China, Gulf regional bloc accelerate free trade negotiations

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is now promising to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement with the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Wen Jiabao's comments follow a meeting with the Secretary General of the regional bloc in Saudi Arabia.

Wen Jiabao has also been holding meetings with top Saudi leaders, including King Abdullah.

The Chinese Premier has also told Saudi entrepreneurs that China is willing to expand its business relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Wen Jiabao is currently on a trip to the Gulf countries, which will also take him to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

China, ASEAN Countries Discuss Further Implementation of DOC

Officials from Southeast Asian countries have now concluded talks here in Beijing with their Chinese counterparts in connection with the South China Sea.

Top Chinese officials and their ASEAN counterparts have been holding negotiations connected to the so-called Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

It's being reported the talks this weekend have come off well, with all sides suggesting the situation in the South China Sea right now is stable and peaceful.

Chinese assistant foreign minister Liu Zhenmin.

"Through maritime cooperation in the South China Sea, China and the ASEAN countries will enhance mutual trust (and) avoid disputes and crises to maintain stability and peace in the South China Sea, which is the common wish of China and the ASEAN countries."

It's being reported that progress has been made on a number of issues at the meeting, including areas such as disaster-relief and rescue, the environment and biological research.

16 dead, 41 injured after string of auto accidents in China

16 people have been killed and 41 others injured in a series of traffic accidents over the weekend here in China.

This past weekend is the first official one of the Spring Festival travel rush.

In Yunnan, 7 people were killed after their van fell off a cliff after being hit by another van from the behind on Saturday.

On the same day, another 7 people died after their bus collided with a trailer in Anhui.

And on Sunday in Guangxi, a van slammed into a lorry, leaving 2 dead.

More bodies found in Italian cruise ship

意大利游船发现更多尸体

Searchers have discovered two more bodies in the partially-sunk Italian cruise ship, raising the official death toll now from the accident to 5.

15 others remain unaccounted for.

Some 4-thousand people were on the luxury cruise liner when it ran aground and began listing off the western coast of Italy on Friday.

The harrowing ordeal saw people scramble for their life via life boats, and in some cases, by swimming to shore on their own.

Searchers have been scouring the interior of the stricken cruise ship in search of more survivors.

The 52-year old captain of the boat is suspected of manslaughter. He is laying the blame for the accident on an unmarked rock.

Dozens trapped by collapsed building in Beirut

贝鲁特建筑倒塌数十人被困

Dozens of people are believed trapped under the rubble of a building that has collapsed in the Lebanese capital of Beirut.

The Lebanese Army has since joined the civil defence department in trying to help rescue victims from the 5-story building collapse.

Around 10 survivors have been found so far.

Officials have also evacuated other buildings in the area, suggesting there are fears other buildings may collapse as well.

The cause of the original collapse remains unclear.

Pakistani Taliban denies reports on death of top leader in U.S. drone strike

巴基斯坦塔利班否认最高领导人被美军无人机炸死

The Pakistani Taliban is denying reports about the death of one of its top leaders.

It's being reported that top Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud has been killed in a U.S. drone strike last week in northwest Pakistan.

The Taliban in Pakistan says Mehsud was not in the area at the time of the drone strike.

This is the 2nd time reports have surfaced of Hakimullah Mehsud's death, with the Taliban leader later issuing an audio denial, following reports of his death in early 2010.

South China village establishes new party branch after massive protests

Preparations are now underway for a new village election in Wukan.

This is the same community in Guangdong that was rocked by mass demonstrations late last year connected to illegal land grabs.

A new Party branch and work team are now preparing for the re-election.