Heavy rains, strong wind hit Taiwan as typhoon approaches

Typhoon Saola is battering northwest Taiwan with heavy rains and strong winds.
Winds of close to 140-kilometers per hour are rolling up toward Ilan County along the island's eastern coast.
Local officials have issued wind and wave warnings along the coastal areas, and are also warning of potential landslides inland.
Major cities and counties across the island, including Taipei, have announced school and office closures for today.
China Typhoon-Fujian braces for Typhoon Saola

Provincial authorities in Fujian are preparing as Typhoon Saola approaches its coastline.
Forecasters expect Typhoon Saola to make landfall along the mainland's southeast coast along the border between Fujian and Zhejiang later tonight or sometime tomorrow morning.
Authorities in Fujian have already evacuated more than 8-thousand people working in the waters off the provincial coast.
Two shipping routes from the mainland to Taiwan have also been closed.
The weather system is also bringing very hot temperatures to Guangdong.
Meanwhile, tropical storm Damrey is also swirling in the East China Sea, and is poised to hit the mainland as well.
Damrey is about 500-kilometers off the east coast of Shanghai, and is tracking northwest toward the Shandong/Jiangsu area.
China likely to raise fuel prices this month

The central government is likely to raise its gasoline and diesel prices this month.
This comes after three consecutive cuts earlier this year.
As of Tuesday, the moving average of a basket of international crude oil prices has risen by more than 4 percent from July 10th.
The National Development and Reform Commission uses this average as a reference for international prices when it comes to setting domestic fuel prices.
Under the NDRC's current fuel pricing mechanism, the central planner can adjust gasoline and diesel prices when the average price of international crude changes by more than 4 percent over a period of 22 working days.
China remains top of Olympic medal tally with 30 so far

Chinese dominance at the Olympics in London continues with more medals being won on day 5.
China now has a total of 30 medals, 17 of them gold.
Among the latest ones, Li Xiaoxia winning gold in the women's table tennis, with a 4-1 wins over compatriot Ding Ning who picks up the silver.
Luo Yutong and Qin Kai winning the gold in the men's 3 metre synchronised diving competition, making it 4 wins out of 4 for China in diving.
Lu Xiaojun picking up the gold in the 77 kilogram men's weight lifting, while Jiao Luyang setting a new world record with a swimming gold in the women's 200 metre butterfly stroke.
Ugandan Ebola outbreak death toll rises to 16

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in Uganda has risen to 16 following the deaths of two more victims.
Medical officials in western Uganda are also treating 2 other confirmed cases of the deadly virus.
16 others are being treated for suspected-Ebola cases.
At the same time, the close to 200 others who had direct contact with the Ebola victims are being monitored.
Ebola is a virus which presents initially as a rash and fever, but has the potential to kill its victims in a very painful way, including bleeding from body openings and severe abdominal cramps.
U.S. imposes sanctions on leaders of Camorra crime syndicate

The Obama administration has slapped sanctions on 5 key leaders of the Camorra crime syndicate, one of Europe's largest criminal organizations.
The move freezes the men's US assets, and also bans any US citizen from doing business with them.
The Camorra crime sindicate, allegedly based in Italy, is accused of having its hand in virtually every form of international criminal activity, from money laundering to drug running.
The group is one of 4 international criminal groups, along side the Brothers' Circle, the Yakuza and the Zetas cartel, identified by Obama last year for sanctions.
Putin supports NATO base deployment in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he's in support of the creation of a NATO logistics hub in his country.
Visiting the central city of Ulyanovsk where the base would be built, Putin says the facility would benefit Russia, as it would help bring stability to the country's southern border.
The proposed NATO base would be used to deliver supplies into Afghanistan.
Putin's support for the NATO base comes amid his administration's lingering dispute with NATO over its proposed missile shield plans in eastern Europe.
Meanwhile, as part of his time in Ulyanovsk, Putin also stressed Russia has no plans to take part in combat operations in Afghanistan.
UN chief welcomes new constitution adopted by Somalia

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has issued a new statement, welcoming the adoption of a new constitution in Somalia.
The country's National Constituent Assembly has overwhelmingly passed the new constitution, which is the first step in helping the country make the transition to a stand-alone government.
Somalia has been without a functioning national government for over 2-decades.
The country's traditional elders are going to choose the next members of the 275-member parliament, as an election in Somalia is still not possible, given the central authorities in Mogadishu still don't control many parts of the country.
Under a deal signed last year, Somalia is set to restore its national government in just under 2-weeks.