Cadmium pollution in southern China threatens water for 100,000
December 20, 2005The excessive discharge of waste from a smelter in China's southern Guangdong Province is threatening water supply for more than 100,000 people, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported late Tuesday. The toxic slick from the smelter in Shaoguan is moving down the Beijiang River, threatening the urban residents of Yingde, which is about 90 kilometers south of Shaoguan, the report said.
Hyundai Motor to commercialize fuel cell vehicle by 2010: report
December 20, 2005Hyundai Motor Co. is planning to commercialize a fuel cell vehicle by 2010, Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday. South Korea's leading carmaker is to release a fuel cell-powered version of its Tucson sport-utility vehicle, Yonhap reported, citing Hyundai officials.
Nepal's king-led gov't rejects peace pact of parties, rebels
December 20, 2005Nepal's king-led government Tuesday rejected an agreement between Nepalese political parties and warring Maoist rebels to end the insurgency and restore peace in the Himalayan kingdom. ''There can be no reconciliation between the king and political parties on that basis,'' Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers Tulasi Giri said in the government's first and delayed official reaction to the pact.
N. Korea pledges to strengthen nuke activities following KEDO's end
December 20, 2005North Korea will strengthen its civilian nuclear activities and eventually develop its own light-water reactors, following the collapse of a project to build two such reactors in the North, the country's official media said Tuesday. The (North) Korean Central News Agency report also blamed Washington again for the failure of the light-water reactor project by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization and demanded that it pay compensation.
China revises 2004 GDP upwards
December 20, 2005China has raised its gross domestic product estimate for 2004 to 15.99 trillion yuan ($1.98 trillion), up 2.3 trillion yuan from the initial estimate because of new economic data, a government official said Tuesday. The new figure moves China's economy from seventh to sixth place in the world, surpassing Italy, said Li Deshui, director of the National Bureau of Statistics.