Premier urges efforts to boost development of western China www.chinadaily.com

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has urged greater efforts to promote the sustainable and healthy development of the country's western regions.

60% of global Christmas commodities made in China www.chinadaily.com

As the world's biggest transfer center for small items, the city of Yiwu in Zhejiang provicne provides 60 percent of global Christmas commodities, with over 1,000 containers full of Christmas items being delivered abroad from Yiwu just ahead of this year's Christmas Day.

Santa Claus-themed items and LED reindeer are sold in Yiwu through the year, making it seem that people here celebrate Christmas every day.

Workers in Yiwu set out to make Christmas products early in the summer.

There is a "Yiwu Christmas Village" where production is in full swing for months each year in order to provide commodities for overseas markets.

It's reported by BBC that there is no items that one cannot find in Yiwu. A brochure of a local logistics company reads that Yiwu attracts businesses from all over the world like a magnet.

As many as 8,000 foreign purchasers come to Yiwu for commodities, reports Der Spiegel.

This year, there were also direct railway routes transporting Yiwu products to Europe. It will take three weeks for the freight trains to arrive in Spain as they need to travel across Siberia.

China encourages industries to go west, protect environment www.reuters.com

China will encourage labor-intensive manufacturing industries located along the eastern coast to relocate inland, it said in a new 2016-2020 plan to develop the economy of its western regions.

George Michael: Pop superstar dies at 53 www.bbc.com

Singer George Michael has died at the age of 53, his publicist has said.
The star, who launched his career with Wham! in the 1980s and continued his success as a solo performer, is said to have "passed away peacefully at home" in Goring, Oxfordshire.
Thames Valley Police say they are treating the death as unexplained but there were no suspicious circumstances.
His former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley said he was "heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend".
Writing on Twitter and referring to Michael as "Yog", a nickname for "Yours Only George", he added: "Me, his loved ones, his friends, the world of music, the world at large. 4ever loved. A xx"

In a statement, Michael's publicist said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period.
"The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."

On Instagram, Sir Elton John posted a photograph of himself with Michael, writing: "I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans."
Thames Valley Police said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring at 13:42 GMT on Christmas Day.
The force said: "At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.
"A post-mortem will be undertaken in due course. There will be no further updates from Thames Valley Police until the post-mortem has taken place."
A small heart wreath and a rose are among the tributes that have begun to be left outside the front door of Michael's home, a detached property by the River Thames.
Treatment for pneumonia
Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in north London, sold more than 100 million albums throughout a career spanning almost four decades.
He first found fame with his schoolfriend Ridgeley in duo Wham! - reaching number one in the singles charts on four occasions - before going on to release solo albums, including the multi-million selling Faith in 1987 and its follow-up Listen Without Prejudice Vol 
His talents as a singer, songwriter and music producer made George Michael one of the world's biggest-selling artists.
Blessed with good looks and a fine singing voice, his stage presence made him a favourite on the live concert circuit as he matured from teen idol to long term stardom.
But there were times when his battle with drugs and encounters with the police made lurid headlines that threatened to eclipse his musical talents.

Michael scored a further seven number one singles in the UK with songs including Careless Whisper and Faith, and won three Brit Awards and two Grammys.
But as his career faded, he began to face headlines for the wrong reasons.
In October 2006 he pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs, and in 2008 was cautioned for possession of class A drugs, including crack cocaine.
In September 2010, Michael received an eight-week prison sentence following an incident the previous July in which he crashed his Range Rover into a shop in north London. He admitted driving under the influence of drugs and possessing cannabis.
George Michael, Andrew Ridgely in 1984Image copyrightPA
Image caption
George Michael and Andrew Ridgely first found fame with Wham! in the 1980s
Pop stars from Michael's heyday were joined by contemporary names in paying tribute on Twitter.
ABC frontman Martin Fry said: "Absolutely devastated to hear of the loss of @GeorgeMichael Truly brilliant talent #sad #sad #sad."

Silver Lake to join $1.2b round in key Alibaba arm www.chinadaily.com

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's on-demand services unit is close to securing $1.2 billion of funding for expansion after getting backing from first-time investors including Silver Lake Management and China's sovereign wealth fund, people familiar with the matter said.

Printable ‘second skin’ combines latest technology with cosmetics www.asahi.com

Checking and reapplying makeup is part of the daily routine for users keen to keep blotches covered up, but that could be about to change with the advent of a “second skin” cosmetics innovation.

India’s Top Oil Producer Spends $1.2 Billion to Buy Gas Block www.bloomberg.com

India’s biggest oil and gas producer will pay as much as $1.2 billion to buy a majority stake in a gas field off the country’s east coast, aiming to boost production as the country seeks to cut energy imports.

Russian military plane crashes in Black Sea near Sochi www.bbc.com

A Russian military plane with 92 people on board has crashed into the Black Sea, Russia's defence ministry says.
The plane disappeared from radar 20 minutes after taking off from the resort of Sochi at 05:20 (02:20 GMT). Fragments have now been found and one body has been retrieved.
The defence ministry said the Tu-154 was carrying soldiers, 64 members of the famed Alexandrov military music ensemble and nine reporters.
It was flying to Latakia in Syria.
The flight originated in Moscow and had landed at Adler airport in Sochi for refuelling.
The defence ministry said in a statement: "Fragments of the Tu-154 plane of the Russian defence ministry were found 1.5km (one mile) from the Black Sea coast of the city of Sochi at a depth of 50 to 70m (165-230ft)."
So far no survivors have been found, local rescuers told the Interfax news agency.
Defence ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov confirmed that the "body of a person killed as a result the crash... was found 6km off the coast of Sochi".

It was founded in 1928 during the Soviet era
The group also includes an orchestra and dancers
It takes its name from its first director, Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, who wrote the music to the national anthem of the Soviet Union
Holds the right to use the term Red Army Choir, although the interior ministry's MVD Ensemble also uses it

The defence ministry has published a passenger list (in Russian), showing that 64 of those on board were from the Alexandrov Ensemble.
There were nine journalists, eight soldiers, two civil servants, an NGO member and eight crew members.
Reports in the area said flying conditions were favourable. An investigation has been launched to determine whether any violations of air transport safety regulations had taken place.
Mr Konashenkov said the plane was carrying passengers to a New Year's performance for Russian troops deployed in Syria.
The performance was scheduled to take place at Russia's Hmeimim air base, near Latakia.
Russia has been carrying out air strikes in support of Syrian government forces who are battling rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The backbone of Soviet and Russian airlines for decades
Three engines, narrow-bodied and medium range
Designed in the mid-60s, came into service in 1972 and was modernised in 1986 with new engines and equipment
Has seen 39 fatal accidents, although few were due to technical problems. Many were as a result of difficult weather conditions and poor air traffic control. A few were lost in conflicts including in Lebanon, Georgia and Afghanistan
Phased out since the turn of the century. Aeroflot retired its fleet in 2010. Only about 50 in service worldwide
In April 2010, a Tu-154 plane crashed in Smolensk, western Russia, killing all 96 people on board, including the Polish President Lech Kaczynski.
A Tu-154, operated by Siberian Airlines, was shot down over the Black Sea in October 2001, killing 78 people.
The plane was travelling from Tel Aviv in Israel to Novosibirsk in Russia, and most of the passengers were Israeli.
The Ukrainian military initially denied involvement but officials later admitted the plane could have been hit accidentally during a training exercise.

City Governor`s Office approves MNT 3.2 billion to reduce air pollution www.mongolia.gogo.mn

New version of Law on Development Bank presented www.montsame.mn