U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai say the attack and killing of the head of Afghanistan's High Peace Council will not stop the mission in Afghanistan.

Former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani has been killed at his home by a suicide bomber.

President Obama says the killing of Rabbani is a "tragic loss".

"We both believe that despite this incident, we will not be deterred from creating a path whereby Afghans can live in freedom, safety and security and prosperity ....It is going to be important to continue the efforts to bring all of the elements in Afghanistan society together to end the senseless cycle of violence."

For his part, Hamid Karzai, who canceled his visit in New York to return home, says Rabbani's death will not change his government's stance on security.

The Haqqani network, a Taliban-allied insurgent faction, is believed to be responsible for the attack.

  

Libya's new flag flew at UN

Libya's new flag is now flying at the United Nations for the first time since Muammar Gaddafi's overthrow.

Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the president of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council, says the flying of their flag represents the will of the Libyan people.

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon meanwhile says the Libyan people should be congratulated for their courage and determination to bring about democratic change.

The news came as World leaders convened at the United Nations to discuss the situation in Libya, including post-conflict reconstruction.

Meanwhile, Muammar Gaddafi has released another recorded message, trying to rally his supporters.

He maintains his leadership remains i still in tact.

  

China Backs Palestine's Bid for Statehood

China has repeated its backing in Palestine's efforts to seek full-statehood recognition by the United Nations.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei says Palestinian statehood would 'restore their legitimate rights' and believes it is the 'precondition for achieving peace' between Israel and Palestine.

However, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has confirmed that the US will veto the Palestinians' bid for statehood at the United Nations.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to formally apply for UN membership at the end of this week.

  

Death toll rises to 78 in Sikkim quake in India

The death toll from Sunday's powerful earthquake near the border between India and China has now risen to 78 in India, including 60 in Sikkim.

The Indian army has broken into Mangan, a small town at the epicenter of the earthquake, after clearing landslides and stones along the badly damaged roads.

Sunday's 6.9-magnitude quake, which also caused significant damage in southern Tibet, left at least 7 people on the Chinese side dead, and dozens of others homeless. 

 

26 killed in Pakistan bus attack, banned group claims responsibility

An outlawed extremist group is claiming responsibility for an attack on a bus in Pakistan's southwest which has left 26 people dead.

The outlawed Sunni extremist group "Lashkar-e-Jhangvi" is also warning of more sectarian attacks.

A group of armed men in a jeep stopped the bus full of Shia muslims, which was headed to Iran for a pilgrimage, telling the people inside to get out and line up before opening fire for 10 minutes on the group.

30 people were also left seriously injured in the attack. 

 

Death toll from rain-triggered flood in SW China climbs to 19, 16 remain missing

The death toll from severe flooding in Sichuan has now reached 19, with 16 others remaining missing.

Torrential rains have been caused destruction and chaos througout the province since Friday.

The flooding has destroyed around 40-thousand houses and has prompted the evacuation of 1.4 million people across the province.

The National Disaster Reduction Commission says the flooding and landslides across the country have left 70 people dead and 32 others missing so far this month.

  

Celebration of Int'l Day of Peace to kick off in NE China

A series of events marking the International Day of Peace are scheduled for today in the northeastern Chinese cities of Shenyang and Dalian.

The events will include a forum on northeast Asia's development, an art exhibition and the opening of a Peace Park.

Around 250 people, including former politicians, officials, entrepreneurs and experts are scheduled to take part.

The International Day of Peace comes just days after commemorations were held in northeast China to mark the 80th anniversary of the start of the Japanese invasion of China in 1931. 

 

China to launch moon-landing probe around 2013

Chinese space authorities are now planning to launch the lunar probe, Chang'e-3, sometime in 2013.

Chang'e-3 is being designed to land on the moon and carry out a large number of experiments.

The mission is the second stage of China's three-phase lunar exploration program.

Meanwhile, Chang'e-2 has now sent its first batch of data back from the so-called "2nd Lagrange" point - an area of deep space, which is about 1.7 million kilometers from earth, and is where the Sun and the Earth's gravity balance out.