Mainland official meets honorary chairman of KMT from Taiwan


Wang Yi, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, had a meeting in Shanghai Sunday with visiting honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT) Lien Chan from Taiwan. 


Since Lien arrived in the mainland in late March, he has visited a number of mainland cities.


Thai PM urges protesters to end rally immediately


Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva made another television speech in early hours of Monday urging protesters to end their "unconstitutional" rallys immediately and send representatives to talk to him. 


He assured people that his government will enforce law to keep situation under control. 


The Thai PM said soldiers and police have been deployed at many spots around Bangkok, and his government is ready to enforce measures step by step in the next two or three days to bring law and order back to the country. 


Abhisit told Thai people to remain calm as his government has the capability to control the situation.


Hijacked U.S. captain released


The U.S. cargo ship captain taken captive by Somali pirates has been freed without injury after days of ordeal.


Reports say U.S. soldiers aboard warships launched a raid on the lifeboat in which the four pirates held U.S. cargo ship captain Richard Phillips, killing three hijackers and taking one in custody on one of the ships. 


At least three U.S. warships were present when the navy operation began. One pirate was wounded in the exchange of fire before being captured.


19 Filipino seamen freed by Somali pirates


Nineteen Filipino seamen on board a Norwegian tanker have been freed by pirates two weeks after their seizure off the Somali coast.


There are still 98 Filipino seafarers on board six foreign vessels who remain in the custody of ransom-seeking pirates.


Stamp auction collects 6.22 mln yuan in China


An auction of precious stamps in central China's Henan Province has bagged over 6 million yuan (910,000 U.S. dollars) .


A collection of 875 precious stamps were for auction on Sunday at the 2009 World Stamp Exhibition in Luoyang City, of which 725 were sold. 


The very scarce 100 "Study Science from Childhood" souvenir sheet stamps, issued in China in 1979 and in original packing, received the highest bid, over 600 thousand yuan .


The 2009 World Stamp Exhibition runs through April 10 to 16. Coming from more than 110 countries and regions, philately organizations have brought more than 3,200 framed stamp collections.


Rainstorms to hit east, south China


The National Meteorological Center says rainstorms will sweep parts of east and south China from Sunday night to Monday, with some areas to see thunder storms, gales or hailstones.


Local governments are urged to prepare for emergencies and guard against floods, landslides and mud-rock flows.