The following are China news stories moved by Xinhua News Agency as of 16:00 GMT, June 16. TOP STORIES: * 1st Ld-Writethru-China Focus: Killer of township official exempted from criminal punishment BADONG, Hubei Province, June 16 (Xinhua) -- A woman accused of stabbing an official to death and injuring another in self- defence in an alleged sexual assault on May 10 was exempted from criminal punishment by a local court Tuesday in Badong County, central China's Hubei Province. * Cabbies' protest continues in western China province, 35 arrested selfnewsING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Protests by cab drivers in western China's Qinghai Province over operation rights continued Tuesday for a fourth day, local government officials said. BUSINESS AND FINANCE: * Construction of Sino-Myanmar oil-and-gas pipelines to begin in Sept. BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The construction of pipelines that will transport oil and gas to China via Myanmar will begin in full swing in September, an insider from PetroChina said Tuesday. * 1st Ld-Writethru: Chinese shares down 0.49 pct amid regional declines BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese shares fell 0.49 percent Tuesday as investors reacted to declines in regional markets, dealers said. * China's lower holding of U.S. Treasury bonds 'response to weaker dollar' BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- For the first time in more than one year, China reduced its holding of U.S. Treasury bonds, and experts told Xinhua Tuesday that move reflected concern over the safety of U.S.-dollar-linked assets. FEATURE: * China Exclusive: Carbon trade benefits poor farmers in NW China YINCHUAN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Ma Shouxi sat beside his solar cooker, waiting for the water to boil. He even tore off a piece of paper from his son's book and put it under the kettle to show the cooker's 'magic effect'. * China Exclusive-Feature: Popularity a mixed blessing for China's ancient Puxian opera by Xinhua writer Wu Yilong FUZHOU, June 16 (Xinhua) -- As a well-known clown of Puxian opera, Chen Chun performs year-round, except for two or three days during the Lunar New Year. 'The audience expects to see me,' says Chen, 45, who has been an actress since childhood. 'If I fail to appear, they'll be disappointed and even reluctant to pay.' YOUR QUERIES: Duty editor: Wang Yongkang @ 8610 6307 3665 