10 METRO Monday, November 9, 2009 D METROWorld The John Field room: Pianist Chen Kuan-yu performs during a concert in the middle of a rice paddy in Chishang Township, Taitung, in Taiwan. The concert attracted almost 500 people Picture: Reuters China: Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday offered Africa $10billion in loans over the next three years, saying China was a true and trusted friend of the continent and its people. The aid offer is double that unveiled by President Hu Jintao in 2006, as China aims to boost a relationship which is now economically booming, to the discomfort of some in the West. Mr Wen brushed aside concerns that China was only interested in Africas natural resources to help feed its economy. Chinas support for Africas development is real and our friendship with the people of Africa will not change, he told a summit in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. iran: Russia has been given a warning by a senior lawmaker over a delay in the delivery of an anti-aircraft missile defence system to Tehran. A report on state-controlled TV quotes the head of parliaments national security and foreign policy committee, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, as saying that if Russia does not fulfil its promised delivery of the missiles, it will be a negative point in their relations. Russia and Iran have been discussing the delivery of the S- 300 anti-aircraft missile defence system based on a 2007 agreement. Israel and the US, however, strongly oppose the agreement, saying the missiles would improve Irans air defence capability. aMEriCa: Homeland Security officials are working with groups around the country to head off any possible anti-Muslim backlash following last Thursdays shootings at Fort Hood in Texas which left 13 people dead and 29 wounded. The agencys chief, Janet Napolitano, yesterday said her agency is working to try to deflect anti-Muslim anger after the attacks by Nidal Malik Hasan (pictured), a Muslim army major who expressed growing dismay over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This was an individual who does not represent the Muslim faith, she said. China: Horrified wife Tjing Zhang is suing for divorce after finding out that her husband is actually her cousin. Tjing, 27, of Shanghai, fell for 22-year- old Jian Hsieh and they married without telling their families. But when they staged a celebration a month later their shocked mothers revealed they were sisters. We didnt know whether to be happy or sad, said Tjings mother. CaMbodia: Prime minister Hun Sen said yesterday that Thailands fugitive ex-leader, Thaksin Shinawatra (pictured), will visit the country to make a speech to economists, an event bound to inflame a worsening diplomatic row between the neighbours. Mr Shinawatra was named an economic adviser to the Cambodian government last week. Thailand responded by recalling its ambassador, with Cambodia then following suit. Mr Huns embrace of Mr Shinawatra a divisive figure in Thailand follows a border dispute that has led to military skirmishes. PalEstinE: Thousands of Palestinians turned out in the West Bank to urge Mahmoud Abbas to run again for the presidency following his announcement that he did not want a second term in the job. Supporters greeted the president as he conducted a tour of towns in the West Bank, part of the territories where the Palestinians aim to establish a state. The scenes were broadcast live on Palestinian television, which has been airing programmes in support of Mr Abbas since his declaration that he did not want to run. Many analysts believe his announcement could be a tactic to prompt the US to put pressure on Israel to halt West Bank settlement building. China: The Dalai Lama brushed off Chinese protests and travelled to a remote Himalayan town near the Tibetan border to lead five days of prayers for pilgrims. Thousands of villagers braved freezing temperatures for a chance to see the spiritual leader (pictured). The trip to Tawang, which lies at the heart of a border dispute between India and China, angered Beijing and increased tensions between the two nations. China accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking Tibetan independence and is sensitive to protests against its control over the Himalayan region. El salVador: Forty people have died following three days of heavy rains. The deaths happened in five of the 14 provinces of the mountainous Central American country, where it has been raining since Thursday. At least two dozen of the deaths happened in the central San Vicente province. The rains were caused by a low pressure system off the countrys Pacific coast. The presence of Hurricane Ida, which passed through Nicaragua on Thursday, slamming the countrys Atlantic coast, damaging or destroying about 500 homes, may have played a role in helping to steer the weather system, although the deaths are not directly linked to the hurricane. Obama wins vital healthcare voteBy JOHN WHITESIDESTHE US House of Representatives has narrowly endorsed the biggest healthcare overhaul in decades, giv- ing President Barack Obama a cru- cial victory in a battle that now moves to the Senate. By a 220-215 vote, including the support of one Republican, Louisi- anas Anh Cao, the House backed a bill to expand coverage to nearly all Americans and bar insurance prac- tices such as refusing to cover peo- ple with pre-existing conditions. In the Senate, work on a health- care bill Mr Obamas top domestic priority has stalled for weeks as Democratic leader Harry Reid searches for an approach that can win the 60 votes he needs. Any differences between the Sen- ate and House bills will ultimately have to be reconciled, and a final bill passed again by both before go- ing to Mr Obama for his signature. House Democrats cheered and hugged when the decisive 218th vote was recorded, and again when house speaker Nancy Pelosi an- nounced the results. Most Republicans criticised the measures $1trillion price tag, new taxes on the wealthy and what they said was excessive government in- terference in the private health sec- tor. The overhaul would spark the big- gest changes in the $2.5trillion US healthcare system since the creation of the Medicare government health programme for the elderly in 1965. A 1.5km row of giant domino pieces set up near the Brandenburg Gate will be toppled today to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall Picture: Reuters DemOcracys DOminO effect Bomber kills anti-Taliban mayor A SUICIDE bomber blew himself up yesterday in a crowded market in northwestern Pakistan, killing Abdul Malik, an anti- Taliban mayor who had formed a militia to fight extremists, and 11 other people. A purported Taliban commander identified only as Omar claimed responsibility for the bombing in Adazai, 16km south of Peshawar. The Taliban have carried out a series of attacks in recent weeks aimed at pressuring the government to abandon an offensive launched in mid- October in South Waziristan, the main Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuary in the country. The suicide bomber hit as shoppers thronged a market where goats were being sold to celebrate the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid. Mr Malik had survived several attacks on his life since forming the anti-Taliban militia, according to police. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html