possible world economic recession: president
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Friday his country is ready to face a possible world recession.
"Unfortunately, the world economy is not working well, but Chile is well prepared and ready to face the hard times that may come," Pinera told reporters in the Chilean capital.
He said he will "personally make an effort" to ensure that any possible economic recession won't burden the middle class or the most vulnerable sectors of the South American country.
The Chilean government announced last month that it will take special measures to face a possible world recession or any other adverse effects of the lingering uncertainty over the U.S. economic uncertainties and European debt crisis.
Financial officials said this special contingency plan includes the issuing of bonds worth 1.5 billion U.S. dollars by the Chilean government in the New York stock market.
Chilean Finance Minister Felipe Larrain said earlier on Friday that thanks to its contingency plan, the Chilean economy is well prepared to face more "complex events" such as a renewed moratorium in Greece or a recession in the eurozone economy.
"There is a lot of uncertainty in the international markets because of what is going on in Europe. The news is positive one day and negative the next, so that is why the markets move up or down, because there is a complex problem without a solution in sight," Larrain said.
He said that the solution to the European economic crisis will have to be based on efficient action to deal with the Greek rescue measures, including forgiveness of its 140-billion-dollar debt and a contribution from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Editor: Tang Danlu
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 11:38:22 FeedbackPrintRSS
SANTIAGO, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Friday his country is ready to face a possible world recession.
"Unfortunately, the world economy is not working well, but Chile is well prepared and ready to face the hard times that may come," Pinera told reporters in the Chilean capital.
He said he will "personally make an effort" to ensure that any possible economic recession won't burden the middle class or the most vulnerable sectors of the South American country.
The Chilean government announced last month that it will take special measures to face a possible world recession or any other adverse effects of the lingering uncertainty over the U.S. economic uncertainties and European debt crisis.
Financial officials said this special contingency plan includes the issuing of bonds worth 1.5 billion U.S. dollars by the Chilean government in the New York stock market.
Chilean Finance Minister Felipe Larrain said earlier on Friday that thanks to its contingency plan, the Chilean economy is well prepared to face more "complex events" such as a renewed moratorium in Greece or a recession in the eurozone economy.
"There is a lot of uncertainty in the international markets because of what is going on in Europe. The news is positive one day and negative the next, so that is why the markets move up or down, because there is a complex problem without a solution in sight," Larrain said.
He said that the solution to the European economic crisis will have to be based on efficient action to deal with the Greek rescue measures, including forgiveness of its 140-billion-dollar debt and a contribution from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Editor: Tang Danlu
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 11:38:22 FeedbackPrintRSS
SANTIAGO, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Top commander of Colombia's FARC group killed: gov't
Top commander of Colombia's FARC group killed: gov't
The Colombian government said Friday its troops have killed Guillermo Leon Saenz Vargas, alias Alfonso Cano, top commander of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Hailing the killing as a "very important news for Colombia and its people," Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon told a news conference that the rebel kingpin died in a clash with government troops Friday in jungles near Suarez city of the southwestern Cauca province.
According to the official, police and army troops bombed a FARC hideout early Friday and then deployed an operation on the ground, killing Cano in a gun battle.
Photos of the dead body of the country's most wanted man were shown by the defense minister.
His face, probably inflamed by the bombing, wasn't wearing the glasses and bulky grey beard as he usually did.
News reports indicated the body had been subjected to several fingerprints tests, which allowed the complete identification.
In a television and radio speech, President Juan Manuel Santos described his death as "the most overwhelming blow that has been given to this organization in its history," and demanded other illegal organizations to lay down their arms before they end up "in jails or in tombs."
The president also called on his subordinates and especially the military forces to avoid triumphalist attitude and to keep working for Colombia's peace and prosperous future.
Cano, 63, assumed the leadership of the illegal armed organization in 2008 after the death of former FARC's commander and founder Pedro Nel Marin, alias "Manuel Marulanda."
Cano's death was another major victory for the Colombian government in its fight against the FARC guerrillas, whose military chief Mono Jojoy was killed last year.
Last month, another key member of FARC, Jose Neftali Umenza, who was handling most of the FARC's drug-trafficking business in the Pacific area, died in an explosion in a rural part of the Buenaventura port city in southwestern Colombia.
FARC, Colombia's largest rebel group, has been at war with the government since its establishment in 1964.
