Hourly News updated 17:00 2011/10/15

 Missing pilot confirmed dead after plane plummets 1 at China air show 

A pilot who went missing after his plane crashed during an air show in northwest China has been confirmed dead.
The announcement was made by an official from the Yanliang National Aviation High-tech 2 Industrial Base, during the International General Aviation Convention 2011 in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province. 
A plane crashed to the ground after finishing its performance in Pucheng County, where a three-day air show is being staged for an ongoing 3 aviation convention. 
The dead pilot was seated in the front of the plane, while the plane's second pilot survived by ejecting from the plane before the crash.
There have been no reports of deaths on the ground in connection with the crash.
 
China, Vietnam pledge to properly settle maritime 4 issues 
China and Vietnam have reaffirmed their political will and determination to settle maritime issues through negotiations 5 and friendly consultations 6 and to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
The two countries have issued a joint 7 statement, saying the leaders of the two parties and countries will keep frequent communication and dialogue on the maritime issues, and to instruct the proper handle and settlement of the issues from political and strategic perspectives.
The statement says both sides will seek steady progress in negotiations regarding the maritime demarcation of the baymouth of the Beibu Gulf 8 and discuss the joint development of the sea area.
 
Oil spill hits north China's Bohai Sea 
An oil spill has been discovered in north China's Bohai Sea and is being assessed for damage.
The Tianjin branch of the China National Offshore 9 Oil Corp. says it discovered the spill after an oil slick was spotted 10 near the Jinzhou 9-3 oilfield, which is located in Liaodong Bay. 
It says the source of the oil is an underwater pipe that was damaged by the anchors of ships passing through the bay.
The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) has initiated 11 a level-three emergency response to the spill and has dispatched a plane and a monitoring vessel 12 to assess any possible damage.
 
Electricity council predicts 16-mln-kw power shortage in central China this winter 
The China Electricity Council says Central China is expected to face a 16-million-kilowatt (kw) power shortage during the coming winter.
The forecast lent some support to an earlier report that predicted a 30-million-kw shortage for the winter, as coal supplies for thermal 13 plants are expected to fall short. 
China's power consumption totaled more than 2.2 trillion kilowatt-hours in the first half of the year, up over 12.2 percent year-on-year.
 
Relatives of slain 14 Chinese sailors back home safe 
Family members of the Chinese sailors killed or missing in the attack on two cargo 15 ships on the Mekong River last week have returned to China from Thailand.
The 29 relatives of the 13 sailors - 12 were killed and another remains 16 missing, arrived in southwest Yunnan Province last night. 
The 29 relatives were in the Chiang Saen district of northern Qiang Rai province to mourn the victims and conduct DNA 17 tests to verify the identities of the bodies.
 
Russia's Transneft resumes sending oil supplies to China 
Russia's Transneft company says it has resumed sending oil supplies to China after an earthquake in the Far East caused a suspension of delivery.
The pipeline 18 was closed for several hours for inspection 19 following the quake, which measured 5.9 on the Richter scale, hit the Amur region in the Far East. 
The shutdown was the first time that the 1,000-km ESPO pipeline had been stopped since its launch on Jan. 1.
 
U.S. Treasury 20 postpones 21 semi-annual currency report
The U.S. Treasury Department says it will delay the publication of its semi- annual currency report to Congress. 
This could give the Treasury a chance to assess progress following several international meetings in the coming months, including the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, the G20 Leaders Summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers Meeting, and APEC Leaders Meeting.
 
China to allow foreign direct investment in yuan 
China has established a rule to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the yuan legally obtained overseas, a step toward the government's goal of internationalizing its currency.
The move is aimed at promoting trade and investment by expanding cross-border use of the yuan and supporting the development of the yuan market in Hong Kong.
The People's Bank of China (PBOC), or the central bank, says qualified 22 foreign investors 23 can directly apply for yuan settlements through the program with banks, making procedures for related financial services easier.
 
Senior Chinese official calls for more efforts to prevent juvenile 24 delinquency 
Senior official Zhou Yongkang says more efforts are needed to prevent juvenile delinquency and strengthen school security management.
He's told a meetng on socal management that ensuring the safety of juveniles 25 and preventing juvenile delinquency plays a vital role in family happiness and social stability.
He said the government will focus more on the problems of unemployment and the dropout 26 rate of juveniles and create a system to help children in rural areas who are left behind by their migrant worker parents.