Presidential, mayoral runoff elections begin in Bulgaria
Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday for presidential and mayoral runoff elections.
More than 11,300 polling stations across the Bulgaria opened at 6 a.m. local time and will stay open until 7 p.m. local time.
Almost 6.934 million are the eligible voters for the presidential runoff and 6.515 million for the mayoral elections. The difference comes from the rule that only citizens who have permanent and current address registration in Bulgaria may vote in the mayoral elections.
Although the Bulgarian President is perceived by many as a ceremonial figure, his post is aspired by all parties in the country because he appoints one-third of the judges in the Constitutional Court, and approves and removes high state officials, such as the higher command of the Armed Forces and the heads of the country's diplomatic missions abroad.
Rosen Plevneliev, 47, the candidate of the ruling GERB party, led in the first round on October 23 with 1,349,380 votes -- 40.11 percent of the valid votes.
He faces his coeval Ivaylo Kalfin, a candidate of the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party, who got 28.96 percent, or 974,300 of the votes.
All opinion polls have given Plevneliev some 10 percent lead over Kalfin at the runoff.
Plevneliev said after he voted that he voted for European development of Bulgaria, while Kalfin said he voted for adjustment of the priorities of the parliament and the government.
Meanwhile, runoffs are held for mayors of 18 district centers, 173 mayors of municipalities and 831 mayors of mayoralties.
The first exit polls will be announced immediately after polls close, the official results are expected to be released on Wednesday, and the new president will take office in January next year.
Editor: Yamei Wang
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 19:38:30
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Bosnian police search for accomplices linked to U.S. embassy attack
Bosnian police search for accomplices linked to U.S. embassy attack
In the aftermath of Friday's attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnian police Saturday descended on the secluded village of Gornja Moaca in the north-east of the country, searching for individuals linked to what is being labeled a terrorist act by officials.
According to report by Radio Sarajevo, police arrested two individuals and found the wife of Mevlid Jasarevic, who was wounded and arrested after firing shots into the U.S. embassy on Friday.
Raids were reportedly made on a number of apartments and houses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a number of Sarajevo suburbs.
There have also been unconfirmed reports of a link with a Wahhabi Islamic organization operating from within Serbia and the attack on the U.S. embassy.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 06:19:15 FeedbackPrintRSS
BELGRADE, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
In the aftermath of Friday's attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnian police Saturday descended on the secluded village of Gornja Moaca in the north-east of the country, searching for individuals linked to what is being labeled a terrorist act by officials.
According to report by Radio Sarajevo, police arrested two individuals and found the wife of Mevlid Jasarevic, who was wounded and arrested after firing shots into the U.S. embassy on Friday.
Raids were reportedly made on a number of apartments and houses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a number of Sarajevo suburbs.
There have also been unconfirmed reports of a link with a Wahhabi Islamic organization operating from within Serbia and the attack on the U.S. embassy.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 06:19:15 FeedbackPrintRSS
BELGRADE, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Serbian police crack down on Islamic group
Serbian police crack down on Islamic group
Serbian police on Saturday conducted an early-morning raid on a number of buildings and detained people with potential links to Mevlid Jasarevic, who was arrested on Friday after firing shots at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, reported the Serbian news agency Tanjug.
Serbian police searched 18 buildings in and around the town of Novi Pazar, the main town of the Sandzak region of Serbia with a majority Slavic Muslim population and Jasarevic's hometown.
During the raid, police seized a number of computers and laptops along with military uniforms and literature promoting the ultra-conservative Wahhabi movement of which Jasarevic was allegedly a member.
Seventeen people were detained and later released after questioning. With the exception of a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, all were Serbian citizens.
In light of the recent attack in Sarajevo and the possible connection to Islamic organizations in the Sandzak region of Serbia, Milorad Veljovic, Serbian Police Director, said the situation was under control and that there was no reason to fear Wahhabism in country. Veljovic told Belgrade television that threat came from individuals and not the movement itself.
The Wahhabi branch of Islam largely is said to have arrived in the region with volunteer soldiers from Islamic countries during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and has been spreading itself influence since.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 06:17:36 FeedbackPrintRSS
BELGRADE, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Serbian police on Saturday conducted an early-morning raid on a number of buildings and detained people with potential links to Mevlid Jasarevic, who was arrested on Friday after firing shots at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, reported the Serbian news agency Tanjug.
Serbian police searched 18 buildings in and around the town of Novi Pazar, the main town of the Sandzak region of Serbia with a majority Slavic Muslim population and Jasarevic's hometown.
During the raid, police seized a number of computers and laptops along with military uniforms and literature promoting the ultra-conservative Wahhabi movement of which Jasarevic was allegedly a member.
Seventeen people were detained and later released after questioning. With the exception of a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, all were Serbian citizens.
In light of the recent attack in Sarajevo and the possible connection to Islamic organizations in the Sandzak region of Serbia, Milorad Veljovic, Serbian Police Director, said the situation was under control and that there was no reason to fear Wahhabism in country. Veljovic told Belgrade television that threat came from individuals and not the movement itself.
The Wahhabi branch of Islam largely is said to have arrived in the region with volunteer soldiers from Islamic countries during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and has been spreading itself influence since.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-30 06:17:36 FeedbackPrintRSS
BELGRADE, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Tourism plane crash kills three in southern France
Tourism plane crash kills three in southern France
A tourism plane crash has killed three people in southwestern France, local media reported Saturday.
The plane with a family on board fell down on Friday night near the Toulouse-Blagnac airport, leaving the mother and father died outright. Their daughter of 13 years old died from injuries on Saturday morning while their son at 9 years old suffered heavy hurt in legs, local media quoted sources of district attorney.
The past father, also the pilot is an 49-year-old Austrian. He flew with his 41-year-old French wife and two younger children from Germany. Their oldest daughter lives in Toulouse, a city in southwestern France.
It's unknown yet whether the crash was caused by the pilot's fault or mechanic problems of the plane. Local attorney said French Bureau of Investigation and Analysis for Civil Aviation Security has started to probe in to the accident.
Editor: Wang Guanqun
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 19:31:20 FeedbackPrintRSS
PARIS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
A tourism plane crash has killed three people in southwestern France, local media reported Saturday.
The plane with a family on board fell down on Friday night near the Toulouse-Blagnac airport, leaving the mother and father died outright. Their daughter of 13 years old died from injuries on Saturday morning while their son at 9 years old suffered heavy hurt in legs, local media quoted sources of district attorney.
The past father, also the pilot is an 49-year-old Austrian. He flew with his 41-year-old French wife and two younger children from Germany. Their oldest daughter lives in Toulouse, a city in southwestern France.
It's unknown yet whether the crash was caused by the pilot's fault or mechanic problems of the plane. Local attorney said French Bureau of Investigation and Analysis for Civil Aviation Security has started to probe in to the accident.
Editor: Wang Guanqun
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 19:31:20 FeedbackPrintRSS
PARIS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Higgins wins Ireland's presidential election: final count
Higgins wins Ireland's presidential election: final count
Irish poet Michael D. Higgins has won the country's presidential poll, according to a final count Saturday afternoon.