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 10:50:32
The Colombian government said Friday its troops have killed Guillermo Leon Saenz Vargas, alias Alfonso Cano, top commander of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Hailing the killing as a "very important news for Colombia and its people," Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon told a news conference that the rebel kingpin died in a clash with government troops Friday in jungles near Suarez city of the southwestern Cauca province.
According to the official, police and army troops bombed a FARC hideout early Friday and then deployed an operation on the ground, killing Cano in a gun battle.
Photos of the dead body of the country's most wanted man were shown by the defense minister.
His face, probably inflamed by the bombing, wasn't wearing the glasses and bulky grey beard as he usually did.
News reports indicated the body had been subjected to several fingerprints tests, which allowed the complete identification.
In a television and radio speech, President Juan Manuel Santos described his death as "the most overwhelming blow that has been given to this organization in its history," and demanded other illegal organizations to lay down their arms before they end up "in jails or in tombs."
The president also called on his subordinates and especially the military forces to avoid triumphalist attitude and to keep working for Colombia's peace and prosperous future.
Cano, 63, assumed the leadership of the illegal armed organization in 2008 after the death of former FARC's commander and founder Pedro Nel Marin, alias "Manuel Marulanda."
Cano's death was another major victory for the Colombian government in its fight against the FARC guerrillas, whose military chief Mono Jojoy was killed last year.
Last month, another key member of FARC, Jose Neftali Umenza, who was handling most of the FARC's drug-trafficking business in the Pacific area, died in an explosion in a rural part of the Buenaventura port city in southwestern Colombia.
FARC, Colombia's largest rebel group, has been at war with the government since its establishment in 1964.
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 10:50:32
28 Venezuelan soldiers injured in grenade explosion
28 Venezuelan soldiers injured in grenade explosion
Twenty-eight government troops were injured Friday after a grenade exploded during a drill in southwestern Venezuela, local press reported.
The accident took place at a navy unit in the southeastern district of Puerto Ayacucho in the state of Amazonas, believed to be caused by the mishandling of explosive devices by a group of young soldiers who were recently recruited.
The majority of the injured soldiers were take to Jose Gregorio Hernandez Hospital in Puerto Ayacucho, while four seriously injured soldiers were airlifted to Caracas, capital of the country, for special treatment.
The hospital's assistant manager Luis Torres said that all the injured soldiers were in stable condition except for the four sent to the capital.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 09:34:14 FeedbackPrintRSS
CARACAS, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Twenty-eight government troops were injured Friday after a grenade exploded during a drill in southwestern Venezuela, local press reported.
The accident took place at a navy unit in the southeastern district of Puerto Ayacucho in the state of Amazonas, believed to be caused by the mishandling of explosive devices by a group of young soldiers who were recently recruited.
The majority of the injured soldiers were take to Jose Gregorio Hernandez Hospital in Puerto Ayacucho, while four seriously injured soldiers were airlifted to Caracas, capital of the country, for special treatment.
The hospital's assistant manager Luis Torres said that all the injured soldiers were in stable condition except for the four sent to the capital.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 09:34:14 FeedbackPrintRSS
CARACAS, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Colombian police arrest 22 alleged drug traffickers
Colombian police arrest 22 alleged drug traffickers
Colombia's National Police have arrested at least 22 people accused of drug trafficking in a joint operation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), police said on Friday.
The operation dismantled most of a network of specialized drug traffickers that used speed boats to ship cocaine to North America, Central America and Europe, the police said in a statement.
The network of alleged criminals supposedly filled containers in Colombia's southern port of Buenaventura which then were shipped to foreign destinations under the orders of a famous criminal group in Colombia, whose leaders are wanted by U.S. authorities.
The arrested included Jorge Eliecer Bedoya, whom the United States has requested to be extradited for his role in drug trafficking and distribution in the United States. They will face criminal charges for felonies including drug trafficking and distribution.
The operation was held simultaneously in six Colombian cities by Colombia's police officers jointly with DEA members.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 10:00:54 FeedbackPrintRSS
BOGOTA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Colombia's National Police have arrested at least 22 people accused of drug trafficking in a joint operation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), police said on Friday.
The operation dismantled most of a network of specialized drug traffickers that used speed boats to ship cocaine to North America, Central America and Europe, the police said in a statement.
The network of alleged criminals supposedly filled containers in Colombia's southern port of Buenaventura which then were shipped to foreign destinations under the orders of a famous criminal group in Colombia, whose leaders are wanted by U.S. authorities.
