SYDNEY – Mining giant Rio Tinto announced a huge iron ore deal with China's state-run Chinalco Friday, days before four if its staff go on trial in a case that has threatened diplomatic and trade ties.Rio said Chinalco signed a non-binding, 1.35 billion US dollar deal to help develop a massive mine in Guinea, drawing a line under a period of turbulent relations with its biggest shareholder
BEIJING – China's quality control watchdog said an investigation into Hewlett-Packard Co showed the company had sold some faulty laptop computers, and ignored consumer protection regulations.The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement on its website (www.aqsiq.gov.cn) that after consumer complaints, it had found several models were affec
SYDNEY – Mining giant Rio Tinto and China's Chinalco Friday signed a 1.35 billion US dollar deal to develop a huge African iron ore field, renewing close ties after a major deal collapsed last year.Rio said state-owned Chinalco will acquire an initial 47 percent stake in its Simandou project in Guinea, which has been delayed by political upheaval in the volatile country.The non-binding agr
TOKYO – Japanese fish dealers on Friday welcomed the rejection of a proposed trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna — a prized ingredient of sushi — while urging that existing quotas be more strictly enforced to protect the species from overfishing.Thursday's vote at a U.N meeting in Doha, Qatar, rejecting the ban was front-page news in all major Japanese newspapers Friday morning.J
Michael D.Furlong, the senior Defense Department employee for allegedly running an unauthorized intelligence-gathering operation in , says his now-suspended program was fully authorized by top U.S military commanders.According to Furlong, the program, which began in late 2008, was requested by Army Gen.David D.McKiernan, the former top U.S commander in Afghanistan, and approved by the U.S Cen
At least 20 arrested in alleged coup plotTurkish police on Thursday rounded up at least 20 people suspected of being part of an underground network that allegedly conspired to topple the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.The sweep that targeted the Ergenekon network spanned eight provinces and included the detention of at least one active duty military officer and one retired offi
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is assuring the people of Indonesia that he is looking forward to visiting his former home once the health care debate is resolved.Obama put off a trip to Indonesia until this summer as the health care overhaul gained steam in Congress this week.A vote in the House is likely this weekend, and Obama decided he should remain in Washington.In an interview ai
SYDNEY – Alcohol abuse is a bigger problem for Pacific communities than drugs, according to an Australian report, which links drinking to domestic violence and wide-ranging health problems.The Burnet Institute survey, commissioned by the Australian National Council on Drugs, found that alcohol was the key area of concern in the Pacific, some of whose isolated communities are among the most
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