Higgins secured 1,007,104 ballots while his main rival and independent candidate Sean Gallagher got 628,114. The total poll was 1,771,762.
In Dublin Castle, returning officer Riona Ni Fhlanghaile officially announced that Higgins has been elected Ireland's ninth president.
Ireland has a complex voting system for the presidential elections. In this election, the total poll was 1,771,762. The quota, or the number of votes needed to be elected, is 885,882.
Higgins, a veteran politician of the Labor Party and a minister of culture and the arts in the 1990s, will take over from incumbent President Mary McAleese, who has served the maximum two terms for a total of 14 years.
About 56 percent of 3.1 million eligible voters in the country went to the polls Thursday to elect the country's president from a record number of seven candidates. The race is regarded as one of the most competitive in Ireland's history.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 23:29:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
DUBLIN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Irish poet Michael D. Higgins has won the country's presidential poll, according to a final count Saturday afternoon.
Higgins secured 1,007,104 ballots while his main rival and independent candidate Sean Gallagher got 628,114. The total poll was 1,771,762.
In Dublin Castle, returning officer Riona Ni Fhlanghaile officially announced that Higgins has been elected Ireland's ninth president.
Ireland has a complex voting system for the presidential elections. In this election, the total poll was 1,771,762. The quota, or the number of votes needed to be elected, is 885,882.
Higgins, a veteran politician of the Labor Party and a minister of culture and the arts in the 1990s, will take over from incumbent President Mary McAleese, who has served the maximum two terms for a total of 14 years.
About 56 percent of 3.1 million eligible voters in the country went to the polls Thursday to elect the country's president from a record number of seven candidates. The race is regarded as one of the most competitive in Ireland's history.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-29 23:29:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
DUBLIN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua)
Latvian parliament approves new gov't
Latvian parliament approves new gov't
Latvia's new government was approved by its parliament with a majority vote on Tuesday. The incumbent Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, a leader of the Unity Party, will once again head the government.
After an extraordinary session of parliament, 57 supported while 38 were against the new cabinet.
The new coalition government consists of the Unity Party, Zatlers' Reform Party, All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK.
Shortly after being confirmed, Dombrovskis said at the first session of the new government that his coalition would get to work right away to draft next year's budget. He added his government would try to get Latvian farmers subsidies and EU funding.
Dombrovskis has become the first person in Latvia to serve as prime minister three times. He first took the office in March 2009.
On October 19, Dombrovskis was nominated by President Andris Berzins to form the next government. Latvian parties reached consensus and signed a cooperation agreement to form the next government Tuesday after excluding the largest party of the parliament, the Harmony Center.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-10-25 21:35:09
Latvia's new government was approved by its parliament with a majority vote on Tuesday. The incumbent Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, a leader of the Unity Party, will once again head the government.
After an extraordinary session of parliament, 57 supported while 38 were against the new cabinet.
The new coalition government consists of the Unity Party, Zatlers' Reform Party, All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK.
Shortly after being confirmed, Dombrovskis said at the first session of the new government that his coalition would get to work right away to draft next year's budget. He added his government would try to get Latvian farmers subsidies and EU funding.
Dombrovskis has become the first person in Latvia to serve as prime minister three times. He first took the office in March 2009.
On October 19, Dombrovskis was nominated by President Andris Berzins to form the next government. Latvian parties reached consensus and signed a cooperation agreement to form the next government Tuesday after excluding the largest party of the parliament, the Harmony Center.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-10-25 21:35:09
Death toll from Turkey earthquake rises to 366
Death toll from Turkey earthquake rises to 366
The death toll in quake-hit province of Van in eastern Turkey has increased to 366 and the number of the injured to around 1,301, the country's Disaster and Emergency Administration said Tuesday.
Hundreds of others are believed to be buried under rubbles after one of Turkey's most powerful quakes in a decade and rescue work is ongoing, Turkish NTV reported.
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the eastern province of Van on Sunday afternoon. The quake severely damaged Ercis, a town of 75, 000 people, close to the Iranian border where about 80 multi- storey buildings collapsed. The region is among Turkey's most earthquake-prone zones.
Turkey refused assistance from other countries, saying foreign aid is not currently needed.
So far 26 planes carrying relief material, hundreds of engineering vehicles and large quantities of aid material were sent to the disaster-stricken area, a statement from the Prime Ministry's Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate said.
Over 3,000 search and rescue personnel, 355 engineering vehicles and more than 100 ambulances were dispatched to the region.
English.news.cn 2011-10-25 16:15:46
The death toll in quake-hit province of Van in eastern Turkey has increased to 366 and the number of the injured to around 1,301, the country's Disaster and Emergency Administration said Tuesday.
Hundreds of others are believed to be buried under rubbles after one of Turkey's most powerful quakes in a decade and rescue work is ongoing, Turkish NTV reported.
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the eastern province of Van on Sunday afternoon. The quake severely damaged Ercis, a town of 75, 000 people, close to the Iranian border where about 80 multi- storey buildings collapsed. The region is among Turkey's most earthquake-prone zones.
Turkey refused assistance from other countries, saying foreign aid is not currently needed.
So far 26 planes carrying relief material, hundreds of engineering vehicles and large quantities of aid material were sent to the disaster-stricken area, a statement from the Prime Ministry's Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate said.
Over 3,000 search and rescue personnel, 355 engineering vehicles and more than 100 ambulances were dispatched to the region.
English.news.cn 2011-10-25 16:15:46
British MPs vote down referendum on Britain's EU membership
British MPs vote down referendum on Britain's EU membership
British parliamentary members (MPs) on Monday night voted down a motion calling for a referendum on the country's membership of the European Union (EU).
The result showed that 483 voted against the motion, 111 voted for it, and the government wins the vote against holding the referendum on EU membership with a 372 majority. But it is reported that up to 80 Tory members defied the party whip.
On Monday afternoon, parliamentary members held a debate on the motion calling for a referendum to be held on Britain's membership of the EU.
The motion called for a referendum by May 2013, including three choices -- keeping the status quo, leaving the EU or changing the terms of Britain's membership of the EU.
In a statement, British Prime Minister David Cameron told parliament that "our national interest is to be in the EU, helping to determine the rules governing the single market - our biggest export market, which consumes more that 50 percent of our exports and which drives much of the investment into the UK."
He said it is not the right time, at this moment of economic crisis, to launch legislation that includes an in-out referendum, noting that "That is not an abstract, theoretical argument: it matters for millions of jobs and millions of families in our country."
Cameron added that legislating now for a referendum, including on whether Britain should leave the EU, could cause great uncertainty and could actually damage our prospects of growth.
He said "there's a danger that by raising the prospect of a referendum - including an in/out option - we miss the real opportunity to further our national interest."
Last month, a petition calling for a referendum on EU membership signed by 100,000 people is handed into Downing Street.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-25 06:10:11 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
British parliamentary members (MPs) on Monday night voted down a motion calling for a referendum on the country's membership of the European Union (EU).