The arrested included Jorge Eliecer Bedoya, whom the United States has requested to be extradited for his role in drug trafficking and distribution in the United States. They will face criminal charges for felonies including drug trafficking and distribution.
The operation was held simultaneously in six Colombian cities by Colombia's police officers jointly with DEA members.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 10:00:54 FeedbackPrintRSS
BOGOTA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Traffic accidents kill 40,000 in Brazil in 2010
Traffic accidents kill 40,000 in Brazil in 2010
A total of 40,610 people were killed in traffic accidents in Brazil last year, 8 percent up from 2009, Health Ministry said Friday.
According to the ministry, 25 percent of the deaths occurred in accidents involving motorcycles.
From 2002 to 2010, the death toll in traffic accidents in Brazil rose 24 percent, while the death toll in motorcycle accidents increased threefold.
The number of hospital admittances following traffic accidents also increased, reaching 145,000 in 2010, 15 percent up from 2009. Those admittances caused an expense of 190 million reais (109 million U.S. dollars) to the public healthcare system.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 09:33:45 FeedbackPrintRSS
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
A total of 40,610 people were killed in traffic accidents in Brazil last year, 8 percent up from 2009, Health Ministry said Friday.
According to the ministry, 25 percent of the deaths occurred in accidents involving motorcycles.
From 2002 to 2010, the death toll in traffic accidents in Brazil rose 24 percent, while the death toll in motorcycle accidents increased threefold.
The number of hospital admittances following traffic accidents also increased, reaching 145,000 in 2010, 15 percent up from 2009. Those admittances caused an expense of 190 million reais (109 million U.S. dollars) to the public healthcare system.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 09:33:45 FeedbackPrintRSS
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Canadian air contingent returning home from Libyan operation
Canadian air contingent returning home from Libyan operation
Canada's armed forces announced Friday that the air contingent deployed to the campaign to support Libyan rebels and enforce an United Nations mandated "no fly zone" and arms embargo has wrapped up its operations.
"Canada once again punched above its weight as part of an international coalition," said Peter MacKay, Canada's Minister of National Defense, in a statement.
Canada joined the NATO-led operation within 24 hours of the passage of the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 on March 17 by sending a group of CF-18 Hornet fighters to the NATO base in Trapani, Italy.
The fighters were accompanied by CC-150 Polaris in-flight refueling tankers, CC-130 Hercules tankers, and CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft, as well as a frigate.
"It is with pleasure that we welcome them home after a job well- done," said Lieutenant-General Andre Deschamps, the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The CF-18 aircraft conducted 946 sorties, making up ten percent of NATO strike sorties. Over the course of their sorties, Canada's fighters dropped 696 bombs of various types.
The two CC-150T and one CC-130T aircraft flew 389 air-to-air refueling sorties. They dispensed a total of 18,535,572 lbs of fuel to aircraft from six nations involved in the NATO operation.
The two CP-140 aircraft flew 181 sorties off the coast of Libya and over land. They conducted intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties, as well as strike coordination and armed reconnaissance-coordinator missions that Canadian officials say that provided critical information and helped the NATO effort to protect civilians.
The units will return to Canada in time to take part in Remembrance Day services that will be held next Friday.
Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty since World War I.
NATO formally concluded its operations in Libya on Oct. 31, exactly seven months after the military alliance assumed full control of the campaign following a decision by the UN Security Council to terminate the no-fly zone and civilian protection mandates adopted earlier this year for Libya.
The NATO's operations led to the victory of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters, who killed former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in his hometown of Sirte on Oct. 20.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 06:48:59 FeedbackPrintRSS
OTTAWA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Canada's armed forces announced Friday that the air contingent deployed to the campaign to support Libyan rebels and enforce an United Nations mandated "no fly zone" and arms embargo has wrapped up its operations.
"Canada once again punched above its weight as part of an international coalition," said Peter MacKay, Canada's Minister of National Defense, in a statement.
Canada joined the NATO-led operation within 24 hours of the passage of the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 on March 17 by sending a group of CF-18 Hornet fighters to the NATO base in Trapani, Italy.
The fighters were accompanied by CC-150 Polaris in-flight refueling tankers, CC-130 Hercules tankers, and CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft, as well as a frigate.
