Sunday, January 04, 2004

• Backward province urged to quicken development
• Highway robbers escape with million-dollar gold haul in Liaoning
• Recovery of overdue payments urged for migrant workers before Spring Fstival
• Premier Wen sends greetings on SAARC summit
• Safety supervision teams sent out across country
• Amendment to constitution to clarify private rights
• Grid investment boosted to ease power shortage in eastern region
• Negligence blamed for Chongqing gas blowout
• Chinese gov't to train 500,000 technicians in three years

• China's farm produce export growth rise seen for 2004
• Three Gorges power plant generates 8.6 bln kwh of electricity
• HK FS cautious optimistic about HK's economy in 2004
• HK approves the first COCEPA application

• At least 12 killed in blast in southern Philippines
• Israeli Intelligence says Syria serious about renewing peace talks
• Zanzibar hails Chinese constructed house project
• DPRK accuses US of having ulterior motive behind peaceful calls
• British Prime Minister Blair pays surprise visit to Iraq
• Pakistan, India PMs meet on sidelines of SAARC summit
• India, Russia clear decks for sale of aircraft carrier
• Georgia holds presidential election
• 148 people killed in Egyptian charter plane crash
• British Airways resumes afternoon-flight to Washington
• France demands manslaughter inquiry over Egyptian air crash
• SAARC ministerial meeting concludes
• Explosion occurs near assembly site in Afghan capital
• Woman found alive after 8 days in Iran quake debris
• Talks with Pakistani president possible: Indian PM
• Greek, Italian leaders condolences to French president for air crash victims
• Unprecedented security arranged in Islamabad for SAARC

• China market sees dramatic decrease in MBA applicants
• Exploration rover "Spirit" lands safely on Mars
• US Mars rover poised to land on red planet
• Mission Mars Exhibition opens in Hong Kong

• Chinese center Bateer traded from Raptors to Magic
• Chinese soccer team gathers in Hainan

• Study shows Asians top rank in terms of intelligence
• HK confirms 3 imported food poisoning outbreaks
• 2 million HK dollars worth of pornographic articles seized
• Tibetan man jailed for 10 years for torturing housemaid