The result showed that 483 voted against the motion, 111 voted for it, and the government wins the vote against holding the referendum on EU membership with a 372 majority. But it is reported that up to 80 Tory members defied the party whip.
On Monday afternoon, parliamentary members held a debate on the motion calling for a referendum to be held on Britain's membership of the EU.
The motion called for a referendum by May 2013, including three choices -- keeping the status quo, leaving the EU or changing the terms of Britain's membership of the EU.
In a statement, British Prime Minister David Cameron told parliament that "our national interest is to be in the EU, helping to determine the rules governing the single market - our biggest export market, which consumes more that 50 percent of our exports and which drives much of the investment into the UK."
He said it is not the right time, at this moment of economic crisis, to launch legislation that includes an in-out referendum, noting that "That is not an abstract, theoretical argument: it matters for millions of jobs and millions of families in our country."
Cameron added that legislating now for a referendum, including on whether Britain should leave the EU, could cause great uncertainty and could actually damage our prospects of growth.
He said "there's a danger that by raising the prospect of a referendum - including an in/out option - we miss the real opportunity to further our national interest."
Last month, a petition calling for a referendum on EU membership signed by 100,000 people is handed into Downing Street.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-25 06:10:11 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
Businessman tops Irish presidential poll
Businessman tops Irish presidential poll
The poll on the Irish presidential election published on Monday showed that businessman Sean Gallagher was the most popular candidate.
According to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll, Gallagher held a strong position with 40 percent of the vote, 15 percentage points ahead of the former Member of Parliament Michael D Higgins in second place.
Founder of the company Smarthomes, Gallagher is best known in Ireland for his appearances on the popular television show Dragon's Den, in which small-scale business people pitch their ideas to obtain investment.
The youngest candidate in the race, Gallagher has adopted the use of social media which gave him an edge in the campaign. He has the highest number of followers on Facebook and the second highest on Twitter among the candidates.
However, rival candidate Higgins said voters are now looking for substance and he was a better and more substantial candidate than Gallagher.
Gallagher said that while he was heartened by the latest opinion poll, he was not complacent and the important thing for his campaign now was to ensure that the greatest number of people vote in the election.
Third in the poll, Martin McGuinness said the election can be a new beginning for Ireland and that he would stand for jobs, fairness and decency.
McGuinness, who is deputy first minister of Britain's Northern Ireland, has dubbed himself "the people's president" during his campaign and said he is the only candidate who is not part of the political establishment and who will stand up for people.
Gay Mitchell, the candidate supported by the leading government party Fine Gael has dropped three points in this most recent poll putting him at just 6 percent.
The 2011 Irish presidential election will take place on Thursday with seven candidates vying for the next Irish presidency.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-25 00:00:54 FeedbackPrintRSS
DUBLIN, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
The poll on the Irish presidential election published on Monday showed that businessman Sean Gallagher was the most popular candidate.
According to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll, Gallagher held a strong position with 40 percent of the vote, 15 percentage points ahead of the former Member of Parliament Michael D Higgins in second place.
Founder of the company Smarthomes, Gallagher is best known in Ireland for his appearances on the popular television show Dragon's Den, in which small-scale business people pitch their ideas to obtain investment.
The youngest candidate in the race, Gallagher has adopted the use of social media which gave him an edge in the campaign. He has the highest number of followers on Facebook and the second highest on Twitter among the candidates.
However, rival candidate Higgins said voters are now looking for substance and he was a better and more substantial candidate than Gallagher.
Gallagher said that while he was heartened by the latest opinion poll, he was not complacent and the important thing for his campaign now was to ensure that the greatest number of people vote in the election.
Third in the poll, Martin McGuinness said the election can be a new beginning for Ireland and that he would stand for jobs, fairness and decency.
McGuinness, who is deputy first minister of Britain's Northern Ireland, has dubbed himself "the people's president" during his campaign and said he is the only candidate who is not part of the political establishment and who will stand up for people.
Gay Mitchell, the candidate supported by the leading government party Fine Gael has dropped three points in this most recent poll putting him at just 6 percent.
The 2011 Irish presidential election will take place on Thursday with seven candidates vying for the next Irish presidency.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-25 00:00:54 FeedbackPrintRSS
DUBLIN, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
Russia, Armenia vow to boost cooperation
Russia, Armenia vow to boost cooperation
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan on Monday vowed to further develop bilateral cooperation in various fields.
During their meeting, Medvedev noted that trade between the two countries would exceed 1 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2011.
He added that total volume of Russian investments to Armenia has reached over 2.8 billion dollars in various fields, including nuclear energy, railroad building and other projects.
"These are good signs," Medvedev said, adding that Moscow and Yerevan have been friends and allies.
Sargsyan thanked Moscow for mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The two leaders also expressed their condolences over the earthquake in Turkey.
It was the first state visit of an Armenian president to Russia.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-24 22:48:56 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan on Monday vowed to further develop bilateral cooperation in various fields.
During their meeting, Medvedev noted that trade between the two countries would exceed 1 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2011.
He added that total volume of Russian investments to Armenia has reached over 2.8 billion dollars in various fields, including nuclear energy, railroad building and other projects.
"These are good signs," Medvedev said, adding that Moscow and Yerevan have been friends and allies.
Sargsyan thanked Moscow for mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The two leaders also expressed their condolences over the earthquake in Turkey.
It was the first state visit of an Armenian president to Russia.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-10-24 22:48:56 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
Turkey ends military operations against Kurdish rebels in SE Turkey
Turkey ends military operations against Kurdish rebels in SE Turkey
Turkish army has announced an end of operations against the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey and troops are returning to garrisons, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News reported on its website Monday.
On Thursday, Turkish military launched a land operation backed by air forces within Turkey and in the north of Iraq after Wednesday's PKK attacks that killed 24 soldiers and wounded 18 others in the southeastern province of Hakkari.
Turkish security forces killed 49 members of the PKK in southeastern Turkey in the last two days, a military statement said Sunday.
Some 35 bodies of PKK militants were found in the Kazan valley in Cukurca town of the southeastern province of Hakkari after Turkish forces launched artillery raids, followed by airstrike against PKK rebels, while corpses of another 14 PKK members were discovered in a valley nearby, seven of them in a cave, said a statement posted on the website of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces.
PKK members attacked several military and police buildings and killed 24 Turkish security troops in several locations in the predominately Kurdish province of Hakkari near the Iraqi border, a day after they killed five police officers and three civilians in the province of Bitlis in southeastern Turkey.
Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK during the past over two decades.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-10-24 22:03:19 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
Turkish army has announced an end of operations against the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey and troops are returning to garrisons, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News reported on its website Monday.
On Thursday, Turkish military launched a land operation backed by air forces within Turkey and in the north of Iraq after Wednesday's PKK attacks that killed 24 soldiers and wounded 18 others in the southeastern province of Hakkari.
Turkish security forces killed 49 members of the PKK in southeastern Turkey in the last two days, a military statement said Sunday.
