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Reports from the Sixth China North-South Lung Cancer Summit meeting of 300 experts focusses on controlling tobacco use and promoting early detection and treatment of lung cancer. Lung cancer is now the leading form of cancer in China, with 22.7% of cancer deaths each year. Currently about 1 million die in China from smoking related illness each year. CCTV reports this is increasing by 26.9% a year. Causes cited are aging population, air pollution, and widespread smoking. About one in three of China's people smoke, or about 350 million. Awareness of the dangers of tobacco use is not high outside two or three major cities. China manufactures about 1.7 trillion cigarettes a year, according to CCTV, and tobacco contributes 7-10 percent of state revenues.

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The UK's Office of National Statistics said construction output fell by 3.7% in the first quarter of 2012, compared to prior year. Output fell 3%. The revised decline in GDP for the first quarter is 0.3%.

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This editorial opinion in BBC News points to a Russian miscalculation on how its involvement in the U.S. elections would be seen in the U.S. Congress. The U.S. Congress voted for stronger sanctions on Russia with only 5 members in the Senate and the House of Representatives voting against sanctions- an overwhelming vote in favor of sanctions. This means future policy on Russia will be determined by the U.S. Congress, and with bipartisan support for such policies. President Trump reluctantly signed the bill, saying it took away from executive authority. Russia had hoped its efforts in favor of Trump would lead to an easing of sanctions, not grasping the role of Republicans in Congress who see interference in the democratic process in the U.S. in the same way as Democrats.

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NYT reporting on the wealth of China's elite is followed by restrictions on journalists. Visa restrictions were eased for students, tourists and business travellers, but tightenend for journalists under the Jinping administration in 2014. This NYT editorial says NYT will not succumb to pressures from the U.S. or any government, including China, to change the high standards of reporting, and will continue to meet the fair reporting needs of its readers worldwide.

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The S-400 antiaircraft missile defense system used by Russia is changing the way U.S. operates as an undisputed air power. It has not been tested in operations yet it has affected use of U.S. air power in difficult spots around the world. Russia says it is its way of contesting a U.S. led world order. Purchases of the system by China and India allow Russia to spread the cost of the system with a smaller budget for defense. 

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The "negative Tier 1 capital" at Deutsche Bank's U.S. bank holding company Taunus Corp. of negative 7.58% cited by FDIC chairman Sheila Bair. Parent Deutsche Bank has total equity lower than U.S. banks Citicorp, Chase and Bank of America, with total equity equivalent to 4.4% of assets using a U.S. style approach says Eavis, making the Bair criticism relevant and timely in 2010.

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The plan to prevent foreclosures in Minnesota is supported by the state's Democrat- Farmer-Labor party which has a majority in the legislatre. The Republican Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty is mentioned as running mate to McCain and he will be criticized in the election if he vetoes the bill. A 39% increase in foreclosures is expected for 2008 by Housing Link, a Minnesota nonprofit research group. with about 28,000 households affected. CEO of Toll Brothers, a luxury builder rates Minnesota a F- in assessment of regional housing markets. So what will this bill do? Under the foreclosure deferment plan loans closed from January 1, 2001 through August 1, 2007, when antipredatory lending law took effect would be eligible. Borrowers must be legal U.S. residents and have adjusted household gross incomes of less than $250,000. Second home are not covered. During the deferment period borrowers keep paying a portion of their mortgages. This is set at either the monthly payment of principal and interest when the loan was originated, or 65% of the monthly payment at the time of default, whichever is less. Rep Matsui of California introduced a similar bill in the House of Representatives May 13, 2008. Because the bill limits the benefit to those who are needy and worst affected it would appear to be a sensible approach. At this time there are so many proposals but with little Republican support and a public opinion that sees this as moral hazard or rewarding people for their mistakes with public money, there is little to help the most needy and deserving borrowers for whom a good case can be made for help on a bipartisan basis and with support of the public....

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Pier Luigi Bersani from the northern Emilio Romagna region, head of the centre-left Democratic party, is the leading candidate for prime minister in Italy's 2013 elections. His party has 37.8% support in a recent poll. The Democratic party has an electoral alliance with the SEL Left, Ecology and Freedom party, which has 5.1% in the poll. Berlusconi's People of Freedom party has 18.2% support and the antiestablishment party of Beppe Grillo, the Five Star Movement has 20% support. Prime minister Mario Monti is being encouraged to run by business and centrist parties. Bersani said in an interview, he will continue Monti's policies if elected. He says he supports greater flexibility so that policies do not focus only on austerity, at the same time he will respect the committments Italy has gven to the EU and move forward with pro-competition actions.

