Cross straits postal remittances to begin

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan will soon begin two-way postal remittance services for the first time in 60 years.

Currently due to technical reasons, Taiwan’s post offices can process money transfers bound for the mainland, but do not accept inward remittances from the mainland.

According to Taiwan media, all remittance transactions will be made in US dollars, with each transfer limited to 30,000 US dollars.

Koalas saved in Australian fires

A pair of koalas, Sam and Bob, has become a worldwide sensation, bringing good news during the Australian wildfires. Saved in different areas, they are now inseparable at a rescue shelter. . Meanwhile, the official death toll is at 181, though officials say it would exceed 200.

Police said an investigation by arson specialists turned up signs of at least one case of foul play and a suspect was being sought.

CCTV complex fire caused by fireworks

At least one China Central Television or CCTV official is being questioned for his role in Monday night’s fatal fire.

CCTV staff had illegally hired a fireworks company to shoot hundreds of fireworks above the new construction site.

But some of the fireworks sparked a fire on the roof of the 30-storey building that houses the Mandarin Oriental hotel north of the CCTV building.

One firefighter died and six others were injured.

Israeli election is close call

Final results of Israel’s parliamentary election on Thursday delivered a slim majority of the centrist party Kadima led by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni over its main rival center-right Likud party.

Israel’s Central Election Committee confirmed that Kadima won 28 seats in the Knesset or parliament election, while the Likud party led by Benjamin Netanyahu won 27 seats in the 120-seat parliament.

Livni now needs to build a coalition to have a majority before becoming Israel’s second woman premier.

President Hu Jintao arrives in Mali

President Hu Jintao has arrived in Mali and met his counterpart Amadou Toumany Toure.

Earlier in the week Hu was in Saudi Arabia where the two countries agreed to consolidate strategic friendly ties and fight the global financial crisis together.

President Hu Jintao met with King Abdulla bin Abdul-Aziz and toured a cement factory a Chinese company helped build.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding for a $1.7 billion monorail project linking the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Hu will also visit Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius.

Mild rain relieves drought

Mild rainfall brought some relief to farmers in drought-hit areas, with mild showers continuing until Saturday.

More than half of the farmland in Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces are experiencing the worst drought in half a century, affecting over 40 percent of China’s wheat land. It has affected 18 million hectares of farmland, leaving about 4.8 million people and 2.5 million heads of livestock facing water shortages.

A 350-million yuan subsidy has been allocated to farmers to help them combat the drought. The government is also diverting water from the Yangtze and Yellow rivers to Henan, Shandong and Jiangsu to irrigate parched fields.

Forever Enthralled screened in Berlin

The stars of the biopic “Forever Enthralled” are at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival.

Director Chen Kaige, actresses Zhang Ziyi, Chen Hong and actor-singer Leon Lai attended the screening of the film:

Chen Kaige: I think as long as we try to do as much as we can, Chinese cinema will have a very bright future.

Zhang Ziyi: As a Chinese film coming here, it’ll get very broad exposure, seen by audiences around the world. It’ll get people’s attention.

The movie, about Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang dazzled audiences despite not knowing much about the famed artist.

German audience: I am enchanted by some of the moments in the film, some of the movements and performances. It was a very strange and culture for me.

Emperor Penguin lays an egg in Nanjing

For the first time an Emperor penguin has laid an egg in China.

A staff member of the Nanjing Underwater World said he found a female Emperor penguin had laid the egg on Monday and now her partner is keeping it incubated until it hatches.

Six Emperor penguins live at the aquarium, after scientists brought them back from Antarctica.