Some 35 bodies of PKK militants were found in the Kazan valley in Cukurca town of the southeastern province of Hakkari after Turkish forces launched artillery raids, followed by airstrike against PKK rebels, while corpses of another 14 PKK members were discovered in a valley nearby, seven of them in a cave, said a statement posted on the website of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces.
PKK members attacked several military and police buildings and killed 24 Turkish security troops in several locations in the predominately Kurdish province of Hakkari near the Iraqi border, a day after they killed five police officers and three civilians in the province of Bitlis in southeastern Turkey.
Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK during the past over two decades.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-10-24 22:03:19 FeedbackPrintRSS
ANKARA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
Bulgaria seizes 12.56 kg of heroin
Bulgaria seizes 12.56 kg of heroin
Bulgarian customs have seized 12.56 km of heroin at Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint near the country's southeastern border with Turkey, officials said here on Monday.
The drug was found on Sunday in a Bulgarian car, entering from Turkey and driven by a 49-year-old Bulgarian, the customs said.
The heroin was split into 24 packets wrapped with scotch tape before being packed into the car, the customs said.
The driver said he knew nothing about these packages.
Bulgaria, with 20,000 to 30,000 heroin users, is a transit country for the highly addictive drug. The country seized more than 300 km of heroin in 2010.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-10-24 21:46:45 FeedbackPrintRSS
SOFIA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
Bulgarian customs have seized 12.56 km of heroin at Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint near the country's southeastern border with Turkey, officials said here on Monday.
The drug was found on Sunday in a Bulgarian car, entering from Turkey and driven by a 49-year-old Bulgarian, the customs said.
The heroin was split into 24 packets wrapped with scotch tape before being packed into the car, the customs said.
The driver said he knew nothing about these packages.
Bulgaria, with 20,000 to 30,000 heroin users, is a transit country for the highly addictive drug. The country seized more than 300 km of heroin in 2010.
Editor: Xiong Tong
English.news.cn 2011-10-24 21:46:45 FeedbackPrintRSS
SOFIA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua)
Friday, October 28, 2011
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany quits Socialists to form new party
Former Hungarian PM quits Socialists to form new party
Hungary's former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany announced Saturday that he would quit the opposition Socialist Party (MSZP) he once headed and establish a new party called the Democratic Coalition.
The new party would be a left-center party and would build on the foundations of an existing party, the little-known Democratic Party founded in February, although it would change the latter's charter and name, said Gyurcsany, the country's prime minister from 2004 to 2009.
This move enables the party to start operations immediately instead of waiting for official registration.
The former prime minister cited irreconcilable differences with Socialist Party officials despite his yearlong efforts to reshape it following its severe defeat in 2010 elections, when it won only 59 mandates in the 386-seat parliament while the ruling Fidesz party took 262 with a two-thirds majority.
Gyurcsany is joined by nine other formerly Socialist MPs, although he named only one of them, 35-year-old Csaba Molnar, who served as a minister in his cabinet. A minimum of 10 seats in parliament is required for a group to establish a party caucus.
The parliamentary leaders would do everything in their power to hinder the new party's operation, he said.
Gyurcsany is now suspected of abuse of office in a contested real estate project to build a casino on protected marshland. He submitted a complaint against the charges which he said are politically motivated.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 23:56:09 FeedbackPrintRSS
BUDAPEST, Oct. 22 (Xinhua)
Hungary's former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany announced Saturday that he would quit the opposition Socialist Party (MSZP) he once headed and establish a new party called the Democratic Coalition.
The new party would be a left-center party and would build on the foundations of an existing party, the little-known Democratic Party founded in February, although it would change the latter's charter and name, said Gyurcsany, the country's prime minister from 2004 to 2009.
This move enables the party to start operations immediately instead of waiting for official registration.
The former prime minister cited irreconcilable differences with Socialist Party officials despite his yearlong efforts to reshape it following its severe defeat in 2010 elections, when it won only 59 mandates in the 386-seat parliament while the ruling Fidesz party took 262 with a two-thirds majority.
Gyurcsany is joined by nine other formerly Socialist MPs, although he named only one of them, 35-year-old Csaba Molnar, who served as a minister in his cabinet. A minimum of 10 seats in parliament is required for a group to establish a party caucus.
The parliamentary leaders would do everything in their power to hinder the new party's operation, he said.
Gyurcsany is now suspected of abuse of office in a contested real estate project to build a casino on protected marshland. He submitted a complaint against the charges which he said are politically motivated.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 23:56:09 FeedbackPrintRSS
BUDAPEST, Oct. 22 (Xinhua)
Anti-capitalist protests force close St Paul's Cathedral in London
Anti-capitalist protests force close St Paul's Cathedral in London
The iconic St Paul's Cathedral in the heart of London was forced to be closed on Friday as anti-capitalist demonstrators continued their camping for the sixth day outside its main entrance.
"I have written an open letter to the protestors this afternoon advising them that we have no lawful alternative but to close St Paul's Cathedral until further notice," Dean of St Paul's the Right Reverend Graeme Knowles said in a statement.
Knowles said that the cathedral authorities were unwilling to close the building and had asked the demonstrators to move their camp, but felt they had no alternative.
"It is about the practical and safety issues which this peaceful protest has raised. It should be obvious to anyone approaching the Cathedral that the size of the camp and the consequent compliance issues which it inevitably raises, has increasingly put us in a difficult position," he said.
Protesters inspired by the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in the United States started camping on the site of the St Paul's Churchyard on Saturday afternoon, when a bid to occupy the London Stock Exchange in a neighboring square was thwarted by a large police presence.
The cathedral authorities have asked the protesters to take down their camp, which has grown from about 30 to 40 tents to more than 200.
The camp is clustered at the west end of the cathedral, which is the main entrance to the cathedral, one of London's major landmarks and a key tourist attraction.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 05:52:34 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
The iconic St Paul's Cathedral in the heart of London was forced to be closed on Friday as anti-capitalist demonstrators continued their camping for the sixth day outside its main entrance.
"I have written an open letter to the protestors this afternoon advising them that we have no lawful alternative but to close St Paul's Cathedral until further notice," Dean of St Paul's the Right Reverend Graeme Knowles said in a statement.
Knowles said that the cathedral authorities were unwilling to close the building and had asked the demonstrators to move their camp, but felt they had no alternative.
"It is about the practical and safety issues which this peaceful protest has raised. It should be obvious to anyone approaching the Cathedral that the size of the camp and the consequent compliance issues which it inevitably raises, has increasingly put us in a difficult position," he said.
Protesters inspired by the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in the United States started camping on the site of the St Paul's Churchyard on Saturday afternoon, when a bid to occupy the London Stock Exchange in a neighboring square was thwarted by a large police presence.
The cathedral authorities have asked the protesters to take down their camp, which has grown from about 30 to 40 tents to more than 200.
