日本首相麻生太郎对中国进行正式访问

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Wen urges Japan to properly handle historical issues

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called on Japan to honor its promise and handle historical issues in an appropriate way.

In his talks with his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso in Beijing on Wednesday, Wen Jiabao said historical issues are highly sensitive and affected people's feelings.

He called on governments and political figures on both sides to stick to the principles of the four China-Japan political documents, and make unremitting efforts to push forward bilateral ties.

The premier said China is willing to cooperate with Japan to expand youth and non-governmental exchanges, to boost understanding between the two peoples.

Aso is in China for a two-day visit, his first official visit to China since he took office in September.

WHO raises pandemic alert level to Phase 5

As the swine flu situation is continuing to worsen, the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the pandemic alert level to Phase 5, indicating that a full pandemic is imminent.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told a teleconference for the media that influenza pandemics must be dealt with seriously and precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.

This is the second raise of the WHO's pandemic alert system in three days, indicating the quick worsening of the global swine flu situation.

Meanwhile, the US has reported its first death from the swine flu virus.

The victim is a 23-month-old child from the state of Texas.

Costa Rica has become the first Central American country, to confirm a case.

And Germany and Austria, have joined the growing list, of infected countries.

China is offering Mexico humanitarian aid worth five million dollars.

The virus is costing Mexico, close to 60 million dollars, in lost daily tourism income.

The world is still developing a vaccine for the virus.

China urges swine flu prevention education in schools nationwide

The Chinese government has called for education campaigns in schools nationwide to teach all students about the swine flu and its prevention.

A circular jointly issued by the ministries of education and health says the campaigns should be launched as soon as possible, in all schools, to raise awareness of prevention and avoid causing unnecessary panic among teachers and students.

It says schools should emphasize teaching students to develop good hygiene habits, frequently washing hands with soap and fresh water, and covering the mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

China has no reported swine flu cases, but the possibility could not be ruled out as the swine flu is transnational and already spreading in some countries, according to the circular.

China issues new rule on release of financial information by foreign agencies

China's State Council Information Office, the Ministry of Commerce, and State Administration for Industry and Commerce have issued a regulation on the release of financial information in China by foreign organizations.

The regulation aims to enhance service and management of foreign organizations that release financial information in China, to better meet the demands of Chinese subscribers for such information, and to boost the financial information service industry in a healthy and orderly manner.

The new regulation covers the approval, investment, supervision and legal responsibilities of foreign organizations that release financial information in China.

The regulation will take effect from June 1.

China may organize another procurement team visiting Europe

A senior official of China's Ministry of Commerce says China might organize another procurement delegation to Europe, and France might also be one possible stop on the delegation's tour.

Wu Xilin, head of the outward investment and economic cooperation department of the ministry told reporters the exact time and countries to visit were under discussion.

North Korea threatens nuclear, missile tests

North Korea has threatened nuclear and missile tests, unless the U.N. apologizes, for criticizing its recent rocket launch.

The UN Council had denounced Pyongyang's rocket launch, and called for tighter sanctions.

Pyongyang claims it had launched a communications satellite.

But the U.S. and others believe, it had tested, a long-range missile.

Experts say North Korea, has enough plutonium, to make, at least half a dozen nuclear bombs.

Grave violations of children's rights during armed conflicts must end

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has joined the call of UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon for an end to the recruitment and sexual exploitation of children by armed groups in theaters of conflict.

The secretary-general made the appeal at an open Security Council discussion of his annual report on Children and Armed Conflict.

UNICEF executive director Ann Veneman says millions of children around the world continue to be impacted by armed conflict, adding adherence to international humanitarian law and respect for children's rights must be strengthened.

Federal Reserve holds key interest rate unchanged

The U.S. Federal Reserve has decided to hold a key interest rate unchanged at a record low of between zero and 0.25 percent to support the struggling economy which has been in a recession since December 2007.