World News

World News
Dutch Premier quits Dutch government tumbled on Saturday after coalition parties fail to agree on NATO request to extend the Netherlands' military mission in Afghanistan. Later today, I will offer to her majesty the Queen the resignations of the ministers and deputy ministers of the (Labour Party) PvdA," premier Jan Peter
Balkenende told journalists in The Hague.He said he would also "make available" the portfolios of the remaining cabinet ministers of his own Christian Democratic Appeal, the majority coalition partner, as well as the smaller Christian Union.
Balkenende made the announcement after more than 16 hours of crunch talks failed to save the centre-left coalition he has led since February 2007.

Prss release:Group of Rio 24

Group of Rio meet that begins Saturday to Tuesday in
Playa del Carmen,a resort city on Mexico's Caribbean coast, looks set
to focus on aid to crisis in Rio nations, specially Caribbean nation
Haiti, struck by an tremblor on Jan. 12 that measured 7.3 on the
Richter scale and killed more than 200,000 residents. The summit to
add Caribbean island nations to the existing Group of Rio 24 - nation membership with Six of Caricom's 15 members are also Rio members on an individual basis. Foreign Ministers from 31 nations began a meeting that included all the members of Group of Rio and the Caribbean Community, apart from St. Vincent, in Playa del Carmen on Saturday.

Press release: Yanukovich, on a legitimate victory.

Tymoshenko,the present Prime Minister withdrew her election case and the Supreme court has closed the case. But she has not conceded.She said once again that Viktor Yanukovich will never be considered Ukraine's legitimately elected president.In contrast to her fellow Orange Revolutionary - incumbent Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Saturday congratulated his long-time rival, Mr Yanukovich, on a legitimate victory.

UN and EU concerned on Fonseka's arrest

European Union (EU) has said that it is "closely" following the situation in Sri Lanka after the arrest of Fonseka.The EU, in a statement from Brussels, called for concrete efforts to overcome the divisions of the past and moves towards genuine reconciliation."We call on the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that the rule of law and the safety and security of candidates and campaign workers are ensured," Spokesperson of the High Representative/Vice President of the EU Catherine Ashton said in a statement on Wednesday."We urge the Government and all communities in Sri Lanka to make concrete efforts to overcome the divisions of the past and to move on to genuine reconciliation, without which there can be no return to long-term security or prosperity," the statement added. UN chief also announced plans to dispatch his top political official to the island nation for dialogue, the UN News Centre said in New York.Ban said he would send Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs B Lynn Pascoe to Colombo for talks soon. Voicing concern over the arrest of ex-army commander Sarath Fonseka, UN chief Ban Ki-moon has asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to respect due process of law in the case of the General and announced plans to send one of his top envoys to Sri Lanka for talks with the government. Ban conveyed his concerns to President Rajapaksa during a telephonic conversation on Wednesday night.According to a spokesperson of the UN Secretary General, Ban urged the President to respect due process of law regarding the case of the former army chief and "runner-up" in 26th January presidential elections. He called on the Sri Lankan government to guarantee personal safety of Fonseka, who was arrested on Monday for alleged "military offences."

