Local officials from northeast China's Heilongjiang Province say the Heilong River bordering China and Russia is currently seeing the worst flooding in over a century.

Several observatories have reported record-high water level – some of which are even 1 meter higher than previous records.

Over 100 people have been killed with millions affected across China as a result of the recent floods.

 

 

Bo Xilai trail continues today

 

Former leading party official Bo Xilai is due back in court again later on this Monday to continue his trial for alledgedly taking bribes, embezzlement and abuse of power.

Sunday's hearing was centered on the testimony given by Bo's subordinate, former vice mayor and police chief of Chongqing, Wang Lijun over the charge of Bo's power abuse.

Bo Xilai is accused of obstructing a criminal investigation into the murder charges his wife faced while he served as Party chief in Chongqing.

Bo has admitted he made mistakes in handling the case involving Wang Lijun and his wife Bogu Kailai.

However, he insists it did not constitute abuse of power and says his wife and another man surnamed Wu should take full responsibility.

 

 

Japan radiation yet to threaten China: oceanic authorities

 

China's oceanic authorities say the radioactive pollutants leaking from Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have not yet threatened waters near China.

However, the State Oceanic Administration says the polluted areas near Japan have expanded.

The oceanic authorities say they will continue to monitor the Western Pacific Ocean.

 

 

U.N. mission to probe latest chemical weapon incident in Syria on Monday

 

The U.N. chemical investigation team in Syria will start on-site fact-finding activities on Monday in the Ghouta area.

The Syrian government has agreed to provide the necessary cooperation for on-site probes of the recent alleged chemical attack in the Ghouta area.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging all relevant parties to equally share the responsibility of cooperating in urgently generating a safe environment for the mission.

The Syrian opposition claims 13-hundred people were killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds in the Damascus suburbs. 

Syria's information minister Omran Zoabi has denied the allegations.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said on Sunday that the United States would continue intelligence assessments before making a decision on potential military intervention in Syria.

 

 

Egypt court adjourns Mubarak trial to Sept. 14

 

An Egyptian court has adjourned the trial of ex-president Hosni Mubarak until next month after the month long state of emergency ends.

The decision to adjourn comes in light of the large number of documents involved in the case. 

Mubarak attended a trial on Sunday on charges of inciting violence and murdering protesters.

The former President was ordered under house arrest, after being released from the last case of corruption last week.

 

 

Bomb blasts kill over 40 in Iraq

 

At least 45 are dead and 100 others injured after several bomb blasts hit the Iraqi capital Baghdad and surrounding areas. 

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ended in early August, has become one of the deadliest months in the country for years, with some 670 people killed.

Sectarian attacks have killed some 4-thousand people in Iraq so far this year.

The continuing violence is raising fears of a return to the peak of the conflict in 2006 and 2007.

 

 

Tougher punishment for stock market offence

 

China's securities regulator pledges to intensify punishment for severe stock market violations amid rising offences.

China Securities Regulatory Commission is set to enhance pre-emptive oversight, streamline administrative procedures, and rely on laws to regulate the capital market.

Meanwhile, CSRC will also enhance crackdown on false information disclosure, listing fraud and illegal activities by brokerages.

26 cases have been reported for investigations during the first six months. 

The number represents a hefty increase from the same period a year ago.

CSRC says stricter supervision and enforcement has played a positive role in promoting openness and fairness, and protecting small investors' interests.

 

 

Shanghai bourse defends handling of Everbright glitch

 

The Shanghai Stock Exchange has defended its handling of the Everbright glitch. 

The stock exchange is saying its reaction to the incident on August 16th was in accordance with regulations and precedents. 

Erroneous trading by Everbright Securities on the 16th caused a 5.96-percent spike in the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index in just three minutes.

 

 

Newly born panda cub at Washington zoo doing fine

 

The U.S. National Zoo's panda team says a newly born cub is healthy and robust. 

The team conducted the first physical examination after the cub was born Friday afternoon. 

The newly born baby panda reportedly weighs 137 grams.

Further tests and analysis will also be conducted to identify the cub's sex or its paternity in two or three weeks.

The cub was born to female giant panda Mei Xiang who also gave birth to a second but stillborn cub late Saturday.