Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has become the latest high-ranking Chinese official to take issue with the United States over its latest announced arms sale to Taiwan. 

Yang Jiechi has joined a chorus of other Chinese officials, calling the US move wrong, and pressing the Americans to reverse the decision.

The foreign minister says Washington's move has the potential to destabilize the relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

He's made the statement in New York on the sidelines of the annual general debate of the United Nations General Assembly.

 

 

Palestinians denounce Obama opposition to UN statehood bid

 

Palestinian protesters are denouncing US President Barack Obama for his opposition to their bid to win UN recognition.

Hamas spokesman Salah al-Bardawil says the US President is ignoring the rights of the Palestinian people.

"The only role he sees is for Israel and the United States, in a direct dialogue sponsored by the United States, and that's something that could go on for another twenty years or more."

In the West Bank town of Beit Jala, around 200 Israelis and Palestinians have celebrated "Palestinian Independence", calling for the end of Israeli settlement construction in the region.

 

 

Former Libyan PM arrested in Tunisia

 

Former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi has been arrested in Tunisia's southern border areas. 

The National Transitional Council in Tripoli has hailed the arrest, calling it a move of great importance in suppressing the Gaddafi regime.

A Tunisian court has sentenced Mahmoudi to six months in jail for illegally entering the country.

The NTC is going to apply to have the former Prime Minister extradited to stand trial in Libya.

 

 

Sata declared winner in Zambia 2011 presidential election

 

Michael Sata has been declared the winner of the Presidential election in Zambia.

Sata has defeated incumbent Rupiah Banda by a margin of 43 to 36-percent.

While the vote in the southern African country earlier this week went off relatively smoothly, the anticipation ahead of the results sparked rioting which has left at least 2 people dead.

 

 

32 confirmed dead in rain-triggered landslide in NW China

 

The official death count from a land slide this past weekend in northwest China's Shaanxi Province now stands at 32.

The process of trying to identify all the bodies is now underway.

The landslide, brought on by heavy rains, destroyed a brick factory and partially buried a ceramics plant in the provincial capital of Xi'an.

Heavy rain and more land slides limited rescue attempts, which were brought to an end on Tuesday.

 

 

China's relief tents arrive in Pakistan

 

The first batch of Chinese assistance with 7000 tents to Pakistan has arrived in Karachi.

It's part of 4.7-million-US-dollar Chinese aid package after parts of Pakistan were hit by floods this year.

The second batch will be delivered tomorrow.

 

 

Websites trafficking explosives shut down

 

Chinese authorities have shut down several websites that were found to be trafficking guns and explosives.

The Ministry of Public Security says 15 websites were investigated, resulting in the shutdown of five.

Chinese law prohibits civilians from possessing guns, ammunition, explosives and certain types of knives. Major violations can lead to jail sentences of up to seven years.

 

 

G20 pledges "all necessary actions" to tackle global crisis

 

The Group of 20 major economies have vowed to take strong actions to address the worsening global financial crisis.

In a communique the G20 noted heightened downside risks in the world economy from sovereign stresses, financial system fragility, market turbulence, weak economic growth and unacceptably high unemployment.

They said they would work together to support growth and implement "credible fiscal consolidation plans."

 

 

Ten-year-old shoots teacher, kills himself in Brazil

 

A 10-year-old boy has shot his teacher and then killed himself in southeast Brazil.

The incident took place at a school in Sao Paulo state. 

Police say the student, David Mota Nogueira, asked to go to the restroom but returned with a gun in hand. He shot his teacher in the back then left the classroom and shot himself in the head in the hallway. 

The teacher was injured in the hip and is in stable condition. 

Police say the revolver used by the boy belonged to his father, a local police guard. 

The boy's motive remains unclear.

 

 

NASA refines satellite crash time

 

The US space agency NASA says its out-of-control climate satellite is expected to crash to Earth sometime on Friday evening GMT.

There is still much uncertainty over when and where the satellite will re-enter the atmosphere.

Experts say they will get a more precise idea in the last 12 hours before the satellite is due to return.

NASA says the risk to life from the defunct satellite is 1 in 3,200.