China offers deep condolences following Kim's death
中國對金正日逝世表示深切哀悼
The funeral arrangments for late North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il have now been set and is scheduled for December 28th in Pyongyang.
A national period of mourning has been declared until December 29th.
Kim Jong-Il died of a heart attack Saturday while on a train visiting an area outside the capital.
The Chinese government has offered its "deep condolences".
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin.
"We are shocked to learn of the unfortunate passing of the North Korean top leader Kim Jong-il, and we express our grief about this and extend our condolences to the people of North Korea. Comrade Kim Jong-il was the great leader of the North Korean people, and a close friend of the Chinese people."
Liu also says the Chinese government remains confident that North Korea will remain stable.
The North Korean flag remains at half-mast at it's embassy in Beijing.

Syria signs AL agreement
敘利亞與阿拉伯國家聯盟簽署協議
The Syrian government has now signed an Arab League deal designed to end the 9-month violence between protesters and government forces.
As part of the deal, Syria says it will allow Arab League 'monitors' into the country within 72 hours.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem says his country has agreed to sign the deal because it wants to find a "political solution."
Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi says around 100 observers will begin a month-long mission.
al-Arabi also says the Arab League is organizing meetings with Syria's opposition, and at the same preparing for a dialogue with President Bashar al-Assad's government.

4th day of renewed chaos in Cairo
開羅新沖突為期4天
At least 3 more protesters have been killed in a 4th straight day of clashes with security forces.
Egypt's Health Ministry now puts the death toll at 14 from the unrest.
The renewed clashes began on Friday when a sit-in outside the parliament was broken up by troops.
Major General Adel Emara is describing the unrest as a plot to "topple the state."
Emara says an investigation into the media's coverage of a female protester being beaten and dragged to the ground is now underway.

Iraqi judicial authority issues arrest warrant for vice president: official
伊拉克司法部門正式下令逮捕副總統
Iraq's highest judicial body has issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi in connection with terrorism charges.
Iraq's Interior Ministry says three detained suspects, including two of Hashimi's security guards, have confessed to carrying out several terror operations with the knowledge of Hashemi, or under his command.
The arrest warrant for Hashimi comes less than 24-hours after US troops completely withdrew from Iraq after years of occupation following the 2003 invasion.

China hopes to promote relations with Vietnam, Thailand
我國希望促進與越南、泰國關系
Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping is now set to begin a two-country swing to Southeast Asia later today.
The Foreign Ministry says Xi Jinping's trip to Vietnam and Thailand will include meetings with top Vietnamese and Thai officials.
The trip comes following an agreement earlier this year between Beijing and Hanoi to settle issues connected to the South China Sea through bilateral discussions.
Xi Jinping will spend three days in Vietnam before heading to Thailand.

Second duty-free shop to open in S China's Hainan province
我國海南第二個免稅商店開放
A second duty-free shop is now set to open in Hainan tomorrow.
The new duty-free shop is part of the trial tax rebate program which began in Sanya in April.
Under the program, tourists and locals in Hainan can get tax refunds on certain imported products worth less than 5-thousand yuan before flying to other airports in China.
After deducting customs duties, value-added taxes and consumer taxes, products sold at duty-free stores in Hainan tend to cost 10 to 35 percent less than those sold in other stores.

Hundreds of fugitives surrender online in E China
數百名網絡逃犯投降
Police in the city of Taizhou in Zhejiang are now reporting that some 280 fugitives have turned themselves in online since local police opened their "online police bureau" six months ago.
The online service was launched in June following the launch of a nationwide campaign that kicked off in late May to arrest fugitives.
The national campaign has seen the arrests of 23-thousand suspects.
Under Chinese law, suspects who turn themselves in may face lighter punishments.

China launches communication satellite for Nigeria
我國為尼日利亞發射通信衛星
A Nigerian communication satellite has become the latest to be launched into space by the Chinese space authorities.
This morning's launch from Sichuan is the 3rd foreign satellite launch by the Chinese space authorities this year.
The Nigerian satellite is designed to provide communication, broadcast, Internet connection, remote education and navigation services to parts of Africa, Europe and Asia.
Four or five foreign satellites are expected to be launched from China in the coming year.

Beijing's controversial "English-language town" abandoned
北京爭議“英語鎮”被遺棄
The controversial "English-language town" project in suburban Beijing has been called off by local authorities.
A private company had been planning to build the so-called English-language town within Miyun county, northeast of Beijing, over the coming five years.
The project would have seen visitors to town only allowed to speak English.
The proposal sparked a lot of controversy, with people describing the proposed rule as discriminatory against Chinese people.

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