【英语简明新闻】Headline News 2016 January 29

China dismisses rumors of suspension of high-speed railway project in Indonesia China has denied media reports that a high-speed railway project in Indonesia undertaken by China has been halted. Indonesian media say the railway project, linking Jakarta and Bandung, has been forced to suspend since its permissions were not approved. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the reports are not true. The Indonesian Embassy in Beijing has also dismissed the rumor, saying the high-speed railway project remains a priority for the Indonesian government. The 150-kilometer-long railway, the first high-speed line in Indonesia, is expected to be completed in 3 years. Syria peace talks to kick off in Geneva without key figures United Nations-mediated peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian conflict are scheduled to kick off later today in Geneva, without key opposition members. The High Negotiations Committee, representing the opposition, says they would not attend the negotiations unless steps are taken to alleviate the plight of civilians under siege and bombardment. Their absence threatens to derail the biggest diplomatic push yet to resolve the nearly five-year-old conflict. UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has said the talks could be the last chance for peace in the war-torn country. The talks are part of a UN-backed plan that envisages negotiations followed by a transitional government, a new constitution and elections within 18 months. Japan puts military on alert for possible North Korean missile test Japan has put its military on alert for a possible North Korean ballistic missile launch after indications that it is preparing for a test firing. Reports citing sources with knowledge of the order say increased activity at North Korea's missile site suggests that there may be a launch in the next few weeks. North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test early this month. A missile test coming so soon after the nuclear test would raise concern that North Korea plans to fit nuclear warheads on its missiles. China's ship to join search for missing MH370 jet in Indian Ocean A Chinese sonar ship is joining the search for missing Malaysia Airlines plane MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean. Australia's deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss says the Dong Hai Jiu 101, currently in Singapore, will leave for Australia on Sunday before heading out to the search area. The ship will be equipped with a towed sonar system that can be operated at 6000 meters deep. Flight MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. It's believed to have gone down somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean. BOJ stuns markets with negative interest rate surprise The Bank of Japan has unexpectedly cut a benchmark interest rate below zero, a move aimed at shielding the country's sluggish economy from volatile markets and slowing global growth. The bank says it will apply a negative interest rate of minus 0.1 percent to current accounts held by financial institutions. Only last week, BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda had said the bank was not thinking of adopting a negative interest rate policy for now. The bank's decision follows a raft of economic data that fell short of market expectations. A slump in factory output and a decline in household spending have painted a dim outlook for Japan's economy. Man convicted of abducting 22 children executed A Chinese man convicted of abducting 22 children has been executed. Tan Yongzhi was the mastermind in the abductions of 22 infants and children between 2008 and 2013 from the southwest province of Yunnan and then sold them in the central Henan province. Tan's execution was approved by China's top court. Chinese courts have always provided heavy penalties for those convicted of abducting children. Nearly 2,000 cases involving abducted women and children were handled in 2012. Last year the number fell to around 850. Beijing to see big increase in roadside parking fee The city of Beijing plans to significantly increase the roadside parking fees in the downtown areas. The Municipal Transport Commission says the parking fees will be differentiated based on the local transport conditions and parking densities. No timeline for the price hike has been given yet. Meanwhile, authorities have pledged to strengthen punishments for illegal occupation of public spaces for parking, illegal fee charging and illegal installation of locks at parking spaces. Hainan loosens limits for duty-free purchases Authorities in China's southern island province of Hainan have loosened limits on duty-free purchases. Non-locals are allowed to buy duty-free goods on the island more frequently than the twice a year allowed under previous rules.