China opposes Philippines' attempt to draw third party

The Chinese government is expressing "firm opposition" to the Philippines' decision to draw a third party into the dispute over Huangyan Island.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the move will "further escalate the situation and even change the nature of the issue."
Media reports says that some countries are helping the Philippines establish a "minimum credible defense posture" to complement its diplomatic capacity in dealing with territorial disputes with China.

SW China rainstorms leave 6 dead, 5 injured

Officials in Guizhou now say 6 people have been killed in torrential rainstorms hitting the southern Chinese province.
Massive downpours have battered 18 cities and counties in Guizhou overnight on Monday, collapsing over 200 homes.
Meanwhile, the same weather system has also affected traffic in neighboring Chongqing.
The rains have brought down a slide in the municipality, which has cut off National Highway 319.
Crews don't expect that stretch of road to be cleared until at least Thursday.
Forest fire put out in NE China

A forest fire in northeast China's Heilongjiang has been extinguished with the help of more than 4,000 rescuers and soldiers
The fire started Tuesday morning and swept through a Forest on the Greater Hinggan Mountain.
An initial investigation concluded that the fire was caused by a lightning strike.
Local authorities say dry, hot and windy weather has been to blame for several forest fires in the area.
Rescue efforts continue for 7 trapped in SW China mine accident

Search and rescue efforts are continuing for seven people trapped following a coal mine accident in Yunnan.
Four teams of rescuers took turns attempting to reach the trapped miners at a coal mine in Luxi County.
Rescuers have already cleared a 5-meter-long section of the caved-in shaft.
10 people were trapped when the shaft caved in on Monday afternoon.
Three people have been rescued so far.
Two charged over killings of Chinese students in LA

Two men have been charged in the US with the murder of two Chinese students in Los Angeles last month.
Bryan Barnes (aged 20) and Javier Boldem (aged 19) could face the death penalty if convicted of the murders of the two Chinese engineering students on April 11th.
In a case that has shocked the American city, the two University of Southern California students were shot in the early hours as they sat in a car in close to the centre of downtown L.A.
The parents of the victims recently filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the school, although it has since been dismissed by university authorities.
China's top legislator kicks off visit to Luxembourg

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo has arrived in Luxembourg for an official goodwill visit to the country.
The visit comes as the two countries mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
During the two-day visit, Wu is scheduled to hold meetings with Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and other top officials.
Luxembourg is the third stop of Wu's four-nation European tour, which will also take him to spain.
Pyongyang says no intention to conduct nuclear tests

North Korea says it never planned to conduct nuclear tests during its peaceful satellite development program.
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson made the remarks in a statement denouncing the declaration of the recent G8 summit in the United States.
Pyongyang says the US and other countries fabricated the nuclear test allegations, adding that it only planned to develop satellite technology for peaceful use.
IAEA Chief says deal reached with Iran

The head of the UN nuclear agency says that he has reached a deal with Iran on investigating suspected nuclear weapons development.
The statement comes after IAEA chief Yukiya Amano had talks with Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili on resuming the long-stalled investigation.
However, Amano says some details still need to be worked out.
Jalili has met Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad ahead of the P5+1 nuclear talks to be held in the city later today.
Egypt's military promise to respect democratic elections

Military leaders in Egypt have promised to remain neutral in the country's milestone presidential elections due to start today.
General Mohamed Al-Assar of Egypt's Supreme Council told reporters Tuesday that the army would hand over power to an elected president as promised, bringing to and end 15 months of political turmoil in the country.
The elections mark the culmination of Egypt's difficult transition period since the overthrow of former president Hosni Hubarak.
U.S. officials hail launch of first commercial spacecraft to space station

The head of the American space agency, NASA, hailed Tuesday's launch of a private cargo delivery service as a new era in space exploration.
The unmanned Dragon freight capsule took off in Florida Tuesday morning.
The Dragon capsule is loaded with 500 kg of food, water and equipment meant for astronauts on the International Space Station.
Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle Fleet in 2011, NASA has had no independent means of launching people and supplies into orbit and has been dependent on 'hitching a ride' on Russian space missions.