Headlines:

Fierce rain delays over 100 flights in Beijing

Extreme weather lashed most parts of the country Wednesday after Beijing and Tianjin were plunged into darkness during extraordinary thunderstorms Tuesday.

Commuters at Beijing Capital International Airport were left frustrated when 100 flights were delayed and 10 were cancelled as heavy rain clouds blocked all sunlight at about 11 am Tuesday.

Streetlights were activated and motorists were forced to turn on car headlights.

Slovakia visit a presidential first

President Hu Jintao held talks with his Slovak counterpart Ivan Gasparovic Thursday, which Hu termed as "productive".

It is the first visit to Slovakia by a Chinese president since the country gained independence in 1993.

China has proposed to start cooperative projects in infrastructure construction, new energy, agriculture and environmental protection with Slovakia.

Brazil finds new strain of H1N1 virus

Brazilian scientists have identified a new strain of the H1N1 virus after examining samples from a patient in Sao Paulo, their institute said Tuesday.

The variant has been called A/Sao Paulo/1454/H1N1 after being compared with samples of the A(H1N1) flu from California.

It was not yet known whether the new strain was more aggressive than the current A(H1N1) virus which has been declared pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Iranians hold rally to mourn dead

Tens of thousands of Mirhossein Mousavi’s supporters rallied in Teheran Thursday to mourn those killed in mass protests against the disputed election.

Days of public fury led Iran’s top legislative body, the Guardian Council, to invite Mousavi and the other two candidates beaten by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss their complaints Saturday.

News in depth:

President Hu attends SCO&BRIC meetings

Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and the meeting of BRIC countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India and China in Yekaterinburg in central Russia on June 15 and 16.

Hu arrived in Moscow Tuesday for a three-day state visit after the SCO meeting.

During his visit to Russia, President Hu had talks with Medvedev and other Russian leaders to exchange views on how to further develop bilateral ties.

The two countries Wednesday signed a five-point statement on bilateral relations and mutual cooperation.

Together with Medvedev, Hu also attended the activities marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia.

Waitress who killed official spared jail

A waitress, who fatally stabbed an official and injured another, walked free from a Hubei court after a guilty verdict with "diminished responsibility" Tuesday.

Deng Yujiao, 21, was found guilty of intentional assault on May 10 but was not penalized because she is manic depressive.

Deng Guida, 44, business promotion office director died of injuries and his 41-year-old junior colleague, Huang Dezhi, was injured.

The court ruled that Deng was exempt from punishment because she acted in self-defense although it was excessive, gave herself up to police and had limited legal responsibility.

UN imposes new curbs on DPRK

The UN Security Council last Friday unanimously approved expanded sanctions and a trade and arms embargo against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK over its May 25 nuclear test.

The sanctions resolution bans all weapons exports from the DPRK and most arms imports into it. It authorizes UN member states to inspect Pyongyang's sea, air and land cargo, requiring them to seize and destroy any goods transported in violation of the sanctions.

The 15-member body passed a resolution that its permanent members - the US, Britain, France, Russia and China – as well as Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) had agreed to earlier.

The sanctions include increased financial restrictions and a tighter arms embargo with the exception of light weapons.

Other news:

Designers favor first lady's fashion

The Council of Fashion Designers of America's special tribute award went to the first lady on Monday night, who is considered a new player in the world of fashion.

Obama accepted her award via a pre-taped video. Wearing a crisp white shirt and two strands of pearls, she honored fashion as an American "art form" with "ingenuity and craftsmanship that contribute so much to our economy and culture."

About the broadcaster:

Siberian-born Kristina Koveshnikova is a freelance journalist from New Zealand who has worked in print, television and film. After completing a BCS degree majoring in journalism, she won an Asia NZ Foundation/Pacific Media Centre award to work for China Daily website. Kristina previously did internships at ABC 7 News in Washington DC and TVNZ in New Zealand and has written for a number of publications, including The New Zealand Herald and East & Bays Courier.