China Lists Development of Southern Xinjiang Top Priority
The Chinese government is making the development of southern Xinjiang a strategic national priority.
The decision has been made at a 2-day meeting, where Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued a call for the creation of massive security nets to deal with terrorist threats.
At the meeting, President Xi Jinping says good governance in Xinjiang is vital, stressing the priority needs to be improving people's livelihoods.
The President says special policies are going to be put in-place to help with the development of southern Xinjiang.
Xi Jinping has also issued a call for stronger unity among different ethnic groups in Xinjiang.
Chinese tourist abducted in Malaysia freed, to return to China soon
The Chinese tourist abducted in April in Semporna of Sabah state, Malaysia, has been freed.
An official from the Chinese Consulate in Malaysia told Xinhua that the Malaysian police informed them that the victim was freed Friday afternoon and had arrived in Sabah.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was on his official visit to China, had informed the Chinese side of the release and said the victim would be escorted back to China soon.
Contact with four more observers in eastern Ukraine lost: OSCE
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says it's lost contact with four of its observers in eastern Ukraine.
Its believed the group have been taken by rebel forces in a community about 100-kilometers north of Luhansk.
The self-styled leader of the "People's Front" in Luhansk says the OSCE members have been detained for document checks.
13th Shangri-La Dialogue kicks off, China's veteran female diplomat voices out
The 13th Shangri-La Dialogue, a multilateral forum mainly focusing on security issues in Asia, kicked off in Singapore on Friday.
The Chinese delegation will use the platform to expound China's point of view on security during the dialogue and discuss with other parties on ways to jointly safeguard regional peace, security and stability.
China's veteran female diplomat Fu Ying also attended the meeting.
She urged during a debate a head of the opening of the dialogue that all countries in the Asia- Pacific region should work together to find a way to reduce differences and build trust.
Russia says ready for talks on gas price if first Ukraine payment confirmed
Russia says it is prepared to continue negotiations with Ukraine over gas supplies next week once it receives partial debt payment from Ukraine.
Representatives from the European Union (EU), Russia and Ukraine met for a new round of trilateral talks in a bid to settle the ongoing gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine, days before a deadline set by Russia to cut the flow of gas if Ukraine does not pay unpaid bills.
Ukrain says it has made an initial payment of 786 million U.S. dollars, which would arrive in Russia on Monday at the earliest.
A Russian official says talks with Ukraine over a price for future deliveries would continue on Monday in Brussels once the payment is confirmed.
India outrage over hanged girls
Authorities in northern India have arrested three men, including two police officers, suspected of gang-raping and killing two teenage sisters.
Police are still searching for three other suspects.
The local police station chief has been suspended.
43 injured, 35,000 evacuated in China quake
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake has jolted a county in southwest China's Yunnan Province, injuring 43 people and forcing the evacuation of a further 35,000.
The quake hit Yingjiang County under Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Dehong on Friday.
Tremors were strongly felt in the county seat, where residents rushed to open areas.
The Yunnan government has initiated a grade II emergency response, sending a work team of over 50 people for surveying, investigation and disaster evaluation.
More than 3,500 soldiers, paramilitary officers and policemen are involved in the rescue work.
Xi urges socialist values for children
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for fostering socialist values among children while sending greetings ahead of Sunday's International Children's Day.
Xi Jinping visited a primary school in Haidian district in northern Beijing, attending school activities and meeting students, their parents and teachers.
While wishing children across the country a happy holiday, Xi Jinping stressed that children are the future of the country and the hope of Chinese people.
He said all sectors of society should work together to nurture the seeds of socialist values in their heart so that the values can take root and germinate.
The president said to move forward, China needs to inherit and develop its traditions, especially virtues cherished by generations.
China allows private investment in army equipment
The Chinese government is opening up its defense sector to private companies by relaxing market access for the sale of military equiptment.
Authorities are streamlining approvals, as well as reducing taxes on military imports.
The People's Liberation Army is also setting up a website for military procurement.
It's also going to make public its tenders for weapons and other military equipment. |