Chinese space experts say weather forecasts show that Thursday or Friday might be suitable for launching the Tiangong-1 spacecraft, the prototype of China's space lab.

The unmanned Tiangong-I is part of China's first spacecraft rendezvous and docking mission.

The rocket that will send Tiangong-I into space has arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest Gansu Province.

All systems of the Tiangong-1 project went through a joint maneuver Sunday afternoon.

 

 

Eurozone rescue plan "emerging":BBC

 

The outline of a large and ambitious eurozone rescue plan is taking shape, according to reports from the International Monetary Fund.

The BBC says the plan is expected to involve a 50% write-down of Greece's massive government debt.

It also envisages an increase in the size of the European Union bailout fund to 2 trillion euros or 2.7 trillion US dollars.

European governments hope to have the plan in place in five to six weeks. 

The reports about the emerging rescue plan come after the annual meeting of the IMF in Washington.

 

 

Yemeni president says remains committed to implementing GCC initiative on power transfer

 

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh says he remains committed to implementing the Gulf Cooperation Council's initiative on power transfer.

Saleh was delivering his first speech since he returned to Yemen Friday after receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. He was severely injured in an attack on the presidential palace in June.

Saleh also promised to hold early presidential and parliamentary elections in the country once a peace deal is reached between his government and the opposition.

"We re-iterate today that we are committed to the Gulf initiative in its form and (committed) to signing it through the Vice-President Abbd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi who has been given authority by an active presidential decree that allows him to enter dialogue, sign the initiative and agree the procedures to implement it, so we can get the country out of this dangerous crisis."

When Saleh was speaking, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in central Sanaa, demanding his resignation.

 

 

Saudi king says women allowed to contest in next municipal elections: TV

 

In a marked turn, the King of Saudi Arabia has announced that women are going to be allowed to vote, and run, in the next municipal elections in 2015.

King Abdullah has also proclaimed that women will be allowed to join the Shura Council.

Abdullah says the Kingdom refuses to marginalize women in all walks of society.

Saudi Arabia, which adheres to a strict version of Sunni Islam, doesn't allow women to travel, receive operations, or drive without a man with them.

 

 

Pakistani PM calls back FM over U.S. charge

 

Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Gilani has recalled his Foreign Minister from the UN General Assembly.

The move comes following US accusations that Gilani's government is supporting the Taliban. 

Outgoing U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Mike Mullen has accused Pakistan's spy agency of supporting the Haqqani network.

The network is believed to have carried out an attack on the U.S. embassy in Kabul two weeks ago which left 25 people dead.

 

 

Five students killed in traffic accident in North China

 

A minibus carrying 11 students to school has collided with a heavy-duty truck in north China's Shanxi Province, killing five teenagers.

The rest and the driver were injured.

The accident occurred early this morning in the city of Jinzhong. 

Police have launched an investigation.

 

 

DPRK Premier starts China visit

 

North Korean Premier Choe Yong Rim has arrived in Beijing to begin a five-day visit to China as the guest of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

Choe will also visit Shanghai and east China's Jiangsu Province.

 

 

China will test qualification of its 2 million police officers

 

Police officers across China are being forced to sit for a qualification exam.

The roughly 2-million police officers will have to sit the exam before they can be activated for duty next year. 

Those that pass won't have to sit the qualification exams for another 5 years.

The police officers are being forced to take the exams to press home the need for a better understanding of Chinese rules and regulations.

 

 

U.S. swimmer Diana Nyad fails to cross Florida Strait

 

A 62-year-old US woman has given up her third attempt to swim across the Florida Strait after she was bitten by jellyfish.

Diana Nyad was trying to be the first person to swim across the Florida Strait without a steel shark cage. She withdrew her attempt 40 hours after she left Havana. She had covered two thirds of the 166 km total distance. 

Nyad tried to cross the strait first in 1978 but withdrew due to the bad weather after 42 hours in the sea. Last month she had a second attempt in which she covered half of the distance in 29 hours. 

Nyad said her dream still continues.