The camp is clustered at the west end of the cathedral, which is the main entrance to the cathedral, one of London's major landmarks and a key tourist attraction.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 05:52:34 FeedbackPrintRSS
LONDON, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Bulgaria, Montenegro mulls jointly exporting electricity to Italy
Bulgaria, Montenegro mulls jointly exporting electricity to Italy
Bulgaria and Montenegro could establish a joint company for transmission of electricity to Italy, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said here on Friday.
"If the two countries negotiate mutually beneficial parameters, it would allow Bulgaria to enter the Italian electricity market," Borissov told a joint press conference with his Montenegrin counterpart Igor Luksic.
On Tuesday, experts from the two countries would meet to discuss technical issues of this cooperation, Borissov added.
Luksic, who paid a one-day working visit to Bulgaria, said both sides had an "enormous interest" in such cooperation.
Montenegro was considering paving high-voltage cable under the Adriatic Sea to Italy. Borissov expressed interests to join in the project in June.
Borissov said Bulgaria exported its electricity at the price of 30 euro (some 42 U.S. dollars) per megawatt hour. Via the cable under the Adriatic Sea, Bulgarian electricity could come to Italy, where the electricity price was 92 euro (128 dollars) per megawatt hour.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 05:52:22 FeedbackPrintRSS
SOFIA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Bulgaria and Montenegro could establish a joint company for transmission of electricity to Italy, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said here on Friday.
"If the two countries negotiate mutually beneficial parameters, it would allow Bulgaria to enter the Italian electricity market," Borissov told a joint press conference with his Montenegrin counterpart Igor Luksic.
On Tuesday, experts from the two countries would meet to discuss technical issues of this cooperation, Borissov added.
Luksic, who paid a one-day working visit to Bulgaria, said both sides had an "enormous interest" in such cooperation.
Montenegro was considering paving high-voltage cable under the Adriatic Sea to Italy. Borissov expressed interests to join in the project in June.
Borissov said Bulgaria exported its electricity at the price of 30 euro (some 42 U.S. dollars) per megawatt hour. Via the cable under the Adriatic Sea, Bulgarian electricity could come to Italy, where the electricity price was 92 euro (128 dollars) per megawatt hour.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 05:52:22 FeedbackPrintRSS
SOFIA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Slovakia suggests 50-percent write-off for Greece debt
Slovakia suggests 50-percent write-off for Greece debt
Slovakia supports the idea of writing off half of Greece's debts, said Prime Minister Iveta Radicova at a session of the Parliamentary committee for EU Affairs on Friday.
"The discussion (of EU leaders) concerns a haircut of 50-percent or more. Most of the countries, including Slovakia, support this radical solution," said Radicova, who will take part in the EU summit in Brussels on Sunday.
Radicova will not agree with further increasing of the guarantees in the EFSF bail-out mechanism. "There's already agreement on this. Increasing of the (financial means) in EFSF in the form of the guarantees of individual countries has been refused," she said.
Tough discussion is expected when it comes to the recapitalisation of European banks.
Many believed that banks first had to look for their internal sources, followed by assistance provided by the national governments, and using EFSF should be a last resort.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 05:47:02 FeedbackPrintRSS
BRATISLAVA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Slovakia supports the idea of writing off half of Greece's debts, said Prime Minister Iveta Radicova at a session of the Parliamentary committee for EU Affairs on Friday.
"The discussion (of EU leaders) concerns a haircut of 50-percent or more. Most of the countries, including Slovakia, support this radical solution," said Radicova, who will take part in the EU summit in Brussels on Sunday.
Radicova will not agree with further increasing of the guarantees in the EFSF bail-out mechanism. "There's already agreement on this. Increasing of the (financial means) in EFSF in the form of the guarantees of individual countries has been refused," she said.
Tough discussion is expected when it comes to the recapitalisation of European banks.
Many believed that banks first had to look for their internal sources, followed by assistance provided by the national governments, and using EFSF should be a last resort.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 05:47:02 FeedbackPrintRSS
BRATISLAVA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Austria calls for EU to unify stand ahead of G20 summit
Austria calls for EU to unify stand ahead of G20 summit
Austrian Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger Friday called for a unified stand of the European Union (EU) on resolving the debt crisis ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) summit early next month.
At the Main Committee of the National Council, Spindelegger said that if the European Council failed to reach an agreement, another summit must be held next week because the EU have to synchronize steps at the G20, which is to be held in Cannes, France on Nov.3-4.
"A number of issues currently still have not met definitive agreements among the EU countries," said Spindelegger.
He also believed that Greek insolvency shouldn't be the only topic of the discussion, it should also focus on how the EFSF (European Financial Stability Facility) will be able to benefit the capital allocation and operational security of banks.
President of Austrian Chamber of Commerce Christoph Leitl said in a statement that economic and social policies must be further coordinated in the eurozone in order to protect the common currency.
The Austrian Industrial Association (IV) pointed out that all politicians in the eurozone must take concrete measures to "soon restore confidence in Europe and the euro", which is "the requirements that companies and financial markets can and will continue to invest in Europe".
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 02:44:29 FeedbackPrintRSS
VIENNA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Austrian Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger Friday called for a unified stand of the European Union (EU) on resolving the debt crisis ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) summit early next month.
At the Main Committee of the National Council, Spindelegger said that if the European Council failed to reach an agreement, another summit must be held next week because the EU have to synchronize steps at the G20, which is to be held in Cannes, France on Nov.3-4.
"A number of issues currently still have not met definitive agreements among the EU countries," said Spindelegger.
He also believed that Greek insolvency shouldn't be the only topic of the discussion, it should also focus on how the EFSF (European Financial Stability Facility) will be able to benefit the capital allocation and operational security of banks.
President of Austrian Chamber of Commerce Christoph Leitl said in a statement that economic and social policies must be further coordinated in the eurozone in order to protect the common currency.
The Austrian Industrial Association (IV) pointed out that all politicians in the eurozone must take concrete measures to "soon restore confidence in Europe and the euro", which is "the requirements that companies and financial markets can and will continue to invest in Europe".
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 02:44:29 FeedbackPrintRSS
VIENNA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Dutch top criminal loses case on banning movie
Dutch top criminal loses case on banning movie
One of the best-known Dutch criminals Willem Holleeder lost a lawsuit on Friday to prohibit the release of a film on the kidnapping of beer brewer Freddy Heineken in which he played a key role.
Holleeder was sentenced to 11 years in 1986 for his part in the high-profile kidnapping of Freddy Heineken, at that time the director of the Dutch brewer Heineken, and his chauffeur Ab Doderer.
The Dutch-language film "The Heineken Kidnapping", which is scheduled to be released on Oct. 24, is a fictionalized version of the event.
According to Holleeder he is incorrectly put down as a ruthless criminal in the film, and therefore asked for a ban. Although his character does not appear in the film, the filmmakers created a fictitious kidnapper who looked like Holleeder.
Film producer IDTV welcomed the verdict. "This is an important ruling," IDTV's lawyer Jens van den Brink told the media. "The principle of freedom of speech was at stake in this case."
Holleeder, now 53, was not allowed to attend the lawsuit. He is currently in the final stages of a new nine-year prison sentence imposed on him for extortion.
