China is blasting the US government for a new round of arms sales to Taiwan.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun has summoned U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke, lodging a strong protest to the U.S. side. 

He has told Locke that the new round of arms sales will inevitably undermine bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, Guan Youfei, deputy chief of China's Defense Ministry's foreign affairs office, has been instructed to summon the acting U.S. military attache to China to lodge a protest.

Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng says the latest U.S. arms sales created severe obstacles for the normal bilateral military exchanges.

The U.S. government on Wednesday announced a new arms package worth 5.85 billion U.S. dollars to Taiwan, including the so-called "upgrading" of Taiwan's F-16 fleet.

 

 

Obama says no to Abbas on statehood bid

 

U.S. President Barack Obama has told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Washington opposes the Palestinian attempt to seek statehood at the UN and would use its veto power when necessary.

Obama urged Abbas not to tender a letter of application for full UN membership to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a move expected to take place right after Abbas addresses the General Assembly on Friday. 

In his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day, Obama said that peace cannot be imposed on the parties, but has to be negotiated. 

Netanyahu said the Palestinian effort to secure U.N. recognition will not succeed.

"I think the Palestinians want to achieve a state through the international community, but they are not prepared yet to give peace to Israel in return."

Saeb Erekat, a top aide to Abbas, has made it clear that the Palestinians will not accept a delay on a UN vote on their statehood.

 

 

Libyan NTC forces claim victory in Gadhafi outpost

 

Libya's National Transitional Council say their forces have captured the outpost of Jufra, one of Muammar Gaddafi's last strongholds deep in the Sahara desert and found chemical weapons.

NTC forces have just taken control of most of Sabha, another Gadhafi holdout and are continuing the battle in Bani Walid and Sirte, the last two cities still controlled by Gadhafi loyalists.

Meanwhile, NATO has extended its mandate in Libya for another three months.

However, the head of the NATO command also says the operation could end "at any time."

 

 

Chinese FM meets Ban Ki-moon

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly.

During the meeting Yang Jiechi pledged China's support for the UN's leading role in Libya's post-conflict arrangement and work of the UN Support Mission in Libya.

They also exchanged views on issues such as sustainable development, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Sudan, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

 

 

Flood peak hits Sichuan, leaving 25 dead, 14 missing

 

The highest flooding in the recorded history of the Qu River has hit Sichuan in southwest China, leaving 25 people dead and 14 others missing.

Torrential rains have caused chaos and destruction in the area since Friday, with more than 83-thousand houses collapsing

So far this month, over 100 people are dead or missing because of severe flooding nationwide.

 

 

Train crash probe 'needs more time'

 

The expert panel investigating the cause of the bullet train crash in east China say more time is needed to finish their final report. 

Results of the probe were expected in mid-September. However, the team says many problems have yet to be analyzed due to technical and management issues. 

The State Council established the panel in late July, shortly after the crash in Wenzhou city, Zhejiang Province, that killed 40 people.

A Chinese railway research institute has taken responsibility for a flaw in signaling equipment that led to the accident.

 

 

US man executed in Georgia for shooting policeman

 

A man has been executed in the US state of Georgia for the fatal shooting of a policeman in 1989.

Troy Davis' death was delayed for hours while the US Supreme Court considered an 11th-hour appeal for clemency and eventually rejected it.

The 42-year-old's case was heavily disputed after most of the witnesses recanted or changed their testimony.

Davis maintained his innocence in his final statement. He was executed by lethal injection.

 

 

Contaminated food kills 3 children in Peru

 

In Peru, three children have died after eating food that became contaminated with pesticide.

The food was donated for a nutrition program at a school in Redondo. 89 children and five adults have been poisoned.

Officials say the food was accidentally contaminated while it was being prepared.

Prosecutors are investigating what happened.