The Chinese government has issued its first policy document for this year.

As per custom, the document underscores the importance of rural reforms and maintaining food security.

It puts improving food security at the top of the reform list for 2014 and the next few years. 

The document also calls for further modernization in the agricultural sector to improve productivity.

The document issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council every year is dubbed the "No.1 Central Document". 

This is the 11th consecutive year it has focused on rural issues.

 

S.Korea welcomes opening of memorial in China for Korean patriot against Japanese colonization

The South Korean government is hailing the opening of a new memorial hall in northeastern China commemorating the life of the Korean man who assassinated the governor of then-Japanese-occupied Korea in 1909.

The South Korean foreign ministry says it welcomes and hails the opening of the memorial in Harbin to Ahn Jung-geun.

Ahn assassinated Hirobumi Ito on the platform of the railway station in Harbin in 1909.

He was arrested shortly after, and was secretly assassinated in 1910.

In unveiling the new memorial, the vice-governor of Heilongjiang is calling on peace-loving people around the world to united, resist invasions and oppose war.

The memorial has reportedly been built at the request of South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

So far the Japanese government hasn't issued a response to the unveiling of the memorial.

However, Japan's Chief Cabinet secretary has described Ahn Jung-geun as a criminal in the past, and has publically opposed plans to establish the new memorial to him.

 

SNC to appoint delegation members to peace conference

Syria's main opposition in-exile has met in Istanbul to appoint delegates to will head to Geneva for this week's peace conference.

The meeting comes after the Syrian National Coalition agreed to attend the peace talks in Switzerland following a secret ballot this past week.

The Syrian government has already agreed to attend the conference. 

The government also denies reports that President Bashar al-Assad has said his departure is not up for discussion.

Wednesday's meeting will be the first direct talks between the government and oppositions in the nearly three-year long conflict.

 

12 injured in clashes in Lebanon's Tripoli

A new round of sectarian clashes has erupted in the restive northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.

At least a dozen people have been injured in the fighting in a Sunni neighborhood.

Sniper fire is reportedly taking place as the Sunni population and the minority Alawite community fight one-another.

The Lebanese military has deployed units to the area in an attempt to try to restore the peace.

Tripoli has been under military control since November.

The city has been the flash point for sectarian strife between the Sunni population, which supports the rebels in neighboring Syria, and the minority Alawite population, which tends to support the government of Bashar al-Assad.

Waves of clashes in Tripoli since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria has left over 100 people dead over the past 3-years.

 

Morsi to face trail again

Ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is to face a fourth trial on charges of insulting the judiciary. 

The exact date has not yet been annouced.

The Islamist leader was removed from power in July.

His Muslim Brotherhood has since been declared a terrorist organisation.

His last trial was adjourned earlier this month due to bad weather.

The latest move follows a referendum where authorities say some 98 percent of voters have approved a new constitution.

Egyptian officials view the vote as key in legitimising the interim government and its plan for parliamentary and presidential elections.

However, turnout was less than 40 percent amid a boycott by Morsi supporters.

 

Clashes erupt in Ukraine as protesters attack police

Protests in Ukraine have turned violent, with demonstrators attacking riot police with sticks, fireworks and smoke bombs in central Kiev.

Local reports are suggesting the protesters have attempted to overturn a police bus and torched another police vehicle.

This reportedly sparked strong retribution from the authorities.

So far no casualty figures have been reported.

However, dozens of ambulances are on the scene.

A new wave of protests have erupted in Ukraine after the parliament last week approved legislation which bans certian types of demonstrations. 

Ukraine's capital Kiev has been gripped by protests since November, with demonstrators demaning the government sign an integration agreement with the European Union.

Ukraine is divided among those who want closer ties with Europe and those who would prefer to have a stronger relationship with Russia.

 

Road passengers up in first 4 days of "chunyun"

New analysis is suggesting road travel is up so far this Spring Festival travel season.

Transport authorities say around 324-million road trips have been taken through the first 4-days of the 40-day Spring Festival travel period.

That represents a 3.4-percent increase compared with the same period last year.

Transport authorities estimate Chinese passangers will make 3.62-billion road trips during the Spring Festival travel rush this year.

The Spring Festival travel rush began on Thursday and will run until February 24th.

The lunar New Year falls on January 31st this year.