As the judge in Amsterdam did not see any grounds to ban the movie and rejected his claim.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 02:43:42 FeedbackPrintRSS
THE HAGUE, 21 Oct. (Xinhua)
One of the best-known Dutch criminals Willem Holleeder lost a lawsuit on Friday to prohibit the release of a film on the kidnapping of beer brewer Freddy Heineken in which he played a key role.
Holleeder was sentenced to 11 years in 1986 for his part in the high-profile kidnapping of Freddy Heineken, at that time the director of the Dutch brewer Heineken, and his chauffeur Ab Doderer.
The Dutch-language film "The Heineken Kidnapping", which is scheduled to be released on Oct. 24, is a fictionalized version of the event.
According to Holleeder he is incorrectly put down as a ruthless criminal in the film, and therefore asked for a ban. Although his character does not appear in the film, the filmmakers created a fictitious kidnapper who looked like Holleeder.
Film producer IDTV welcomed the verdict. "This is an important ruling," IDTV's lawyer Jens van den Brink told the media. "The principle of freedom of speech was at stake in this case."
Holleeder, now 53, was not allowed to attend the lawsuit. He is currently in the final stages of a new nine-year prison sentence imposed on him for extortion.
As the judge in Amsterdam did not see any grounds to ban the movie and rejected his claim.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 02:43:42 FeedbackPrintRSS
THE HAGUE, 21 Oct. (Xinhua)
Public broadcaster to live stream Georgian billionaire's press conference
Public broadcaster to live stream Georgian billionaire's press conference
The Georgian Public Broadcaster said on Friday that it would broadcast live the press conference to be held by the south Caucasus country's billionaire-turned- politician Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Khatuna Berdzenishvili, chief of the news service of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, told local wire service InterPressNews about the decision.
Previously, three of the country's state-run public broadcasters turned down a request by the billionaire to live stream his planned press conference. The press conference may be held on Oct. 27 in the business center of Ivanishvili.
The billionaire made headlines time and again in recent days after the civil registry agency under the Georgian justice ministry said Ivanishvili did receive his Georgian citizenship on July 22, 2004, but the citizenship was deprived in accordance with the Georgian legislation after he had been granted citizenship of the Republic of France later that same year.
The ministerial statement has actually deprived the billionaire's right to launch a political party or finance one in Georgia.
According to the existing Georgian constitution, a person with dual citizenship cannot serve as Georgia's president, prime minister, parliamentary speaker or lawmaker. The same constitution also enables the state to impose restriction on political activities of those without Georgian citizenship in the country.
Some members of parliament from the ruling United National Movement criticized the billionaire for using Russian money to " buy the future of Georgia for (Vladimir) Putin."
"There will never be Russian money in the Georgian politics, " said Pavle Kublashvili, a ruling party MP who chairs the parliamentary committee for legal affairs, "No politics will ever be made in Georgia with money lent or granted by Putin. We should spare no effort in order to protect the Georgian politics from the Russian money."
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 02:32:04 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
The Georgian Public Broadcaster said on Friday that it would broadcast live the press conference to be held by the south Caucasus country's billionaire-turned- politician Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Khatuna Berdzenishvili, chief of the news service of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, told local wire service InterPressNews about the decision.
Previously, three of the country's state-run public broadcasters turned down a request by the billionaire to live stream his planned press conference. The press conference may be held on Oct. 27 in the business center of Ivanishvili.
The billionaire made headlines time and again in recent days after the civil registry agency under the Georgian justice ministry said Ivanishvili did receive his Georgian citizenship on July 22, 2004, but the citizenship was deprived in accordance with the Georgian legislation after he had been granted citizenship of the Republic of France later that same year.
The ministerial statement has actually deprived the billionaire's right to launch a political party or finance one in Georgia.
According to the existing Georgian constitution, a person with dual citizenship cannot serve as Georgia's president, prime minister, parliamentary speaker or lawmaker. The same constitution also enables the state to impose restriction on political activities of those without Georgian citizenship in the country.
Some members of parliament from the ruling United National Movement criticized the billionaire for using Russian money to " buy the future of Georgia for (Vladimir) Putin."
"There will never be Russian money in the Georgian politics, " said Pavle Kublashvili, a ruling party MP who chairs the parliamentary committee for legal affairs, "No politics will ever be made in Georgia with money lent or granted by Putin. We should spare no effort in order to protect the Georgian politics from the Russian money."
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 02:32:04 FeedbackPrintRSS
TBILISI, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, German PMs discuss euro crisis over phone
Polish, German PMs discuss euro crisis over phone
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday talked over the phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the euro zone crisis ahead of the forthcoming EU summit.
Konrad Niklewicz, spokesperson for Poland's presidency of the EU, said that Tusk and Merkel were keen on seeing decisions conducive to stability on financial markets made at next week's meetings.
The phone talk was an element of regular consultations of heads of the Polish and German governments, the spokesperson said.
Brussels will on Sunday host the summit of leaders of 27 EU states, and the summit of all the 17 member states of the eurozone.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 00:00:56 FeedbackPrintRSS
WARSAW, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday talked over the phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the euro zone crisis ahead of the forthcoming EU summit.
Konrad Niklewicz, spokesperson for Poland's presidency of the EU, said that Tusk and Merkel were keen on seeing decisions conducive to stability on financial markets made at next week's meetings.
The phone talk was an element of regular consultations of heads of the Polish and German governments, the spokesperson said.
Brussels will on Sunday host the summit of leaders of 27 EU states, and the summit of all the 17 member states of the eurozone.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 00:00:56 FeedbackPrintRSS
WARSAW, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Eurozone finance ministers meet amid deep Franco-German divisions
Eurozone finance ministers meet amid deep Franco-German divisions
Eurozone finance ministers were meeting here Friday to flesh out a package dealing with the euro zone crisis amid divisions between France and German over how to boost the firepower of the bailout fund.
The ministers would also discuss recapitalizing banks and a second package of financial assistance for Greece, according to agenda.
France has argued that the most effective way of leveraging it is to turn it into a bank which would use funding from the European Central Bank (ECB), but both the ECB and Germany are strongly opposed to this proposal.
In reinforcing the position of Germany, the country's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said before the meeting that "it is clear that we will stick to the agreed guarantees and that we will stick to the situation as it is in the treaty that the central bank is not available for state financing."
However, Spain's economy minister Elena Salgado would rather the ECB play a bigger role in solving the debt crisis by scaling up the rescue fund, namely European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).
"In an ideal world it would be good if the ECB played a more active role, but in the area of what is possible and immediate, we also have to consider other possibilities," Salgado told reporters on arriving at the meeting site.
Against a backdrop of the ongoing fierce debates, Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Junker painted a more divided picture.
"There is, and in the German media you sometimes hear that, not only a problem between Germany and France. Why do people think it's enough for Germany and France to agree? But we have to deal with 17 governments and 17 states and 17 parliaments," Junker said.
Junker went so far as to provide the possibility of a second euro zone summit next Wednesday. "I would have preferred if we hadn't needed two attempts, but to concentrate fully on Sunday on a complete solution. We will see how far we get," he said.
