Death toll from NE.China colliery explosion rises to 107
One more body was retrieved from a coal shaft Wednesday noon, bringing the death toll of the deadly coal mine blast in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province to 107.
Rescuers are continuing to search for the last miner still trapped underground.
The blast happened Saturday at the Xinxing Coal Mine in Hegang City.
A total of 528 miners were working underground when the blast happened.
China's Vice Foreign Minister Says RMB Flexibility May Widen in the Future
China's Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun has repeated the announcement made by the nation's central bank a month ago that the RMB rate's flexibility may widen.
Zhang said China will "increase the flexibility of the RMB exchange rate at a controllable level in the future, based on the market demand and with reference to a basket of currencies."
The announcement comes after the People's Bank of China said it was in the process of reforming the exchange rate system.
China is recieving calls from the international community to reevaluate its currency. The nation adopted the policy of loosely pegging the RMB to the US dollar since the financial recession began.
Preparation for 2010 Shanghai Expo proceeds into operation phase: Chinese official
Chinese representatives of the Executive Committee of the Shanghai Expo say preparations for the Expo has proceeded into exhibits arrangements and service operation as site constructions are mostly completed.
Deputy director Yang Xiong says that with less than six months ahead of the 2010 Shanghai Expo, preparations in construction and operation are going smoothly as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Yang Xiong says the global financial crisis is having little impact on preparations for the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
Yang says many participants have confirmed to the executive committee that they would play a more active role in the face of the crisis.
One-third Chinese manufacturers optimistic about country's economic growth, survey reveals
A survey has shown Chinese manufacturers are more optimistic about China's economic development than about the world economy.
About one-third of the 2,000 respondents surveyed says that the country's economy has walked out of "winter" and is already on the track of growth. While only 15 percent said the world economy is back to growth.
China's economic growth for this year has seen quarter-on-quarter rises. It grew 6.1 percent in the first quarter year on year, 7.9 percent in the second, and 8.9 percent in the third quarter.
Death Toll in Philippines Massacre Rises to 57
Rescuers in the Phillipines have discovered more bodies from Monday's killings, raising the death toll to 57.
Around 100 militiamen ambushed a convoy of journalists, lawyers, and supporters of Buluan town vice mayor Esmail Mangudadatu en route to register him as a candidate in next year's election.
National police spokesman says initial investigation indicates the group responsible for the killings was led by Andal Ampatuan Jr, the arch political rival of Mangudadatu.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has placed the province of Maguindanao and two neighboring areas under a state of emergency to give security forces more freedom to arrest and detain suspects.
Israeli PM Announces a 10 Month Restriction on Settlements
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a 10 month restriction on the construcion of residential buildings in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, but not in East Jerusalem.
The building freeze will not include the construction of public buildings such as schools and synagogues.
A spokesman for the Palestinian Authority said the freeze should be extended to all buildings and especially in Jerusalem. The Palestinians have refused to attend any peace talks until Israel stops building settlements on all occupied territory.
US Pledges Emissions Cuts Ahead of Copenhagen Summit
US President Barack Obama will attend next month's summit on global climate change in Copenhagen and has pledged to cut emissions by 17 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels.
The plan will not be a part of any binding resolution from international treaties but is in line with current legislation to cut greenhouse gas emissions in congress.
Meanwhile, the European Union is pressing for more aggressive emissions cuts of 20 percent below 1990 levels.
Seven Charged Over Mumbai Attacks on One Year Anniversary
A Pakistani court has charged seven people in connection with the deadly attacks in Mumbai, exactly a year after the killings.
A total of 174 people were killed throughout the city when gunmen attacked a luxury hotel, train station, and a Chaad House, a site popular with Jewish travelers on November 26, 2008.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he welcomed the steps taken by the Pakistani courts and reminded its neighboring country that it is their "obligation" to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Four people killed, 25 wounded in twin bombs in Iraq's Karbala
Four Iraqis have been killed and 25 wounded in twin bombing attacks in a restaurant in the center of the Shiite holy city of Karbala.
The first bomb detonated in the crowded popular restaurant at about 9:00 a.m. local time in the city, some 110 km south of Baghdad.
Minutes later, a second bomb went off when Iraqi security forces, ambulances and people gathered there to help the wounded.
