Briefs, November 7, 2012

Jail term extended for Taiwan's ex-first lady

Taiwan's high court has extended the jail term of former president Chen Shui-bian's wife by 14 months after further convictions for graft and money laundering. The total jail term of Wu Shu-chen, 59, is now 19 years and two months after her initial four convictions, including corruption and perjury. AFP

75pc say rich-poor divide biggest problem

Most Chinese see the widening income gap as the country's main problem over the next decade, said a survey published yesterday. Some 75 per cent of 11,400 respondents polled by the official China Youth Daily cited the "serious rich-poor divide" as the issue most likely to hinder the country's development over the next 10 years. AFP

Maritime zoning plans until 2020 approved

The government has approved Shanghai, Guangdong and Hainan's maritime zoning plans for 2011-2020. The State Council yesterday issued a document instructing governments in the three regions to protect fishermen's livelihoods and curb oceanic pollution, among others. Xinhua

Norway's contact with China 'never stopped'

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said contact between Oslo and Beijing never stopped despite a row over dissident Liu Xiaobo winning the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. The comments came after Stoltenberg met his counterpart Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit in Laos. AFP