Economy, Security Top SCO Agenda
The annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) opened today (June 15) in Russia's Ural city of Yekaterinburg. The global economic slowdown and regional security are high on the agenda. President Hu Jintao, who arrived last night, is expected to exchange views with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev over how they will enhance unity, push for smoother trade and increase investment so as to help ensure economic recovery during the global financial crisis.

Wang Rong Nominated Shenzhen Mayor
Mr Wang Rong, the Party Secretary of Suzhou, in eastern China, was appointed acting mayor of Shenzhen last friday. Xu Zongheng, the former mayor, was removed from his position last week for "serious disciplinary violations'' and is currently under investigation for corruption. The Fourth Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress made the new appointment and accepted the decision made by the Organization Department of the CPC's Central Committee to remove Xu from his post.

Floods Kill Two and Injure One in Meizhou
Continuous torrential rainfall over the past week has flooded the city of Meizhou in eastern Guangdong. Landslides triggered by the flood have claimed two lives and injured one other. Roads, fields and irrigation facilities have been damaged and over 15,000 people in the two counties of Pingyuan and Jiaoling are seriously affected. Weather forecasts say the rain is expected to ease-off from tomorrow onwards (June 16).