Beijing - A sudden escape of gas and coal killed at least 31 people and left 13 missing at a mine in the central Chinese province of Henan on Sunday, the government said.

The accident occurred at the privately operated Xinfeng No. 2 coal mine in Henan's Dengfang city at about 1:30 am, the State Administration of Work Safety reported.

Rescue workers had confirmed the death of 31 miners by mid-morning and were searching for 13 others still missing underground, the administration said.

Kolkata-based Himadri Chemicals, a leading maker and exporter of chemical products, has annunciated that the company through its wholly owned subsidiary named Himadri Global Investment (HGIL) has inked a joint venture pact with a chinese company.

Under the terms of the deal, the company will acquire existing coal tar distillation plant in Xiaoyi, Shanxi. 

According to the sources, HGIL will be the owner of 90% equity interest in the JV company and the balance 10% will be owned by the Chinese conglomerate.

Beijing  - At least 43 people

Taipei- The Ninth China Book Exhibition opened in Taipei on Saturday, amid expanding economic and cultural ties between Taipei and Beijing.

Some 400 Chinese publishing companies are taking part in the book fair at the Taipei World Trade Centre, which displays some 120,000 book and magazine titles from China.

Relations between China and Taiwan have warmed following the inauguration of Taiwan's China-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou.

Manila  - The Philippine government on Saturday ordered agriculture and food authorities to prevent the entry of new stocks of milk contaminated with melamine from China.

The Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Food and Drugs were also directed to monitor the markets amid reports that some contaminated products have reached Philippine markets.

Presidential Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said all suspected products should be held immediately.

"They should hold any stock of contaminated milk and make sure it does not reach the market," he said in a radio interview.

Jakarta - At least seven people were injured when turbulence hit a Boeing 747-400 jetliner belonging to China Airlines on Saturday en route from Taipei to Indonesia's Bali island, an airport official said.

A spokesman for the Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport named Dimyati said the CAL-687 jet carrying 357 people dropped drastically to about 25,000-feet altitude from 35,000 feet, jolting passengers.