Hourly News 每日新闻 11:00 2013/07/16（在线收听）

Hourly News

China economy slows further in second quarter

Market observers are suggesing the latest economic stats here in China may offer global investors better opportunities as Beijing toughs out the slowdown.

The latest figures show the Chinese economy grew 7.6-percent through the first six months of this year, with the growth in the second quarter slowing to 7.5-percent.

This is the weakest first-half economic growth in China in three years.

Observers are suggesting Monday's economic data is a healthy reminder that the days of double-digit growth fueled by strong exports and lavish investment are over.

Rains force more evacuations across China

More and more people are being moved out of their homes amid the heavy rains which continue to pound several regions of China.

Around 3-hundred people have been confirmed dead or missing after rainstorms and Typhoon Soulik hit China, causing flooding, landslides and buildings to collapse.

The rains this year are creating some of the worst flooding in Sichuan in half a century.

And in the northwest of China, 27 people are now confirmed dead amid flooding which has been innondating parts of Shaanxi.

Rape victim's mother wins labor camp lawsuit

A provincial high court in Hunan has ruled in favor of a rape victim's mother who sued a local authority for putting her in a labor camp.

The Yongzhou municipal re-education through labor commission has been ordered to pay Tang Hui over 26-hundred yuan in compensation for infringing upon her personal freedoms and causing psychological damage.

But the higher court has rejected Tang's other demand for a written apology.

Tang was put in the labor camp after she publicly petitioned for harsher punishment for those found guilty of raping her daughter and forcing her into prostitution.

GSK senior executives under arrest over suspected bribery and tax-related crimes

Four senior executives with GlaxoSmithKlein are now formally being held on suspicion of commercial bribery and tax-related crimes by Chinese police.

The suspects are accused of channeling bribes to Chinese officials and doctors through travel agencies to in order to expand the company's market share here in China.

Investigators say GSK transferred as much as 3-billion yuan to more than 700 travel agencies and consultancies over 6 years.

Authorities allege these firms then used the money to offer benefits to doctors and hospitals on behalf of GlaxoSmithKlein.

Chinese FM calls for further practical cooperation within SCO

China's Foreign Minister says member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should shore up their economic cooperation, on top of the SCO's main objective of safeguarding regional security.

Wang Yi has made the comments following an SCO foreign ministers' meeting in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek.

He's describing the economies of the SCO countries as highly complementary.

The regional bloc is comprised of six full members -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

A number of other countries in the region are also SCO observer states.

U.S. diplomat praises Egyptian army for achieving people's will

A leading US diplomatic official has met with the head of Egypt's military.

US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns has sat down with Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

This is the highest-level US representative to meet with the Egyptian leadership since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi earlier this month.

Details of what the two discussed have not been revealed.

However, a state-run online publication in Egypt says Burns praised the Egyptian Army's response to the will of the people.

If the report is accurate, this could represent a more defining US position on the overthrow of Morsi.

John Kerry to visit Jordan to discuss peace process

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is on his way to Jordan to discuss the Israeli- Palestinian peace process.

He's also expected to discuss the situations in Egypt and Syria as well.

The meetings are a follow-up to a meeting among Kerry and Arab League officials in April, where he managed to convince the AL to renew its 2002 Middle East peace initiative.

Putin: Snowden a dubious present; takes underwater trip

Russia's President has offered up new comments about the plight of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Snowden is unable to leave the transit zone of Moscow's main airport, as the US government has revoked his passport.

Vladimir Putin says Snowden's presence in Russia is actually the fault of the US government.

Snowden is accused of leaking classified documents to the media connected to U.S. surveillance programmes.

Spain PM rejects resignation calls

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is rejecting opposition calls for his resignation amid his alleged involvement in an illegal payment scandal.

Opposition leaders are calling for Rajoy's resignation after a local newspaper published text messages showing him comforting an ex-party treasurer under investigation for maintaining a slush fund.

Rajoy's government has denied receiving illegal payments from the slush fund run by ex-treasurer Luis Barcenas.

Pakistani president not to seek second term: spokesman

Pakistan's President has announced he won't be seeking a second term in office.

Asif Ali Zardari's term is coming to an end in September.

In making the announcement, a spokesperson for the Pakistani President is rebuffing reports Zardari is not going to return to Pakistan ahead of the elections.

Zardari swept into power in 2008 following the assassination of his wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Over 100 casualties reported in DR Congo clash

A new round of fighting in the DR Congo has left more than 100 people killed.

The government says the fighting has taken place in the eastern part of the country between government forces and the M23 rebels.

The clashes have taken place in a town just a few miles away from the eastern provincial capital of Goma.

The rebels and the DR Congo government have existed in an uneasy stalemate since the M23 rebels launched a major assault in the eastern DR Congo last year.