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China on par with US as top greenhouse gas emitter

Beijing - China on Wednesday admitted for the first time that its emissions of greenhouse gases have caught up with the world's longtime top producer, the United States, and said its reliance on coal would make emissions reductions difficult.

"According to our data, China's current total emissions are almost as the same as that of the United States," Xie Zhenhua, a top government economic planner, told reporters.

"Whether or not we have surpassed the US in emissions is in itself not important," he argued in presenting a key policy paper on climate change to the media. "We should look at the issue fairly and from a historic view."

Fujitsu cuts full-year earnings forecast as quarterly profit drops

Tokyo - Fujitsu Ltd on Wednesday revised down its earnings forecast for the year because of the yen's rise against other major currencies and sluggish demand for computers as its second-quarter profit dropped 21 per cent.

The Japanese company estimated a net profit of 60 billion yen (634.14 million dollars) for the full business year, which ends March 31, up 25 per cent from the previous year but down from an initial projection of 100 billion yen.

Operating profit was projected at 150 billion yen, down from an earlier forecast of 220 billion yen, and sales were revised down to 5.05 trillion yen from 5.35 trillion yen, owing to an expected fall in consumer electronics demand amid the slowing global economy.

Thousands arrive in Congo refugee camps as battle rages

Nairobi/Kinshasa - Around 30,000 people fleeing fierce battles between Congolese troops and Tutsi rebels are pouring into refugee camps near the eastern city of Goma, the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said Wednesday, as the rebels appeared to push back government forces.

UN helicopter gunships and armoured vehicles have been supporting Congolese troops north of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, as renegade Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda's troops press toward the town.

Nkunda's National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) says it has driven the Congolese army back from the town of Kibumba, which lies about 20 kilometres north of Goma.

Mall culture catches up in Meerut

Meerut, Oct. 29 : With the metro cities like Delhi increasingly adapting to shopping at malls, a sleepy town like Meerut is also catching up.

The growing charm to take to the mall culture is indicated by the proposal to establish two dozen shopping complexes during the next two years.

The exclusive shopping malls and multiplexes coming up in the heart of the city is a common sight, attracting the youngsters to hope to choose from a wide range of products under a single roof.

Pakistan summons US envoy over airstrikes

Islamabad - Pakistan summoned US Ambassador Anne Patterson Wednesday to lodge a protest over recent missile strikes by US drones in the country's tribal region along the border with Afghanistan.

"It was underscored to the ambassador that the government of Pakistan strongly condemns the missile attacks which resulted in the loss of precious lives and property," a statement from the country's Foreign Ministry said.

"It was emphasized that such attacks were a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and should be stopped immediately," it added.

Radio Pakistan terms Hindus as ‘fundamentalists’

Amritsar, Oct. 29 : People living in the border areas in Punjab are perplexed to hear Radio Pakistan making allegations that Hindus are ‘fundamentalists’ in nature.

People, including prominent Hindu seers, in Amritsar have taken offence to such allegations.

“One should not forget that Hindus in India have existed as an open-minded community. This is the reason why there could be three Muslim Presidents in the country, one Muslim Chief Justice of India, Home minister, and Chief Ministers in the past. If Hindus were not liberal, this wouldn’t have been possible,” said Swami Neeschalananda Saraswathi, Shankaracharya of Puri Goverdhan Peeth.

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