China says any of Japan's unilateral moves against Chinese nationals is illegal and invalid.

China's Foreign Ministry made the statement after Japan decided to release 14- Chinese nationals it detained early this week.

The 14-activists were arrested when they went to the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea on Wednesday to assert China's sovereignty over the islands.

Japanese media say the activists, who are currently in Okinawa Prefecture, may be released this Friday afternoon by plane or boat.

Further plans are being discussed.

 

 

Typhoon Kai-Tak lands in Guangdong

 

Typhoon Kai-Tak, this year's 13th, has landed in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.

As Kai-Tak approached, heavy rains lashed the island province of Hainan, while flights were canceled in Beihai, a city in Guangxi.

Authorities have raised the emergency response level.

Before moving into to China, Kai-Tak killed 8 people and displaced nearly 90-thousand in the Philippines.

China has been battered by tropical storms this month, with typhoon Saola, Damrey and Haikui leaving over 50 people dead.

 

 

Chinese and Costa Rican leaders work to deepen economic cooperation

 

Chinese President Hu Jintao has met with his Costa Rican counterpart to try to extend the relationship between the two countries.

Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla is currently on a week-long trip here to China.

The two sides have signed a number of agreements in investment, trade, clean energy, education and agriculture.

The Costa Rican President is also promising to improve her country's visa policy for Chinese tourists.

 

 

Hu Jintao expresses sympathy over NK flooding

 

Chinese President Hu Jintao has expressed his sympathy and concern to North Korea over damages caused by the recent flooding.

President Hu Jintao made the comments during a meeting with Jang Song Thaek, chief of the central administrative department of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Hu Jintao says China believes North Korea will overcome the disaster and carry out reconstruction work.

Earlier, Jang singed an agreement with Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming to set up a joint steering committee for developing two trade zones.

 

 

Ecuador grants asylum to Assange, angering Britain

 

Ecuador's decision to grant asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has angered Britain.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague says London will not be allowing Assange safe passage out of the country:

"We're disappointed by the statement by Ecuador's Foreign Minister today that Ecuador has offered political asylum to Julian Assange. It's important to understand that this is not about Mr Assange's attitudes at WikiLeaks or the attitude of the United States of America. He is wanted in Sweden to answer allegations of serious sexual offences. We are determined to fulfill our legal obligations under the extradition act to Sweden."

Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino says his country fears for the safety of Assange.

Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in June to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Earlier, Britain had threatened to raid the Ecuadorian embassy to arrest Assange and extradite him to Sweden.

 

 

UN Syria mission to end

 

The United Nations is due to end its monitoring mission in Syria this Sunday, just days before its mandate expires.

A 30-person strong civilian office is going to be set up in Damascus to maintain political contact with Syria.

The UN mission, which was set up in April, has been part of Kofi Annan's 6-point peace plan.

The continued violence in Syria has made the mission increasingly difficult.

 

 

Four dead in pub fire on Thai holiday island of Phuket

 

A fire at a nightclub in the popular Thai tourist destination of Phuket has killed four people and injured about a dozen others.

Police say the fire at the Tiger disco broke out early on Friday morning.

Officials said it could have been caused by lightning striking a transformer.

The nationalities of the deceased are not known, but reports say foreigners are among the injured.

 

 

China to deploy more security guards at schools

 

China's Ministry of Education is set to hire more security guards in primary and middle schools as well as kindergartens.

Minister of Education Yuan Guiren says that by 2013, all education facilities will have at least one guard.

Education on safety will also be held just before school holidays and after the new semesters begin.

China's schoolyard security worsened in 2010 after a series of attacks on kindergartens and primary school students.

 

 

Gold demand dims in Q2

 

New statistics indicate gold demand here in China has dipped 6-percent in the second quarter.

Gold jewelry demand has fallen 8-percent year-on-year.

Fluctuating gold prices have put Chinese investors into a wait and see mode.