The central government is blasting the US government for a new round of arms sales to Taiwan.

Chinese vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun has summoned U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke, lodging a strong protest to the U.S. side.

Zhang Zhijun has told Locke that the new round of arms sales will inevitably undermine bilateral relations.

He has also warned Locke that military exchanges may be affected.

The US government has announced a new arms package worth 5.85 billion U.S. dollars to Taiwan.

Arms sales to Taiwan remain one of the key sticking points in the Sino-US dynamic.

US administrations are obligated, under an over 30-year old law passed by the US congress, to continue arms sales to Taiwan, despite the frustration it causes with Beijing.

 

 

Palestinian statehood issue dominates UN meeting.

A senior official with the Palestinian delegation currently in New York for this year's sitting of the UN General Assembly is now hinting that their plans for statehood recognition aren't set in stone.

Nabil Shaath admits they're not sure at this point if they are going to take their cause to the General Assembly if their attempt at statehood fails in the UN Security Council.

Whilst Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Palestinian effort to secure U.N. recognition will not succeed.

"I think the Palestinians want to achieve a state through the international community, but they are not prepared yet to give peace to Israel in return."

The United States is expected to veto any application for statehood in the Security Council.

The Palestinian side could take its request for recognition directly to the UN General Assembly, though that could only lead to an upgrade of its status in the United Nations.

 

 

Libya battles to continue

NATO has extended its mandate in Libya for another three months.

However, the head of the NATO command also says the operation could end "at any time."

NATO airstrikes have been continuing to strike Muammar Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte.

At the same time, NTC forces have continued artillery fire on the embattled city.

Meanwhile, despite the lack of a cohesive government, the NTC is promising a cooperative partnership with China.

At the United Nations, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi says China will continue its support to the Libyan people in reconstruction and development.

 

 

China, Uzbekistan agree on closer parliamentary exchanges

The Chinese and Uzbekistani sides have now agreed to step up their parliamentary exchanges.

Top Chinese law maker Wu Bangguo has made the pronouncement following meetings with the President of Uzbekistan's Senate in Tashkent.

The two have also overseen the signing of five agreements on trade and economy.

Wu Bangguo is in Tashkent for a 4-day visit, as part of a 4-nation tour, which has already seen him make stops in Russia and Belarus.

His final stop is in Kazakhstan.

 

 

Flood peak hits Sichuan, leaving 25 dead, 14 missing

The highest flooding in the recorded history of the Qu River has hit Sichuan, leaving 25 people dead and 14 others missing.

Torrential rains have caused chaos and destruction in the area since Friday, with more than 83-thousand houses collapsing

The economic losses are estimated at some 2.1 billion U.S. dollars.

So far this month, over 100 people are dead or missing because of severe flooding nationwide.

 

 

Death toll of Sikkim quake rises to 98

20 more bodies have been recovered on the Indian side of the border, bringing the death toll from Sunday evening's earthquake along the Chinese-Indian border to over 100.

The discovery of the additional dead in Sikkim now brings the death toll on the Indian side to 98.

Indian authorities also say that at least 700 homes have been damaged by the 6.9-magnitute quake, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Sunday's earthquake along the border between India and southern Tibet also killed 7 people on the Chinese side of the border, and left well over a hundred others homeless.

 

 

GCC chief leaves Yemen as deadly clashes mount in Sanaa

The head of the Gulf Cooperation Council has now left Yemen.

Abdullatif al-Zayani has concluded his 3-day trip to the embattled country with a plea for an end to the recent escalation of fighting that has left over 70 people dead this week.

al-Zayani has met with Yemen's vice-President to discuss ways to end the political deadlock that has been gripping Yemen for the last 8 months.

Amid the escalation of violence in the capital, Sana'a this week, the government has now blocked off outside access to the city.

 

 

Ariane 5 lifts off two satellites from French Guiana

European aerospace company Arianespace has launched two more satellites into space.

The launch from French Guiana in South America is putting two new communications satellites into space.

The satellites are designed to aide coverage of Africa and the Middle East, as well as North America and the Caribbean.

Thursday's launch comes after the original launch date had to be postponed because of a strike by workers in French Guiana.