Thousands of people are spending a second freezing night outdoors, following Sunday's 7.2-magnitude earthquake in eastern Turkey.

Nearly 280 people are confirmed dead, with over 13-hundred reported as injured.

Rescuers with trucks and cranes are racing against time, searching for possible survivors trapped under the rubble.

Some 24-hundred rescue workers are now involved in the relief effort with volunteers from the Red Crescent Society setting up tents at local sports stadium to accommodate survivors.

 

 

Libya: NTC promises to disarm Libya soon

Libya's National Transitional Council is now pushing ahead moves to disarm the country.

It comes just a day after the interim government declared the country as officially "liberated".

However, NTC General Fatoori Maghrebi says the militias that helped overthrow former leader Muammar Gaddafi will not be asked to hand in their weapons immediately, saying that since they do not yet have a national army in Libya, the void' of security preservation in being filled by the rebels.

Meanwhile, a human rights organization now claims they have found over 50 Gaddafi loyalists executed at a hotel near Sirte.

 

 

Official results of Tunisia vote expected Tuesday

The official results of Tunisia's national election are expected out later on this Tuesday.

Popular Islamic party Ennahda is claiming victory.

However, polling indicates that Ennahda has not claimed enough votes for an outright majority.

This weekend's voting is meant to create a new national assembly, which will be tasked with creating a new constitution for Tunisia.

The voting comes 9 months after anti-government protests in the country sparked similar uprisings across the Middle East.

 

 

Top DPRK leader meets Chinese vice premier on ties

North Korean top leader Kim Jong Il has met visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang in Pyongyang.

Li Keqiang has told Kim Jong Il that the Chinese side is working to try to create the conditions for the resumption of the 6-party nuclear talks.

For his part, Kim says the North Korean side hopes the six-party talks will be restarted as soon as possible.

Li Keqiang's visit to North Korea is going to be followed up by a trip to South Korea this week as well.

 

 

Presentations at direct talks with DPRK "useful": U.S. envoy

A U.S. envoy says the presentations made during the latest round of direct talks between North Korea and the United States are "useful".

The talks are being headed by the United States special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, and North Korean vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan.

This round of talks is scheduled to run through this Tuesday in Geneva.

It's believed these discussions could set the template for a possible re-start of the 6-party talks, which have been shelved since late 2009 when North Korea walked away from the table.

 

 

U.S. to maintain strong presence in Asia-Pacific: Defense Secretary

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is pledging a strong US military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The pledge comes despite looming defense spending cuts at home.

"We will continue to have force projection in this area, we will continue to not only maintain but to strengthen our presence in this part of the world. We are a pacific nation, and we will have a pacific presence in this area."

Panetta has made the comments at an air base on the outskirts of Tokyo.

This is Panetta's first trip to Asia since taking over the Pentagon's top job in July.

Panetta is also scheduled to visit South Korea after his stay in Japan.

 

 

US ambassador pulled from Syria

Citing concerns over his safety, the US State Department has decided to withdraw its ambassador to Syria.

Robert Ford has angered the Syrian government by expressing solidarity with the demonstrators.

He's also led diplomatic missions within Syria that have caused significant frustration with the Syrian government.

Last month he was pelted with eggs and tomatoes while trying to visit a member of the Syrian opposition.

In the wake of the United States' move, the Syrian government has since recalled its ambassador to the US for, what's being described, as 'consultations.'

 

 

Chinese lawmakers consider adding fingerprint in resident ID cards

China's top legislature is now considering adding fingerprints to people's resident identity cards in a bid to combat counterfeiting.

The same draft amendment under review also forbids government staff and other institutions from leaking people's personal information.

In addition, the draft would allow police officers to check people's identification cards at transportation hubs and at large-scale events.

National identity cards have been in circulation since 1985 here in China.

However, the cards are relatively low-tech, and are said to be easy to counterfeit.

 

 

Sex education books break down traditional barriers

New sex education textbooks have been introduced to students in Shanghai.

The controversial text books are divided into three volumes.

They'll be used to educate children at 6-different grade levels.

Among the content, the texts will help educate children about how to protect themselves from sexual assault.

The introduction of sex education text books at schools in Beijing this summer triggered heated debate amongst parents and educators.