A dissident Chinese writer has been sentenced to seven years in prison for writing a poem urging his countrymen to gather at a public square, a human rights group said today.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was in China today on a visit to a school - his second appearance in the country this year.

President Mary McAleese will touch down in China today for a five-day official visit to support business links between the countries.

A top Chinese official called today for efforts to quickly resume stalled talks on ending North Korea’s nuclear programs, as the US said any future disarmament deal will have to address Pyongyang’s uranium enrichment program.