"It is with pleasure that we welcome them home after a job well- done," said Lieutenant-General Andre Deschamps, the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The CF-18 aircraft conducted 946 sorties, making up ten percent of NATO strike sorties. Over the course of their sorties, Canada's fighters dropped 696 bombs of various types.
The two CC-150T and one CC-130T aircraft flew 389 air-to-air refueling sorties. They dispensed a total of 18,535,572 lbs of fuel to aircraft from six nations involved in the NATO operation.
The two CP-140 aircraft flew 181 sorties off the coast of Libya and over land. They conducted intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties, as well as strike coordination and armed reconnaissance-coordinator missions that Canadian officials say that provided critical information and helped the NATO effort to protect civilians.
The units will return to Canada in time to take part in Remembrance Day services that will be held next Friday.
Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty since World War I.
NATO formally concluded its operations in Libya on Oct. 31, exactly seven months after the military alliance assumed full control of the campaign following a decision by the UN Security Council to terminate the no-fly zone and civilian protection mandates adopted earlier this year for Libya.
The NATO's operations led to the victory of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters, who killed former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in his hometown of Sirte on Oct. 20.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 06:48:59 FeedbackPrintRSS
OTTAWA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Canadians surprised by sharp increase in jobless figures
Canadians surprised by sharp increase in jobless figures
Canada suffered a sharp drop in full- time jobs, especially in manufacturing, in October, the national statistics agency announced Friday.
The country's unemployment rate rose to 7.3 percent in October. Nearly 72,000 jobs that were lost belonged to full-time workers, Statistics Canada said in its monthly report.
The Canadian economy picked up 17,700 low-paying part-time jobs. However, about 48,000 manufacturing jobs and 20,000 positions in the construction industry were cut.
The Canadian dollar fell by more than 1 percent on the news, to 98.16 US cents.
The job numbers shocked policy-makers and the private sector. A total of 15,000 new jobs had been forecasted by economists, said a major bank.
Doug Porter, deputy chief economist with the BMO financial group, said in a statement, "losses of this magnitude are extremely rare, aside from recessionary periods" while Scotiabank said "the magnitude of this decline is disconcerting."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is in Cannes for the G20 summit, said he is "disappointed with the numbers and concerned about them."
"Our number one priority remains the economy, and remains economic growth and the creation of jobs. The numbers over the past two or three months have been very volatile. I think it's a reflection of the lack of confidence that has been spreading in world markets as a consequence of the European debt crisis," said Harper.
The prime minister added that "This is not by any means unique to Canada. I think every single leader of the G20 would make the same observation in terms of the effects of this on their own country."
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty also called the unemployment report "disappointing."
"We're an open trading country, and we get buffeted when things become difficult elsewhere, as they are now in Europe," Flaherty told reporters.
In Parliament, the government was criticized by opposition politicians for failing to protect Canadian workers.
"The 72,000 Canadians who lost their jobs last month know that the government has abandoned them," Opposition critic Chris Charlton said in the House of Commons.
"There are almost 300,000 more unemployed Canadians today than in July 2008 and that was just before the recession that the government could not even see coming," Charlton said.
Canadian officials had been buoyed by the net gain of 61,000 jobs in September. Instead of a second month of improving numbers, the country's economy suffered the largest single monthly drop in jobs since March, 2009.
"It's almost as if the strong Canadian dollar and weak U.S. recovery caught up with the sector in one fell swoop," Porter said.
"The magnitude and breadth of the decline is disconcerting here, " Scotiabank economist Derek Holt said of the report.
"The headline volatility from one month to the next should be dismissed, but it's the structural trends here that are disturbing, " Holt said.
Economists put some blame on the strong Canadian dollar, which has been a drag on exports. The dollar has been pushed up above par with the U.S. dollar in recent months because of Canada's strong oil and commodities sector, and by speculators who see it as a hedge against devaluation of the U.S dollar.
On Friday, the U.S. Labor Department that said the economy created about 80,000 jobs last month, close to expectations of 95, 000. The U.S. jobless rate was 9.0 percent, down from 9.1 percent in September.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 05:09:39 FeedbackPrintRSS
by Mark Bourrie
OTTAWA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Canada suffered a sharp drop in full- time jobs, especially in manufacturing, in October, the national statistics agency announced Friday.
The country's unemployment rate rose to 7.3 percent in October. Nearly 72,000 jobs that were lost belonged to full-time workers, Statistics Canada said in its monthly report.
