Xi opens CICA summit, calls for common security
Chinese President Xi Jinping has presided over a key Asia security summit, calling for achieving common and sustainable security for the region.
He was speaking at the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia in Shanghai.
"We believe that it is necessary to advocate common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in Asia. We need to innovate our security concept, establish a new regional security cooperation architecture, and jointly build a road for security in Asia that is shared by, and win-win to all."
Over 20 international leaders, including 11 heads of state, are attending the summit which runs through today.
CICA member states are expected to issue a Shanghai Declaration on commitments to strengthening strategic coordination.
At the summit, China took over the CICA presidency from Turkey.
China, Russia pledge wide-ranging cooperation
China and Russia have issued a joint statement, vowing to beef up bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields.
The statement follows a meeting between the presidents of the two nations in Shanghai.
Vladimir Putin is in Shanghai to participate in the summit, during his state visit to China.
Although a much anticipated gas deal has not been finalized, the two countries have vowed to deepen cooperation in the petroleum industry, kick-start Russia's supply of natural gas to China as soon as possible and jointly develop coal mines in Russia.
The two leaders have also overseen the start of a joint military exercise in the East China Sea.
5.7-magnitude quake hits Taiwan: CENC
A 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Hualien county in Taiwan this morning.
The China Earthquake Networks Center says the quake hit at a depth of 20 kilometers.
The tremor was felt in Taipei, but no casualty has been reported so far.
(bjh/head) Chinese workers return from Vietnam
More than 3500 Chinese workers evacuated from Vietnam arrived in China late on Tuesday.
Most of them are staffers from the Metallurgical Corporation of China and China Energy Group which run construction sites in Vietnam's Ha Tinh province.
So far over 4 thousand Chinese nationals have been evacuated from Vietnam since anti-foreign protests broke out last week.
The MCC says in a statement that four of its employees were killed and 130 others were injured during the violent protest.
Pakistani PM orders early release of Chinese tourist
The Pakistani Prime Minister has urged early release of a Chinese tourist who was kidnaped in the country's northwest.
Nawaz Sharif issued directives to authorities for quick coordination between the security departments.
The Pakistani Taliban has reportedly claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
A local Taliban leader is reportedly saying that they kidnapped the Chinese national for future negotiations with the Pakistani government for the release of arrested Taliban members.
The Chinese man was on a bike tour in Pakistan.
China's embassy is contacting Pakistan's relevant departments to verify the incident.
118 killed in twin blasts in Nigeria
At least 118 people have been killed in two car-bomb blast in central Nigeria.
No one has claimed responsibility.
This latest attack follows a move by Nigeria's Senate to approve the extension of the state of emergency in three northeastern states where soldiers are battling Islamic extremist group Boko Haram .
The group has claimed responsibility for several recent bombings in the country.
80 militants killed in NW Pakistan's air strike
More than 80 militants have been killed in an overnight operation involving Pakistani army jets and helicopters in the country's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan.
Local reports say the air strike targeted several militant hideouts in the restive tribal region on the border with Afghanistan.
The reports quoted residents as saying that several houses were destroyed in the massive operation and many people are feared to be trapped under the rubbles.
First group of OSCE observers arrive in Kiev
The first group of election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
They will monitor this Sunday's presidential elections.
The OSCE mission plans to send observers to all of Ukraine's regions, including the east where two regions have declared independence.
Ukrainian authorities have deployed tens of thousands of police and volunteers across the country to maintain public order ahead of the elections.
Libya to hold elections amid chaos in Tripoli
Libya's election commission has announced that parliamentary elections will be held on June 25.
It will be the first election since the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Earlier, Libya's embattled government proposed that parliament go into recess after voting on this year's budget.
The government has accused renegade general Khalifa Haftar of planning a coup, a charge he denies.
Fighters allied with Gen Haftar attacked the parliamentary building in the capital, Tripoli, on Sunday.
His militia then called for the suspension of parliament.
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