Echoing Junker, Finish finance minister Jutta Urpilainen also foresaw a prolonged and difficult meeting, saying that "I think the situation in Europe is very difficult and I assume that our meeting tonight will also be difficult and the meeting will be long."
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 00:00:31 FeedbackPrintRSS
BRUSSELS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Eurozone finance ministers were meeting here Friday to flesh out a package dealing with the euro zone crisis amid divisions between France and German over how to boost the firepower of the bailout fund.
The ministers would also discuss recapitalizing banks and a second package of financial assistance for Greece, according to agenda.
France has argued that the most effective way of leveraging it is to turn it into a bank which would use funding from the European Central Bank (ECB), but both the ECB and Germany are strongly opposed to this proposal.
In reinforcing the position of Germany, the country's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said before the meeting that "it is clear that we will stick to the agreed guarantees and that we will stick to the situation as it is in the treaty that the central bank is not available for state financing."
However, Spain's economy minister Elena Salgado would rather the ECB play a bigger role in solving the debt crisis by scaling up the rescue fund, namely European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).
"In an ideal world it would be good if the ECB played a more active role, but in the area of what is possible and immediate, we also have to consider other possibilities," Salgado told reporters on arriving at the meeting site.
Against a backdrop of the ongoing fierce debates, Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Junker painted a more divided picture.
"There is, and in the German media you sometimes hear that, not only a problem between Germany and France. Why do people think it's enough for Germany and France to agree? But we have to deal with 17 governments and 17 states and 17 parliaments," Junker said.
Junker went so far as to provide the possibility of a second euro zone summit next Wednesday. "I would have preferred if we hadn't needed two attempts, but to concentrate fully on Sunday on a complete solution. We will see how far we get," he said.
Echoing Junker, Finish finance minister Jutta Urpilainen also foresaw a prolonged and difficult meeting, saying that "I think the situation in Europe is very difficult and I assume that our meeting tonight will also be difficult and the meeting will be long."
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-22 00:00:31 FeedbackPrintRSS
BRUSSELS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Pep Guardiola praises unrepeatable generation
Guardiola praises unrepeatable generation
FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola on Friday praised what he described as an "unrepeatable" generation of footballers at the club.
Barcelona have won three league titles and two Champions League titles, among others, during Guardiola's three years at the helm in the Camp Nou.
The club has built its passing style on players such as Leo Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Iniesta, as well as others such as Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets.
Speaking ahead of his side's BBVA Primera Liga match at home to Sevilla on Saturday night, Guardiola wondered whether the club would ever see the like again.
"This generation is unrepeatable. I can't think that another Xavi will come along when this one retires or another Andres, when Iniesta leaves," said Guardiola.
"The good thing is that we have them with us now and there are other players who are coming into the squad who can play alongside them and adapt. When we speak of the generation of players we have now, we should use capital letters, because Barcelona results and those of the Spain national team show it," added the coach.
Guardiola looked ahead to Sunday's game against a Sevilla fourth in the league table after conceding just four goals all season.
"After Real Madrid, Sevilla is the side that best plays on the break in Spain. They tend to play on the break against us because of the way that we play. They are very good when they find space and can get behind you and they have players such as Jesus Navas. It is a team that has impressed me greatly and they will be a good rival to measure our true level," said Guardiola, who also highlighted Sevilla's defensive strength.
"If we congratulate ourselves for only having conceded four goals, they have conceded the same amount and that is not down to chance. They are a team that does things well and they are where they are because that is where they deserve to be," he said.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 23:12:17 FeedbackPrintRSS
MADRID, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola on Friday praised what he described as an "unrepeatable" generation of footballers at the club.
Barcelona have won three league titles and two Champions League titles, among others, during Guardiola's three years at the helm in the Camp Nou.
The club has built its passing style on players such as Leo Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Iniesta, as well as others such as Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets.
Speaking ahead of his side's BBVA Primera Liga match at home to Sevilla on Saturday night, Guardiola wondered whether the club would ever see the like again.
"This generation is unrepeatable. I can't think that another Xavi will come along when this one retires or another Andres, when Iniesta leaves," said Guardiola.
"The good thing is that we have them with us now and there are other players who are coming into the squad who can play alongside them and adapt. When we speak of the generation of players we have now, we should use capital letters, because Barcelona results and those of the Spain national team show it," added the coach.
Guardiola looked ahead to Sunday's game against a Sevilla fourth in the league table after conceding just four goals all season.
"After Real Madrid, Sevilla is the side that best plays on the break in Spain. They tend to play on the break against us because of the way that we play. They are very good when they find space and can get behind you and they have players such as Jesus Navas. It is a team that has impressed me greatly and they will be a good rival to measure our true level," said Guardiola, who also highlighted Sevilla's defensive strength.
"If we congratulate ourselves for only having conceded four goals, they have conceded the same amount and that is not down to chance. They are a team that does things well and they are where they are because that is where they deserve to be," he said.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 23:12:17 FeedbackPrintRSS
MADRID, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
"Education Beyond Borders" exhibition opens in Bulgaria
"Education Beyond Borders" exhibition opens in Bulgaria
The fifth international exhibition "Education Beyond Borders" opened here on Friday, bringing together representatives of secondary schools and universities from 18 countries.
Information about more than 1,500 bachelor and 1,000 master programs in foreign and Bulgarian universities will be presented during the three-day exhibition that takes place at the Bulgarian National Palace of Culture.
The opening ceremony was attended by dozens of Bulgarian officials and senior foreign diplomats.
"Marked interest over the years to this exhibition by students is an evidence for the deepening of the European and global cooperation in education and cultural exchange, in accordance with the objectives set for us in globalization and the latest trends in education," Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute, said on behalf of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov addressing the event.
Mihaylova added that she was confident that this exhibition would provide opportunities for expanding the prospects for the young Bulgarian generation.
Bulgarian students at Sofia University Daniela and Victoria told Xinhua that this was their first visit to the exhibition, as they wanted to learn more information on master programs in English abroad.
Ng Foong Yeewas from Japan attended the exhibition as a representative of Tokyo Riverside School. Though they still have no Bulgarian students registered, she said her school would try to attract them.
In turn, Tanya Ivancheva, a Bulgarian who came as a student representative of the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt in Austria told Xinhua that she loved Bulgaria, but education abroad is at a much higher level.
She said her mother takes her education costs, which is not as expensive as she thought at first.
According to Ivancheva, the price is affordable, as the dorm rent is 250 euros (345 U.S. dollars) per month, and the tuition fee is 360 euro (497 dollars) is the cost of tuition per semester.
"Prices in private universities in Bulgaria are almost the same, but the education in my university is very nice, and the educational level of Austria is very high," she said.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 22:43:08 FeedbackPrintRSS
SOFIA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
The fifth international exhibition "Education Beyond Borders" opened here on Friday, bringing together representatives of secondary schools and universities from 18 countries.
