China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have pledged to further strengthen their strategic mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation in all areas.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and leaders of ten ASEAN member nations attended a summit commemorating the 20th anniversary of their dialogue relations.

Addressing the summit in Bali, Indonesia, Wen Jiabao urged the two sides to strengthen strategic communication and mutual trust.

He also called for expanding practical maritime cooperation, saying China will establish a China-ASEAN maritime cooperation fund to help achieve the goal.

ASAEN leaders welcomed the premier's proposal and vowed to bring their substantial cooperation to a new high.

 

 

Space missions not directly linked to defense: China

A senior Chinese space program official says the country's space missions have not included any programs that directly serve defense purposes.

Vice director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, Wang Zhaoyao, made the remark in response to comments that China's space missions have lacked transparency.

He said China has made great efforts to introduce its space missions to the outside world and will continue to cooperate with other countries under the principle of mutual respect, mutual benefit and transparency.

China completed its first-ever space docking mission Thursday after the successful landing of the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8, which docked twice with the space lab module Tiangong-1 during its 17-day mission.

 

 

Coal mine cave-in traps 12 miners in north China

Twelve miners have been trapped in a coal mine that caved in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region early today.

The accident happened in Xianghuang Banner of Xilin Gol League. 

The cave-in is the latest in a series of mining accidents in China recently. 

On Nov. 10, an underground gas outburst in the southwestern province of Yunnan killed 35 people.

On Tuesday, six miners died after a gas leak hit a coal mine in the central Hubei province.

 

 

Death toll in Gansu school bus accident rises to 21

The death toll in this week's deadly school bus accident in northwest China's Gansu has risen to 21 after a five-year-old boy died of his injuries.

He was among dozens who were crammed into an overloaded minibus which crashed head-on with a truck while on its way to classes.

62 kindergarten children and two adults were crowded into the bus, which had just nine seats. 

Dozens of others remain in hospital.

The head of the kindergarten has been detained for "liability issues."

 

 

Protest broke out in major Italian cities against economic crisis

Massive demonstrations have broken out across Italy in connection to the country's economic crisis.

Just days after the swearing in of a new technocrat government in Italy, throngs of young people have taken to the streets to protest against the new administration of Mario Monti.

In some instances, the protests in the various cities across Italy have turned violent.

 

 

U.S. Congress passes spending bill, government shutdown averted

The U.S. Senate has passed a spending bill that would avert, for now, a potential shutdown of the federal government.

The measure funds the federal government through Dec. 16. It was passed in the House earlier in the day and now goes to President Barack Obama for signature.

The Congress failed to pass a year-long spending bill to fund the federal government for the 2012 fiscal year which started last October.

 

 

3 confirmed dead, 79 hospitalized in Sydney nursing home blaze

A fire has ripped through a nursing home in western Sydney, Australia, leaving at least three people dead and some 80 others hospitalized.

The fire broke out in the building shortly before 5 a.m. today. 

A local official says 8 of the injured are in a serious condition.

Homicide and arson squads have moved in to look into the case together with fire specialists.

 

 

More cities post home prices declines in October

More Chinese cities posted monthly home price declines in October following the government's campaign to calm the runaway property market.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in October, 34 of the 70 major cities saw declines in new home prices from the previous month, compared with 17 in September.

Meanwhile, prices of existing homes fell in 38 cities in October, an increase of 13 cities from September.

 

 

13 pct of kids face cyber threats on cell phones: survey

A latest survey has found that 13 percent of children worldwide are exposed to dangers such as cyber-bullying and sexually explicit images due to the growing popularity of mobile phones.

The Norton Online Family Report was based on polls covering more than 4,500 children in 24 countries and regions.

The report warns that cyber criminals will continue to capitalize on the rising adoption of the mobile platforms, and it is important to have adequate safety measures.

It's the first time mobile phones were included in the annual study.