President Hu Jintao's speech at the recent G-20 Summit has drawn positive comments from the international community, which praised the address for proposals for efforts to maintain world economic growth and financial stability.

President Hu put forward a package of proposals in his speech, urging the world's major economies to work together to promote growth and financial stability. 

Reuters said Hu hopes to send a clear message of ensuring economic development and boosting stablity to the international community. 

The French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Hu expressed confidence that Europe could overcome its debt crisis.

 

Most Greeks opt for national unity government rather than early elections

The wide majority of Greek citizens prefer the forming of a national unity government rather than holding early general elections according to results of two opinion polls.

52 percent of respondents in the poll conducted for Greek newspaper "Proto Thema" supported Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's proposal for the creation of a coalition that will lead the country until the implementation of the recent EU deal of the fresh aid pact for debt-laden country. 

36 percent of respondents backed the call of main opposition party leader Antonis Samaras for snap polls in early December. 

In a separate poll conducted for "Ethnos" daily, the result was 45 percent in favour of a national salvation government and 42 percent in favour of early national elections.

 

Iran says IAEA's documents on its missile program "baseless": FM

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi says the documents of the International Atomic Energy Agency on his country's missile program are "unfounded and baseless." 

He was referring to reports that the IAEA will release some documents about Iran's missile program in the future. 

The United Nations nuclear supervision agency is expected to release a report on Iran's nuclear program next week, which is likely to hint at Iran's engagement in nuclear weapons work despite UN sanctions. 

Yukiya Amano, the IAEA Director General, told the UN General Assembly that while its too early to make conclusions just yet, the report may possibly exacerbate Middle East tensions.

He urged Iran to cooperate with the IAEA to prove that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

 

Syria lashes out at U.S. State Department

A Syrian foreign ministry source has slashed as "irresponsible" a statement made by the U.S. State Department advising Syrians not to surrender themselves after Damascus announced an amnesty for those who gave up their weapons. 

The source says with its statement the U.S. administration has proved once again its flagrant intervention in the Syrian affairs and revealed its policy that supports killing, as well as its funding of terrorist groups. 

The Syrian interior ministry has called on those who carried, sold or distributed weapons but didn't commit homicides to turn themselves in within a week to receive amnesty.

 

Israeli airstrike on southern Gaza kills one, wounds 2: Medics

A Palestinian was killed and two wounded when an Israeli Apache helicopter fired two missiles at an area east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis. 

Security officials in Gaza said that the Israeli helicopter's missiles targeted a group of militants, who were members of Saraya al-Quds, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad. 

Medics at a local Hospital said one Palestinian was killed and two wounded, one of whom seriously.

 

Trapped miners rescued after China coal mine accident kills 8 

Rescuers have pulled out the last of the 45 surviving miners who were trapped for 40 hours following a rock burst that hit a central Chinese coal mine, leaving eight workers dead.

The last worker was seen waving his hands to the rescue team and journalists as he walked out of the Qianqiu Coal Mine with the support of other rescuers. 

A rock burst occurred in the Qianqiu Coal Mine in the city of Sanmenxia, Henan province, following a 2.9-magnitude earthquake on Thursday evening.

 

Thai flood death toll reaches 446, 2 missing 

A total of 446 people were confirmed dead and two people were missing in the floods that have inundated the upper part of Thailand for almost three months.

On Saturday, floods still prevail in 25 of 77 provinces and are affecting about 3.2 million people from 1.2 million housefolds 

70 main highways in 13 provinces are flooded and cannot be passed and some north-bound train routes were canceled.

 

Income gap between urban, rural residents continues to narrow 

An official with the Research Center for Rural Economics under the Ministry of Agriculture says the income gap between rural and urban residents in China has continued to narrow, as income growth for rural residents outpaced that of urban dwellers during the first three quarters.

The official says the income growth rate of rural residents was 5.8 percentage points higher than that of urban dwellers during the first nine months.

However, he says a combination of factors will restrict farmers from making more money, including high inflation, rising agricultural production costs and fewer job opportunities.