Chinaurges Mali to protect Chinese residents
China has urged Malian authorities to take tangible measures to safeguard the security and lawful rights of Chinese agencies and citizens in the West African country.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks at a regular press briefing, in reference to worry over unrest in Mali following a coup on Thursday.
He said China attaches great importance to the security of Chinese agencies and citizens in Mali and the Chinese Embassy in Mali has been contacting Chinese agencies and citizens in the country via various means and reminding them to strengthen security.
So far, China has not received casualty reports of Chinese citizens.
The spopkesman called on relevant parties in Mali to proceed based on the fundamental interests of the nation and its people, and restore order as soon as possible, so as to safeguard its national stability.

Gas concentration hampers rescue for 17 trapped in NE China mine blast
A concentration of gas has hindered rescue efforts for 17 miners who became trapped after a gas explosion hit a coal mine in northeast China's Liaoning province .
After 30 hours of rescue efforts, rescuers have been unable to reach the miners due to a dense concentration of noxious gas in the mine.
The trapped miners are believed to have gathered at a work platform located 169 meters underground.
The gas explosion ripped through the Dahuang No. 2 Coal Mine in the city of Liaoyang on Thursday, killing at least five people and trapping 17 others.

Strong winds disrupt traffic, cause injury in Beijing
Strong wind throughout Friday has caused havoc in Beijing, leaving at least 26 people injured.
Most of the injured was hit by fallen windows or billboards.
Nearly 30 flights at the Beijing Capital International Airport were delayed or cancelled.
Gales have also forced the high-speed trains bound for Shanghai to lower their speed.

Chinato abolish transplanting organs from condemned prisoners
A senior Chinese health official is promising to abolish the practice of extracting human organs for transplant from condemned prisoners within 3 to 5 years.
Vice minister of health, Huang Jiefu, says the government is creating a national organ donation system to reduce the reliance on death row inmates.
With the death penalty being used in China ever more sparingly, this has led to a reduction of organs from condemned prisoners.
Around 1.5 million people in China are in need of organ transplants, but only some 10-thousand operations are performed annually.

China calls for regional cooperation on nuclear security, safety
Asenior Chinese nuclear official says China's nuclear industry is willing to provide assistance to neighboring countries to ensure the safe development of nuclear power in the Asian-Pacific region.
Addressing the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Industry Summit, Sun Qin, president of the China National Nuclear Corp.(CNNC) said nuclear security and nuclear safety have always been the top priority in China's efforts to develop nuclear power.
He called for close cooperation to enhance the capabilities so that nuclear power could be used in a safe manner.

Obama nominates Jim Yong Kim to head World Bank

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U.S. President Barack Obama has nominated Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim to head the World Bank.
Obama said Kim has the development experience needed to lead the organization when he announced the selection at a White House Rose Garden event.
Kim is a Korean-born physician and a prominent figure in global health and social medicine. He will succeed the outgoing Robert Zoellick, who plans to step down when his term expires at the end of June.

U.S.soldier killing Afghan civilians faces criminal charges

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The US military says Criminal charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) were formally preferred Friday against U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, who killed 17 Afghan civilians earlier this month.
The charges against the U.S. soldier allege that,on or about March 11, Bales with premeditation did murder 17 Afghan civilians and assaulted and attempted to murder six other civilians at or near the Belambey army base, Panjwai district of south Afghanistan 's Kandahar province.
The shooting spree has sparked a strong anti-American fury in Afghanistan. Despite Afghans' strong demand that the suspect be tried publicly in the country, the U.S. side transferred the trouble-making soldier back to the United States.

China makes driving test more difficult
China's transportation watchdog is increasing the difficulty of obtaining a driver's license in the country, in an effort to curb accidents on the road.
Applicants for truck license are now required to take tests simulating driving on poor roads or in bad visibility.
Basic license applicants are also being asked to take night driving tests.
There is also a plan to punish authorities that issues licenses drivers responsible for fatal traffic accidents.

120 mln Chinese diagnosed with chronic kidney disease
A total of 120 million Chinese people are currently living with chronic kidney disease and more than 2 million have uremia, according to statistics revealed at an international forum on the treatments for the diseases in Beijing.
Statistics unveiled at the forum show that the death rate among Chinese adults is 10.8 percent and residents in rural areas are high-risk groups.