Fonseka's behind bar protest in Sri Lanka Prez dissolves Parliament

Tensions mounted over the arrest of Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka with violent clashes erupting in the capital as his wife approached the country's highest court for his release, citing that she feared for his safety.Six people were arrested and 12 vehicles were damaged when Sri Lankan police dispersed a protest rally on Wednesday near the Sri Lankan Supreme Court Complex in Colombo. Opposition parties in the country also closed ranks behind the jailed defeated presidential candidate, demanding his release and saying that the authorities were framing him. Turmoil preavls in Sri Lanka as the former army commander Sarath Fonseka was arrested on Monday by military police on charges of engaging in politics against his president while still in uniform. Secretary-General,UNITED NATIONS, Ban Ki-moon "expressed his concern (to Rajapaksa) about recent developments in Sri Lanka," brought up Fonseka's arrest and "urged the government to respect the due process of law and guarantee (Fonseka's) personal safety." President Mahinda Rajapaksa is dissolving parliament, clearing the way for early elections, officials say. "The president dissolves the parliament with effect from midnight today," a senior official was quoted. As protests against the arrest spilled onto the streets, riot police used tear gas, water cannons and canes to break up thousands of clashing pro-Fonseka supporters and ruling party activists as the government said claimed that the arrest of the country's former four star general was not an act of vengeance. " As jailed Fonseka's fate remains uncertain, the authorities last night allowed his wife to meet him", a top military official said today. "Anoma Fonseka spent three hours at the place where Fonseka is and brought food from home for him last night," Military Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe told the news agency.The Minister of Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena charged that the opposition was trying to gain political advantages from the arrest of the general.He said Fonseka had been arrested under military act 57(1)for divulging secrets while in service and it did not amount of political vengeance. Abeywardena said that a possible court martial would flow from the summary of evidence being collected by the military

Obama to meet Dalai Lama

United Front Work Department, the Chinese Communist Party's an official deals with ethnic policy, Du Qinglin, told issues concerning China's territory and sovereignty were non-negotiable and no concessions would be made on them, Xinhua reported Dalai Lama's secretary announced, the spiritual leader would arrive in the United States February 17-18. United States and China have recently not seen eye to eye on a number of international issues, including the Iranian nuclear issue, the $6.3-billion weapons sales to Taiwan, as well as the Dalai Lama's status. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs announced during a press briefing on Thursday,that Barack Obama will be meeting Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalai Lama as he is an internationally respected religious and cultural leader. Beijing to never make concessions on independence for Tibet, a senior Chinese official said at a meeting with envoys of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.Envoys of the Dalai Lama, arrived in Beijing Tuesday for the ninth set of negotiations which have beared no results.Dalai Lama has repeatedly said he seeks real autonomy for Tibet rather than independence from China. China is resolutely opposing this meeting saying it would further hurt the Sino-US relations. Dalai Lama is going to undertake a Washington visit later this month.Dalai Lama received an honourary doctorate from the University of Calgary thus university has been removed from the Chinese government's list of accredited universities. Chinese Consulate in Calgary says the University of Calgary degrees will continue to be recognized in China for those 575 students belonging to Chinese nationals.

Sino - US Relook Relations

2010-01-31 06:08:49 - China made strong objection onto Washington announced a 6.4-billion-dollar arms package for Taiwan, thus shaping Sino-US crisis under reins of President Barack Obama.Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi expressed on the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan here Saturday, urging the U.S. to stop selling weapons to the Chinese province.Yang, who is paying an official visit to Cyprus, said in disregard of strong opposition and repeated protest from China, the U.S. administration flagrantly announced its plan to sell the weapons to Taiwan worth about 6.4 billion dollars. Such a move is gravely against the three joint communiques between China and the United States, especially the "Aug. 17" communique, Yang said, adding that it constitutes crude interference in China's internal affairs, and harms China's national security and peaceful reunification efforts. China has suspended military exchanges with the United States.Chinese officials desbribe the spill over on Washington's 6.4-billion dollar arms deal with Taiwan, the territory that Beijing claims as its own. Uncle Sam in its $6.4 billion arms package, includes Patriot anti-missile systems, Black Hawk helicopters and Harpoon missiles. Huang Xiangyang in chinadaily.com.cn said, The generous offer to militarily equip Taiwan reminds us how grudgingly Washington sees China rise and compatriots across the Straits live in peace. Xinhua reports that Ignoring repeated solemn representations made by China, the U.S. government on Friday notified Congress of its nearly 6.4 billion-U.S.-dollar arms sale package to Taiwan.The sale is a wrong decision, which not only undermines China's national security interests and her national unification cause, but also once again hurts the national feelings of the Chinese people.A report on the state-run Xinhua news agency, China's Defense Ministry said the decision to halt visits between the Chinese and U.S. armed forces was made in consideration of the serious harm and impacts on Sino-U.S. military relations brought about by the arms deal. Xinhua did not immediately provide further details on the visits.China said it was suspending military and security contacts with the United States, and imposing sanctions on US firms involved in the Taiwan deal. Chinese defence ministry spokesman Huang Xueping said the reprisals reflected the "severe harm" posed by the deal with Taiwan, which Beijing says is a part of its territory and must return to the mainland fold.On other side,the US State Department spokeswoman Laura Tischler told media AFP the sale "contributes to maintaining security and stability across the Taiwan Strait. "Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who has overseen a marked warming in trade and political relations with China, said Beijing had nothing to fear from the sale."It will let Taiwan feel more confident and secure so we can have more interactions with China," Ma said, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. Obama's national security advisor, former general James Jones, said the administration was being "transparent" with Beijing, which the United States recognises as the legal government for all of China."But we are bent towards a new relationship with China as a rising power in the world, with influence on a variety of issues that go beyond the arms sales," he said. Pentagon official said it regretted Beijing's suspension of military exchanges."We regret that the Chinese side has curtailed military-to-military and other exchanges," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told AFP."We also regret Chinese action against US firms transferring defensive articles to Taiwan." Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei made an urgent official protest to the US ambassador in Beijing, Jon Huntsman, Chinese officials told AFP.In a statement to Huntsman, he urged Washington to cancel the deal, which he said constituted "crude interference in China's internal affairs that seriously endangers China's national security and damages China's peaceful reunification." Taiwan enjoys high-profile backers in the US Congress, which requires the administration to provide the island with weapons of a defensive nature. Media agencies

