MANILA Mahmoud Dahoud Dortmund Trikot , June 26 (Xinhua) -- Troops from the Philippines and the United States began on Thursday their annual joint naval exercises.


The 20th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training ( CARAT) Philippines 2014 is part of a broader bilateral exercise series the U.S. Navy conducts with nine partner navies in South and Southeast Asia.


The U.S. embassy in Manila said in a statement that CARAT exercises are aimed at addressing shared maritime security priorities, strengthen maritime partnerships and enhance interoperability among participating navies.


This year's CARAT Philippines will focus on combined operations at sea, amphibious landings, diving and salvage, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance flights.


Exercises will be held in several locations ashore and at sea including Subic Bay Sebastian Rode Dortmund Trikot , San Antonio in the northern Philippine province of Zambales and Sangley Point in Cavite City and Ternate in western Philippines.


As in years past, the sea phase of the exercises will take place in international waters west of Subic Bay.


The Philippines has participated since the series began in 1995. The U.S. embassy said CARAT exercises are "clear examples" of the long-standing and close relationship between the navies of the Philippines and the United States.


The U.S. embassy said CARAT promotes regional maritime cooperation with many participating navies and "is not in response to current events."


WASHINGTON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday that it will seek to lower nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels as part of a "comprehensive regulatory plan" aimed at significantly reducing tobacco-related disease and death.


In a statement, the FDA also said it will "begin a public dialogue about lowering nicotine levels in combustible cigarettes to non-addictive levels through achievable product standards."


"Because almost 90 percent of adult smokers started smoking before the age of 18 and nearly 2,500 youth smoke their first cigarette every day in the U.S. Sergio Gomez Dortmund Trikot , lowering nicotine levels could decrease the likelihood that future generations become addicted to cigarettes and allow more currently addicted smokers to quit," the U.S. agency said.


According to the U.S. FDA, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, as well as an estimated 300 billion U.S. dollars in direct health care and lost productivity costs.


"The overwhelming amount of death and disease attributable to tobacco is caused by addiction to cigarettes -- the only legal consumer product that Manuel Akanji Dortmund Trikot , when used as intended, will kill half of all long-term users," said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.


"Unless we change course, 5.6 million young people alive today will die prematurely later in life from tobacco use."


The U.S. agency also said it tries to reach "an appropriate balance" between regulation and encouraging development of "innovative tobacco products that may be less dangerous than cigarettes."


As a result, it will give manufacturers of the controversial e-cigarettes and several other previously unregulated tobacco products more time to comply with a FDA final rule taking effect on Aug. 8 last year that extended the agency's authority to these tobacco products.


"Under expected revised timelines Jeremy Toljan Dortmund Trikot , applications for newly-regulated combustible products, such as cigars, pipe tobacco and hookah tobacco, would be submitted by Aug. 8, 2021 Alexander Isak Dortmund Trikot , and applications for non-combustible products such as... e-cigarettes would be submitted by Aug. 8, 2022," the U.S. FDA said.


Under the final rule issued last year, manufacturers were only given about three years to get FDA approval for their products.


Friday's announcement will not affect other requirements, such as mandatory age and photo-ID checks to prevent illegal sales to minors.


In addition Raphael Guerreiro Dortmund Trikot , the U.S. agency said it will consider whether and how to exempt premium cigars from regulation and whether to ban menthol and other flavors in cigarettes, factors known as a leading driver of youth smoking.


Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement the new tobacco regulatory agenda proposed by Gottlieb "represents a bold and comprehensive vision with the potential to accelerate progress in reducing tobacco use and the death and disease it causes in the United States."


However, Myers criticized it as "a serious error" for the FDA to significantly delay critical deadlines for complying with the agency's 2016 rule establishing oversight of electronic cigarettes Marco Reus Dortmund Trikot , cigars and other previously unregulated tobacco products..


"This long delay will allow egregious, kid-friendly e-cigarettes and cigars, in flavors like gummy bear, cherry crush and banana smash, to stay on the market with little public health oversight Mario Gotze Dortmund Trikot ," Myers said.


"There is no reason to allow these products to stay on the market while developing and implementing the comprehensive strategy Dr. Gottlieb outlined today."


Xi honors military officers, unit ahead of Army Day


China promotes 5 officers to general


7th meeting of BRICS High Representatives for Security Issues held in Beijing


Annual maximum peak of Hukou Waterfall seen due to heavy rainfall


Big year for China's military as PLA to celebrate 90th birthday


China's biggest automated cargo wharf to start operation by end of 2017


Hukou Waterfalls in N China enter summer flood period


Chinese research vessel "Kexue" conducts operation in South China Sea


BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- China has quickened the pace of opening up its financial market to spur economic growth, raise financial sector competitiveness and actively participate in the global market.


Last month, overseas investors gained direct access to the Chinese mainland's 10 trillion U.S. dol. Cheap Sports Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Throwback Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Shop Cheap New NFL Jerseys Cheap College Baseball Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap MLB Baseball Jerseys