China cites ‘conclusive evidence’ in Rio Tinto case

China has "conclusive evidence" that four employees of the world’s second-largest mining company were stealing Chinese state secrets, the country’s foreign ministry said. Four employees of Rio Tinto — one Australian and three Chinese — have been arrested on suspicion of espionage and stealing state secrets. Australian Stern Hu is the general manager of Rio Tinto’s Shanghai office, where all the employees work.

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Jordaan plays down World Cup strike fears

Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the 2010 World Cup organizing committee in South Africa, said in a statement on Wednesday that construction remains on schedule for the tournament despite large-scale strikes delaying building work at stadium sites. About 70,000 workers have downed tools in a pay dispute after negotiations broke down earlier this week, with less than 12 months to go before the finals kick-off. The workers are reportedly seeking a 13 percent pay rise on their $300 average monthly wage, and there are growing worries that a prolonged strike could jeopardize key projects such as the centerpiece 94,000-seater Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg

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Kim Jong Il appears frail at father’s memorial service

North Korea’s reclusive leader appeared in public Wednesday for the first time in months to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his father’s death. Kim Jong Il, 67, seemed frail and gaunt as he walked into the service flanked by senior party and military officials.

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GOP says White House sends mixed messages on stimulus

Republicans disappointed with the president’s stimulus plan are expected to hit the Obama administration and Democrats hard Wednesday during a House hearing on oversight of the stimulus spending. Republican lawmakers will accuse the administration of misreading the effectiveness of the stimulus and say the administration has “rigged the game” by using what they call the immeasurable metric of “jobs created or saved,” according to a Republican memo obtained by CNN

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