World Economic Forum

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010 will be held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from 27 - 31 January 2010 to Improve the State of the World,their three R postulate stimulating theme are, Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild for better global economy reeling under crisis.The Purpose described are-Improving the state of the world requires catalysing global cooperation to address pressing challenges and future risks. Global cooperation in turn needs stakeholders from business, government, the media, science, religion, the arts and civil society to collaborate as a true community. To this end, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting has engaged leaders from all walks of life to shape the global agenda at the start of the year for the last four decades.Canadian Prime Minister Harper to deliver keynote address on 28 Jan Canada is G8 President this year, and Prime Minister Harper will set out his country's agenda for its presidency."We must look at the Meeting in the context of what's happening in the world and we see that the present system of global cooperation is not working sufficiently," said Klaus Schwab. Haiti will feature on the agenda: "We hope we can present a major common effort to the world community showing true corporate global citizenship in Davos," he said. José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain, will be attending the 40th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum. Having just taken over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Spain's participation in the Annual Meeting's discussions will play a key role in this year's call for action to reassess the current state for gobal cooperation under the theme "Improve the state of the World: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild". With the chair of the G20 for 2010 and president of the first Asian country to host the G20 summit, Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea, will give a special address at the 40th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting on 28 January. Nicolas Sarkozy to give key speech at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, will deliver the opening address at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting on 27 January. It will be the first time that a French President has participated in the meeting in Davos-Klosters. His speech will start the debate on the theme of the meeting, "Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild". The five-day event will bring together stakeholders from all sections of the global community. President Sarkozy will make an important contribution to the discussions which aim to find concrete solutions to the current global situation. World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in 2010 is a call to action, "Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild".Driving the rethink at the 40th Annual Meeting will be the Network of Global Agenda Councils comprised of over 1,000 experts active in over 70 Councils created to advance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the world.Redesign discussions in Davos will leverage the ongoing work of the Forum’s Global Redesign Initiative (GRI), an unprecedented multistakeholder dialogue focusing on adapting structures and systems of international cooperation to the challenges of the 21st century.The effort to rebuild trust and confidence needs to begin before, and extend well beyond the next Annual Meeting. To that end, WELCOM, a collaborative platform that integrates Web 2.0 technology, will enable leaders to build knowledge, share insights and reach out to key stakeholders as an online community throughout the year.

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