Information about more than 1,500 bachelor and 1,000 master programs in foreign and Bulgarian universities will be presented during the three-day exhibition that takes place at the Bulgarian National Palace of Culture.
The opening ceremony was attended by dozens of Bulgarian officials and senior foreign diplomats.
"Marked interest over the years to this exhibition by students is an evidence for the deepening of the European and global cooperation in education and cultural exchange, in accordance with the objectives set for us in globalization and the latest trends in education," Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute, said on behalf of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov addressing the event.
Mihaylova added that she was confident that this exhibition would provide opportunities for expanding the prospects for the young Bulgarian generation.
Bulgarian students at Sofia University Daniela and Victoria told Xinhua that this was their first visit to the exhibition, as they wanted to learn more information on master programs in English abroad.
Ng Foong Yeewas from Japan attended the exhibition as a representative of Tokyo Riverside School. Though they still have no Bulgarian students registered, she said her school would try to attract them.
In turn, Tanya Ivancheva, a Bulgarian who came as a student representative of the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt in Austria told Xinhua that she loved Bulgaria, but education abroad is at a much higher level.
She said her mother takes her education costs, which is not as expensive as she thought at first.
According to Ivancheva, the price is affordable, as the dorm rent is 250 euros (345 U.S. dollars) per month, and the tuition fee is 360 euro (497 dollars) is the cost of tuition per semester.
"Prices in private universities in Bulgaria are almost the same, but the education in my university is very nice, and the educational level of Austria is very high," she said.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 22:43:08 FeedbackPrintRSS
SOFIA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Russia considers financial support for eurozone countries
Russia considers financial support for eurozone countries
A Russian official said Friday his country was considering measures to help financially troubled eurozone countries.
Arkady Dvorkovich, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's top economic adviser, said Moscow did not rule out using its reserve funds to invest in bonds from selected European countries. The decision on whether to buy bonds of Spain or other countries would be made by the Russian Financial Ministry and the Russian Central Bank.
Any decision in that regard would be made only after thoughtful study due to high risks associated with these investments, Dvorkovich told a press conference.
Dvorkovich said BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries stood in support of the eurozone countries.
"We and all BRICS countries have such a position: we need to support collectively all the countries," he said.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 21:29:22 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
A Russian official said Friday his country was considering measures to help financially troubled eurozone countries.
Arkady Dvorkovich, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's top economic adviser, said Moscow did not rule out using its reserve funds to invest in bonds from selected European countries. The decision on whether to buy bonds of Spain or other countries would be made by the Russian Financial Ministry and the Russian Central Bank.
Any decision in that regard would be made only after thoughtful study due to high risks associated with these investments, Dvorkovich told a press conference.
Dvorkovich said BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries stood in support of the eurozone countries.
"We and all BRICS countries have such a position: we need to support collectively all the countries," he said.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 21:29:22 FeedbackPrintRSS
MOSCOW, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Ukraine urges all Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries to join Free Trade Area
Ukraine urges all CIS countries to join Free Trade Area
Ukraine wants to see all Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members join a planned Free Trade Area (FTA), a government official said here Friday.
Eight of the 11 CIS states signed an agreement to set up an FTA in Moscow on Tuesday, but Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have yet to join.
"The creation of the CIS Free Trade Area will have a positive impact on Ukraine, as well as other post-Soviet countries and even those states that have not signed the agreement. We urge them to sign it," Valery Muntiyan,the Ukrainian government's commissioner on cooperation with Russia, CIS countries, Eurasian Economic Community and other regional associations, said during a Moscow-Kiev-Chisinau-Yerevan-Astana video conference.
Muntiyan said foreign trade among member countries could grow by 30 to 45 percent per year after the FTA treaty enters into force.
Muntiyan said Ukrainian experts had predicted that the FTA would boost industrial output, gross domestic product and budget revenues.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 20:32:45 FeedbackPrintRSS
KIEV, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Ukraine wants to see all Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members join a planned Free Trade Area (FTA), a government official said here Friday.
Eight of the 11 CIS states signed an agreement to set up an FTA in Moscow on Tuesday, but Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have yet to join.
"The creation of the CIS Free Trade Area will have a positive impact on Ukraine, as well as other post-Soviet countries and even those states that have not signed the agreement. We urge them to sign it," Valery Muntiyan,the Ukrainian government's commissioner on cooperation with Russia, CIS countries, Eurasian Economic Community and other regional associations, said during a Moscow-Kiev-Chisinau-Yerevan-Astana video conference.
Muntiyan said foreign trade among member countries could grow by 30 to 45 percent per year after the FTA treaty enters into force.
Muntiyan said Ukrainian experts had predicted that the FTA would boost industrial output, gross domestic product and budget revenues.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 20:32:45 FeedbackPrintRSS
KIEV, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)
Turkey, Iran to continue cooperation on national security: FM
Turkey, Iran to continue cooperation on national security: FM
Turkey and Iran will continue cooperation on national security, said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Ali-Akbar Salehi in Turkey's capital of Ankara on Friday.
"Our joint commitment to fight the PKK (Turkish outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party) and the PJAK (Party of Free Life of Kurdistan) will strongly continue. We will work together to liquidate the terrorist threat entirely," Davutoglu said.
Davutoglu said the PKK posed a threat to the entire region, adding that a high-level security committee of Turkish and Iranian officials would convene soon.
Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister denied reports that Iranian forces captured a senior leader of PKK and later released him.
"Murat Karayilan was never caught by Iranians. Why would have we released him if we had captured him?" Salehi said.
A total of 24 Turkish soldiers were killed and 18 others injured in southeastern Turkey in multiple PKK attacks early Wednesday, one of the deadliest attacks in decades.
In response to the attacks, Turkish military launched a cross- border incursion into five regions in northern Iraq in fight against the PKK.
Clashes between the PKK and Turkish army have escalated since the summer as talks between the imprisoned PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, and Turkish officials aimed at ending the conflict have failed.
Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK over the past two decades.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 20:25:59
Turkey and Iran will continue cooperation on national security, said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Ali-Akbar Salehi in Turkey's capital of Ankara on Friday.
"Our joint commitment to fight the PKK (Turkish outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party) and the PJAK (Party of Free Life of Kurdistan) will strongly continue. We will work together to liquidate the terrorist threat entirely," Davutoglu said.
Davutoglu said the PKK posed a threat to the entire region, adding that a high-level security committee of Turkish and Iranian officials would convene soon.
Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister denied reports that Iranian forces captured a senior leader of PKK and later released him.
"Murat Karayilan was never caught by Iranians. Why would have we released him if we had captured him?" Salehi said.
A total of 24 Turkish soldiers were killed and 18 others injured in southeastern Turkey in multiple PKK attacks early Wednesday, one of the deadliest attacks in decades.
In response to the attacks, Turkish military launched a cross- border incursion into five regions in northern Iraq in fight against the PKK.
Clashes between the PKK and Turkish army have escalated since the summer as talks between the imprisoned PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, and Turkish officials aimed at ending the conflict have failed.
Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK over the past two decades.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 20:25:59
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