The Canadian economy picked up 17,700 low-paying part-time jobs. However, about 48,000 manufacturing jobs and 20,000 positions in the construction industry were cut.
The Canadian dollar fell by more than 1 percent on the news, to 98.16 US cents.
The job numbers shocked policy-makers and the private sector. A total of 15,000 new jobs had been forecasted by economists, said a major bank.
Doug Porter, deputy chief economist with the BMO financial group, said in a statement, "losses of this magnitude are extremely rare, aside from recessionary periods" while Scotiabank said "the magnitude of this decline is disconcerting."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is in Cannes for the G20 summit, said he is "disappointed with the numbers and concerned about them."
"Our number one priority remains the economy, and remains economic growth and the creation of jobs. The numbers over the past two or three months have been very volatile. I think it's a reflection of the lack of confidence that has been spreading in world markets as a consequence of the European debt crisis," said Harper.
The prime minister added that "This is not by any means unique to Canada. I think every single leader of the G20 would make the same observation in terms of the effects of this on their own country."
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty also called the unemployment report "disappointing."
"We're an open trading country, and we get buffeted when things become difficult elsewhere, as they are now in Europe," Flaherty told reporters.
In Parliament, the government was criticized by opposition politicians for failing to protect Canadian workers.
"The 72,000 Canadians who lost their jobs last month know that the government has abandoned them," Opposition critic Chris Charlton said in the House of Commons.
"There are almost 300,000 more unemployed Canadians today than in July 2008 and that was just before the recession that the government could not even see coming," Charlton said.
Canadian officials had been buoyed by the net gain of 61,000 jobs in September. Instead of a second month of improving numbers, the country's economy suffered the largest single monthly drop in jobs since March, 2009.
"It's almost as if the strong Canadian dollar and weak U.S. recovery caught up with the sector in one fell swoop," Porter said.
"The magnitude and breadth of the decline is disconcerting here, " Scotiabank economist Derek Holt said of the report.
"The headline volatility from one month to the next should be dismissed, but it's the structural trends here that are disturbing, " Holt said.
Economists put some blame on the strong Canadian dollar, which has been a drag on exports. The dollar has been pushed up above par with the U.S. dollar in recent months because of Canada's strong oil and commodities sector, and by speculators who see it as a hedge against devaluation of the U.S dollar.
On Friday, the U.S. Labor Department that said the economy created about 80,000 jobs last month, close to expectations of 95, 000. The U.S. jobless rate was 9.0 percent, down from 9.1 percent in September.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-11-05 05:09:39 FeedbackPrintRSS
by Mark Bourrie
OTTAWA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua)
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
White House, Romney camp exchange jabs
White House, Romney camp exchange jabs
The White House and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's camp on Monday exchanged jabs as the former Massachusetts governor keeps his frontrunner status in the polls.
In response to a question about senior Obama aid David Plouffe' s denouncement of Romney, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said "as anyone who's watched (Mitt Romney), it's always a question as to where he was and where he is and where he might be on any given issue."
"Mr. Plouffe works for the White House, so I would say that his views represent the White House's views," Carney said during an off-camera press gaggle.
In a scathing attack on Romney, Plouffe labeled the candidate as a man with "no core" Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," saying " if he (Romney) thought it was good to say the sky was green and the grass was blue to win an election, he'd say it."
In response, Romney's campaign said Plouffe's comments were an attempt to distract from what it called "the historic loss of middle-class jobs that has occurred" during Obama's presidency.
Editor: Chen Zhi
English.news.cn 2011-11-01 04:01:21 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua)
The White House and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's camp on Monday exchanged jabs as the former Massachusetts governor keeps his frontrunner status in the polls.
In response to a question about senior Obama aid David Plouffe' s denouncement of Romney, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said "as anyone who's watched (Mitt Romney), it's always a question as to where he was and where he is and where he might be on any given issue."
"Mr. Plouffe works for the White House, so I would say that his views represent the White House's views," Carney said during an off-camera press gaggle.
In a scathing attack on Romney, Plouffe labeled the candidate as a man with "no core" Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," saying " if he (Romney) thought it was good to say the sky was green and the grass was blue to win an election, he'd say it."
In response, Romney's campaign said Plouffe's comments were an attempt to distract from what it called "the historic loss of middle-class jobs that has occurred" during Obama's presidency.
Editor: Chen Zhi
English.news.cn 2011-11-01 04:01:21 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua)
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