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Senator Chuck Schumer in the US Congress after the passage of the US Debt Ceiling Agreement on June 1, 2023. It is a historic day when president Biden helped preserve most of what has been accomplished by the Inflation Reduction Act and other spending programs for US workers and families, for US infrastructure, and world leadership in science and technology.

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India's 945 million voters today compares with 174 million in 1951, and 214 million in 1962. Not till 1962 was election turnout at over 50%. In 2014 and 2019 election turnout was at 66%. The Election Commission of India wants to see turnout at 75% by helping migrants and youth to vote. 

 

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Andrew Kramer, Tyler Hicks for photographs, and Maria Varenikova reporting from Lyman, show skirmishes between small groups of soldiers along the frontlines between Russia and Ukraine. New recruits with little training are seen by Ukrainians on the front lines. This is the situation in Feb 2023 as the Russian offensive is seen as bogged down in many places.

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Mette Fredericksen's Social Democrats and her centre-left coalition gets a majority of the seats in parliament in Denmark's elections. She resigns and will now form a new centrist government. She says her party was elected to form a broad centrist government. Her party gained 50 seats. A new party started by Mr. Rasmussen gained 16 seats.

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Sel-awareness, what it is and how it can help one build on reflection that happens when one slows down not going on at the fast pace of today's life. It gets one to know how ones actions are perceived by others, how to develop the humility to see oneself and others in ways that improves social interactions.

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Macron hopes to shake off a sense among voters that he is aloof and haughty by campaigning every day among voters in areas where young people supported Mr. Melenchon, and in some working class towns that support Le Pen. Le Pen is doing just the opposite staying close to voters in the North and the Southeast who have supported her.

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Macron's address to supporters in Paris following his win for a second term in office. Macron says the second term will not be one of continuity alone, it will be ambitious and take up new projects, be fairer to all segments of the people and "no one will be left by the wayside."

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A 35% increase in capital spending by the Indian government and crowding in private investment will be the basis of growth in the Indian economy says India's finance minister Ms. Sitharaman at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meetings in Bali, Indonesia. Sitharaman said evidence based policy making was vital for resilient economy in India.

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Humza Yousaf won the contest against Kate Forbes 52% to 48% as a continuity candidate to Nicola Sturgeon under whom he had served running the health and other ministries. His performance is seen as weak as minister. His election was made possible by Kate Forbes expressing socially conservative positions on abortion and gay rights, say experts.  

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Of the $2 billion it cost to build the new 22 kms Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) bridge between the island city and the mainland at Navi Mumbai, 85% is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. This is one of the many infrastructural improvements including the Metro being undertaken in Mumbai today that will completely transform the city.

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Most of the Aeroflot and Russian airlines fleet of planes are now grounded. The action was taken by the Russian government to prevent the seizure of Russian planes in overseas locations. 515 of 865 planes in Russian commercial airlines are under leasing arrangements, with companies leasing the planes seeking to repossess the planes as soon as possible.

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The Financial Times looks at the logistics logjam worsened by the Shanghai lockdown in China. A greater economic fallout is also expected on the long supply chains that are now becoming unworkable, leading to the rebuilding of new shorter supply chains. And bringing manufacturing back to Europe and the US from overstretched supply chains in China.

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The USMCA agreement negotiated by president Trump between the U.S. Canada and Mexico that replaces NAFTA, win support from Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress. Democrats pushing for Trump's impeachment have decided to still support passage of the USMCA, handing president Trump a victory, as they see it giving a positive benefit to U.S. workers.

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The Liberal Party is falling behind the Conservatives by double digits because of cost of living and housing concerns. Mr. Trudeau's popularity is dimming. His government is a minority government that depends on the New Democrats for key votes in parliament. Mr. Trudeau talks about personal sacrifices on this job. Canada will elect a new government in 2025.

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DW.com looks at the increasing demand for Indonesian coal from Germany and other European nations, and the surge in coal prices. There is also a surge in demand of LNG from Malaysia. Germany is now the largest destination for Indonesian coal after China and India. The prohibition of Russian coal by the EU went into effect in August 2022.

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The full text of the speech made by Chinese president Xi at the 100th anniversary of the CCP. CCP was founded in 1921 on July 23, at the French Concession in Shanghai two years after the May 4, 1919 protests for Science, Modernization and Democracy. It started as a study group in the First United Front with the Nationalist Party. 

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This WSJ report shows ways in which companies are attracting and retaining employees by building homes. One company shown here is building the homes to keep costs down using subcontractors. Costs are kept down so that houses can be built at $200,000, to make them affordable at $1000 a month mortgages for workers earning $40,000 to $100,000.