Top Chinese political advisor delivers speech at 18th AU summit
Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin has delivered a key speech at the opening of the 18th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Prior to his keynote, he presented a congratulatory message from Chinese President Hu Jintao to the summit.
During the speech, Jia Qinglin also announced that China will provide a total of 600 million yuan (95 million U.S. dollars) of free assistance to the African Union over the next three years.
Also speaking during the opening ceremony, AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping called for 'proper governance' and the strengthening of democratic institutions in the 54 member countries.
African leaders are also set to hold key sideline talks about the crisis in Somalia, as well as efforts to resolve a deadlock between Sudan and South Sudan over a bitter oil dispute.
The two-day summit, on the theme of "Boosting Intra-African Trade",will end on Monday.

Employer of missing Chinese workers in Sudan initiates emergency response
Power Construction Corporation of China, the employer of the Chinese nationals captured by rebels in Sudan, says it has launched an emergency response to rescue the missing workers.
A senior executive of the company says they have set up an emergency work group at its headquarters in order to closely monitor latest developments.
The company has been in touch with the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Embassy to Sudan, and Sudan's government.
More than 20 Chinese nationals are reported missing after a department of the company responsible for a road-building project in Sudan was attacked by Sudan rebels.

Cadmium pollution contained in south China river
Cadmium pollution in a south China river has been contained after the local environment watchdog confirmed no new leaks were found at the upstream source of the contamination.
The environment protection bureau of Hechi city reports the cadmium concentration levels in the Lalang Reservoir of the Longjiang River in Guangxi are normal, following contamination that was first detected in mid-January.
The source of the contamination, which killed many fish and prompted panic buying of bottled water, was traced to a plant belonging to Guangxi Jinhe Mining Company.

China's railways see 31.3 mln trips over Spring Festival holiday
China's railways carried 31.3 million passengers during the week-long Spring Festival holiday from Jan. 22 to 28th.
The Ministry of Railways' figure was 2.85 percent less than the number of passengers carried during the same period last year.
More than 20 percent of all tickets were sold through the official ticket-selling website or by telephone.
Passengers for the first time during this year's Spring Festival travel rush, could buy train tickets online or by phone, rather than standing in long lines, or resorting to ticket scalpers.

No bill yet drafted on Iran's oil ban to EU: lawmaker
Iran's Government Energy Commission says no bill has yet been drafted or brought to the legislature regarding an oil exports ban to the European Union.
The commission's spokesman, Emad Hossein, added that all that exists is simply "an idea put forward by some lawmakers".
Hossein Ebrahimi, deputy head of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said Iranian lawmakers will however discuss a bill that calls for a ban of oil exports to the EU in a matter of days, adding that the EU's decision to embargo Iran's oil is "psychological war."
The EU earlier decided major importers of Iran's oil, such as Greece, Italy and Spain, have until July 1 to find alternative oil suppliers.

Iran optimistic about IAEA visit: foreign minister
Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi is publically saying that Iran is ready to answer any concerns raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The comments came on the sidelines of the ongoing 18th African Union summit.
Salehi says Iran will show they are a faithful, transparent member of the IAEA and have been for the last ten years.
An IAEA delegation arrived in Iran on Sunday and will visit Iranian nuclear facilities.
Some western nations believe Iran is creating nuclear facilities for arms, while Iran says it is purely for domestic use.

Heads: Egypt ends first day vote for upper house elections
The polling stations of Egypt's Shura Council Upper house elections have now closed on the first of a two-day vote.
So far it appears turnout has been lower than expected.
Although eligible voters have reached 25 million, the five thousand and thirty-two polling stations only saw a small percentage cast ballots.
The lower voter turnout is blamed on insufficient marketing and education on the importance of the Shura council elections.
A second stage of voting will now take place on February 14 and 15th.

Iraq's Sunni-backed political bloc ends boycott of parliament sessions
Iraq's Sunni-backed parliamentary bloc of Iraqia, headed by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, has decided to end its boycott of parliament sessions.
The decision to return to parlimentary meetings was made at talks that were attended by all leaders, lawmakers and politicians of the bloc.
The Iraqia bloc began the parliament boycott in December, demanding reforms and protesting against "unilateralism" in decision-making by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
The political instability in Iraq between Maliki's leading Shiite bloc and his political rivals, continues following the withdrawal of U.S. troops last month.