Beijing, Washington remain "very close contact" on North Korea: Campbell
A top US diplomat says China and the United States are maintaining "very close contact" concerning developments in North Korea, following the death of leader Kim Jong il.
Kurt Campbell, US Assistant Secretary of State for Asian and Pacific Affairs, made the comments following meetings with Chinese vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai and other senior Chinese officials.
"On North Korea, I think the United States and China share a strong determination to maintain peace and stability. I think we both underscored how important it will be over the course of the coming months to maintain very close contact between Washington and Beijing."
Campbell is now in Seoul where he is expected to meet South Korea's chief envoy to the six-party talks before leaving for Japan.
The six-party nuclear talks, which involve the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, have been stalled since late 2008.

Chinese FM holds talks with Nigerien minister on bilateral ties
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has held talks with his counterpart in Niger.
The two sides have signed agreements on economic and technical cooperation.
Yang Jiechi has also met with Niger's President, Mahamadou Issoufou.
Yang Jiechi's trip to Niger follows a stop in Cote d'Ivoire.
He is also due to visit Namibia.

Fire in northern Mexico leaves 6 dead and 35 injured
墨西哥北部火灾致使6人死亡,35人受伤
At least 6 people are dead and more than 35 hurt in a fire in northern Mexico.
The fire rolled through a commercial building in the city of Monterrey mid-day on Wednesday.
It's believed a spark from welding on the site set the blaze off.
There were about 400 people in the building at the time.
Monterrey is the same city where more than 50 people died in a fire at a casino, which was set by local gangsters who were punishing the casino for not paying protection money.

Perry continuing presidential campaign; Bachmann out
佩里继续总统竞选
Despite his poor showing in Iowa, Texas Governor Rick Perry now says he is going to continue on with his campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination.
Following his 5th place showing in Iowa, Perry told supporters that he was heading home to 'reassess' his campaign.
But he now says that following some reflection, he plans to take his campaign into South Carolina, which is the next Republican primary.
Perry's decision to stay in the race may impact Rick Santorum's momentum, as Santorum and Perry have been battling for ultra-conservative supporters among Republicans.
Santorum, the former Senator from Pennsylvania, narrowly lost to Mitt Romney in Tuesday's Iowa caucuses, losing by only 8 votes.
Meanwhile, Minnesota congresswoman Michelle Bachmann has decided to end her Presidential run, after coming in last in the Iowa polls.

EU could decide on Iran oil embargo on Jan. 30: French FM
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe says the European Union may be set to make a decision on whether to impose an embargo of Iranian oil on January 30th.
That's when EU foreign ministers are set to meet again.
Juppe also says EU foreign ministers have been working on the issue in the interim, and says -- quote -- "things are on track."
But he also admits that there is still work to be done to convince some EU member states to vote in favor of any embargo, given that many of them are dependent on Iranian oil imports.
A previous attempt by European leaders to slap sanctions on Iranian oil exports failed because of that issue.
Iranian authorities have been threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic if any international embargo on its oil is brought in -- a threat the US government has signaled it will not allow to become reality, suggesting the Strait of Hormuz is international waters.
Up to 20-percent of the world's ship-bound oil passes through that Strait, this links the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

Tunisian students, professors launch protest against sit-in by Salafists
突尼斯学生、教授参与暴力抗议活动
Hundreds of university students and professors have gathered at the seat of the ministry of Higher Education in the Tunisian capital Tunis, protesting a protest.
The students and professors want the authorities to dispurse a group of Salafists that have been blocking access and disrupting classes at the University of Manouba.
The Salafists -- an ultra-conservative sect of Islam -- are demanding the university allow female students to wear the Niqab, the Islamic face veil.
Tunisian universities don't allow female students to wear the Niqab.
The new group of university students is demanding the break up of the Salafist protest, saying it needs to be dispersed to save the remainder of the academic year.

Argentine president receives thyroid cancer surgery
阿根廷总统癌变组织摘除手术成功
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has undergone a successful operation to treat her recently-diagnosed thyroid cancer.
The 4-hour surgery is said to have gone off smoothly, with the announcement drawing cheers from Fernandez' supporters gathered outside the hospital north of Buenos Aires.
Doctors say Fernandez' has a 90-percent chance of full recovery.
Her thyroid cancer was discovered in late December, just days after her innauguration for her 2nd term as the President of Argentina.