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News Research
Pluto is expelled
from Solar System
23:20, Aug.24, 2006
Reported by Associated Press, planet
definition has been renewed by IAU at Prague Conference on Aug.24, 2006.
According to the new definition, Pluto lost his planet title, and there are
only eight major planets of Solar system. A Hibernian woman astronomer said: If
we do according the old definition, then it should contain many small planets
into solar system. We will be laughed by people. Another astronomer agreed her
argumentation. Now we should know the 8 major planet are― Mercury, Hesper, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and
Neptune.
International News
McDonald's announces resignation of
No. 2 executive
Updated:
2006-08-24 09:31
CHICAGO
- McDonald's Corp. has announced the unexpected resignation of Mike Roberts,
the fast-food chain's No. 2 executive, as president and chief operating
officer.
No
reason was cited in the late Wednesday afternoon announcement by CEO Jim
Skinner. A company spokesman did not immediately return phone calls seeking
comment.
|
|
The
company said Ralph Alvarez, president of McDonald's USA, will succeed Roberts.
Alvarez will in turn be replaced by Don Thompson, currently executive vice
president and chief operations officer of the U.S. business.
Roberts
was widely seen as the likeliest candidate to someday succeed Skinner in the
top post of the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company. After overseeing the
revitalization of the U.S. business, he was promoted to the president's job in
November 2004 when Skinner was named to replace the cancer-stricken Charlie
Bell as chief executive. Bell died eight weeks later.
McDonald's
has continued to increase sales solidly since then, although growth has
recently tapered off slightly as the company came up against tougher
comparisons with its impressive recent results.
"We
all owe Mike a tremendous debt of gratitude," Skinner said in a prepared
statement. "Because of his leadership, our system is stronger and more
aligned than ever."
Roberts,
a 29-year veteran of McDonald's who is in his mid 50s, said in comments
released by the company that he was honored to have served McDonald's and
thanked owner-operators, suppliers and employees.
"As
I think back over the years, I'm fortunate to have been part of so many
defining moments _ most recently our renaissance, which began in the U.S. in
2002 and is now occurring all around the world," he said.
A
message seeking further comment was left at Roberts' office Wednesday evening.
The
Chicago native began his career with the company as a regional purchasing
manager in 1977 and moved up through a variety of positions in the United
States, including president of McDonald's West division and president of
McDonald's USA.
He
survived unprecedented struggles in that business and remained in charge until
new products and a new strategy spearheaded by then-CEO Jim Cantalupo helped
turn its fortunes around. Bell then promoted Roberts to chief executive of the
U.S. unit, the company's biggest, in July 2004 "in recognition of the
revitalization of the U.S. business."
Richard
Adams, a former McDonald's executive and now a consultant for McDonald's
franchisees, said he suspects the ambitious Roberts had threatened to leave the
company if he wasn't given a bigger role and had the strategy backfire on him.
He said he doubted McDonald's would have pressured him to quit, with the
business doing well.
"Unless
there's some extraordinary event, it's a real negative for them to lose their
No. 2 man, if you just want to look at their image on Wall Street," he
said. "At this point in time when they've been enjoying success for the last
40 months, to just up and fire the top guy would really be a negative for the
company."
The
announcement was made more than two hours after the close of regular trading.
In normal-hours activity, McDonald's shares fell 1 cent to $35.59 on the New
York Stock Exchange. They are up 5.5 percent this year and 21 percent since
Skinner and Roberts took over the top two spots on November 22, 2004.
Alvarez,
51, has spent the past 12 years with the company and most recently has led the
continued momentum of the U.S. business, which has posted 40 straight months of
positive same-store sales.
Before
taking his current position as president of McDonald's North America, where he
is responsible for 15,000 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, Alvarez served as
President of McDonald's USA. He previously was chief operations officer of
McDonald's USA, president of the unit's Central division and president of
McDonald's Mexico.
Floods killed at
least 85 in Rajasthan
Updated: 2006-08-28 09:21
People
rest on highway damaged by floods near Barmer town, 350 km (218 miles) north of
the western Indian city of Ahmedabad August 27, 2006. Floods caused by heavy
rains have killed at least 85 people in India's western desert state of
Rajasthan, and forced the suspension of a train service to neighboring
Pakistan. [Reuters]
Industry News
Private detective can get Bachelor degree in France
Reported
by Guangzhou Yangcheng Evening Paper, Agu.25, 2006
Xinhua report: Since Oct. 2006, France Molon Economy and Law College will
set up “Private Detective” department, and education system is three years. Students will be awarded the bachelor
degree by France Ministry of Education after graduated. France Le Figaro said
this degree is the first one
on “Private Detective”. Except the usual classes, for example law, spy,
surveillance etc, the students also are arranged in real situation to practice.
Since that, there are two school had set up the department in France, but
neither is certificated by Ministry of Education. In March 2003, France had
Issued one piece of law, it said the private detective must hold his certificate
if he engage on private detective business.
Monthly Holiday
Middle-Autumn
Day is coming
Updated: 2006-08-29 09:52
A Chinese girl looks at
a huge moon cake in a restaurant in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province
August 28 2006. The moon cake, 40 centimeters high and 220 centimeters in
diameter, is made of 800 kilograms of materials.
Custom of Middle-Autumn
Day
The Mid－Autumn Festival
falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month ,which comes right in
the middle autumn, hence its name. In ancient times, people would offer
elaborate cakes as sacrifices to the Moon Goddess on this day. After the ceremony,
his family would enjoy sitting together and eating the pastries. The festival
then came to symbolize family unity, and the custom has been passed down to this
day. On mid－autumn night the full moon is especially bright. The who family sits
together eating moon－cakes while admiring the moon in its perfect splendor.
Mid-Autumn Day is a special day in which your wishes of staying together with
your beloved permanently will come true. Everyone of a couple will miss each
other so much and make wishes and pledge that day. That day is full of Chinese
humane culture and it is said the moon is much brighter than any other day.