CHINA DAILY General News Highlights

1. Govt on track to reach GDP growth goal.

China has conditions, confidence to achieve 8% target despite crisis. The government is confident of achieving its goal of 8 percent GDP growth this year, despite the global financial crisis, a senior official said on Friday.

2. China protests Japan's Diaoyu Islands stance.

China lodged yet another protest with Japan on Friday over Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone's remarks that the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States was applicable to China's Diaoyu Islands as well.

3. Public engagement key to better image: Spokesman.

For Zhao Qizheng, 2008will be remembered as the year when China made a mark in "public diplomacy". That is because, last year, the government disseminated timely and accurate information to the public on such major events as the Beijing Olympics, the destructive snowstorms and the devastating May 12 earthquake, Zhao told China Daily yesterday.

4. Prisoner was beaten to death.

The man who died in custody in what police said was a "game of hide-and-seek gone wrong" was actually beaten to death by fellow prisoners, a Yunnan Provincial inquiry has found.

5. Stocks see worst week in Feb.

Shares fell for a second straight day on Friday on the Chinese mainland, wrapping up the market's worst week this year. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 38.4.

6. Corrupt official gets death.

CHONGQING: A disgraced planning official from CHONGQING was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Friday after being found guilty of corruption.