Nepal air crash kills all 19 on board

An airplane of Nepal's Buddha Air has crashed at Kotdanda of Lalitpur, leaving all the 19 passengers on board dead. 

The source of Buddha Air confirmed those killed in the crash include 10 Indians, one Japanese, two Americans, three Nepalis along with three Nepali crew members, . 

All the victims have been identified. 

The cause of the crash is believed to be adverse weather conditions.

 

At least 5 killed, over 20 wounded in 3 explosions in Iraq' s Karbala

At least five people were killed and more than 20 wounded in three bomb attacks in Iraq's holy Shi' ite city of Karbala in south of Baghdad on Sunday.

A government official says the death toll could rise as many of the victims were evacuated to several hospitals and medical centers in the city.

Sporadic attacks are still common in Iraqi cities despite the dramatic decrease of violence over the past few years.

 

China to contribute more to promoting food security in Africa: FM

China says it will continue to work with the international community to make greater contributions to improving food security in African countries and sustainable development.

While addressing the Ministerial Mini-Summit on the Humanitarian Response to the Horn of Africa at the United Nations, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said that China is gravely concerned with the most severe drought and famine in 60 years that have occurred in Northeast Africa, also known as Horn of Africa. 

He said the Chinese government has announced to provide the African region with emergency grain aid and money donation, which is worth about 70 million US dollars.

Yang Jiechi said the international community should actively support African nations in their efforts to achieve food security and development, and increase assistance to agricultural development in Africa and offer a favorable environment for the development of African nations.

 

Senior Chinese official meets French parliament speaker 

Visiting Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo has exchanged views on Sino-French ties with French National Assembly Speaker Bernard Accoyer.

During talks held in France's southeast city of Annecy, Dai Bingguo said people-to-people exchanges have irreplaceable position in promoting bilateral ties. 

He suggested the two sides continue to follow the path of friendship and cooperation paved by old generation leaders of both countries and make Sino-French relation a model of cooperation between different socilal systems, values and cultures. 

Wrapping up bilateral consultations in France, Dai Bingguo will travel to London, where he is expected to attend China-UK strategic dialogue.

 

World Bank, IMF pledge support for global growth 

The Development Committee of the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) say the two institutions will do everything within their means to support strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth in all member countries.

In addition, the two international institutions reaffirmed to contribute to job creation as jobs are vital in translating growth into lasting poverty reduction and broad-based economic opportunities.

 

China faces pressure of price rises, capital inflow in short term: central bank governor 

China faces pressure of price rises and capital inflows in the short term while its economic outlook remains positive.

Central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said this at the meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) in Washington. 

He said at present and in the following period, China's economic growth momentum remains relatively strong, but in the short term, China faces challenges of rapid price increases and more capital inflows,He said the Chinese government will properly handle the balance between stable and relatively fast economic development, economic restructuring and inflation expectations.

The government will keep consumer prices generally stable and prevent big fluctuations in economic development.

 

China to invest 2 trln yuan in green economy: report 

A senior official from China's top economic planner says the country will invest two trillion yuan (313 billion U.S. dollars) to promote low-carbon economy in the five years to 2015.

Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, says the investment will help reduce energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product in China by 16 percent at the end of 2015 compared with the level of 2010.

He says China will develop circular economy projects, establish 100 demonstration bases for resource comprehensive utilization and launch low-carbon pilot programs in five provinces and eight cities during the next five years.

 

China plans to give more entitlements to parents moving to cities to be with children 

As many aged Chinese parents are likely to migrate to cities where their children live, the government plans to give them the same entitlements as local citizens.

The plan for senior citizens' development in the 12th Five-Year Program period (2011-2015) was posted on the website of the State Council, or Cabinet. 

An official with China's National Working Commission on Aging says as many Chinese young people leave their hometown for work, policies must be made to facilitate migration of their aged parents, to encourage family support of the elderly.