China and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to increase their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambaev have signed-off on the joint declaration in the Kyrzyg capital Bishkek.

The two sides have also signed off on agreements connected to electricity, energy, transportation, agriculture and border cooperation.

Xi Jinping is in Kyrgyzstan as part of the last leg of his current trip to central Asia.

He's due to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization before returning to China.

 

2013 Summer Davos opens in Dalian

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says the country's economy has entered a crucial stage of transformation.

The premier made the remarks at the opening ceremony of this year's Summer Davos forum.

Li Keqiang says China needs to rely on reforms to ensure the long-term, sustainable and healthy development of its economy. 

The premier stresses that a comprehensive reform must include the economic system, among which reform in the financial area is a crucial part. 

The forum kicked off in the port city of Dalian Wednesday, and will run through Friday.

 

China reiterates Huangyan Islands sovereignty

The Chinese government has issued a new statement, re-issuing its claim of undisputed sovereignty over the Huangyan Islands and neighboring areas in the South China Sea.

The Chinese foreign ministry is calling on the Philippines not to stir up new trouble. 

The Chinese government is also calling on the Philppines to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The Philippines is accusing the Chinese government of setting up concrete foundations on Huangyan Island.

 

UN Security Council permanent members meet closed doors for key resolution

The five permanent members of the UN security council are now meeting in New York to discuss Russia's plan on Syria's chemical weapons stockpile. 

The proposal involves Syria handing over its chemical weapons stockpiles to international control and their ultimate destruction.

Earlier, the proposal led US President Obama to put military action against Syria on hold to give time for a diplomatic path.

Obama has also sent US Secretary of State John Kerry to Geneva to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Russian proposal.

The Chinese government has reiterated its support for the security council to act with consensus on Syria.

Meantime, the UN Commission of Inquiry has in its latest report attributed seven massacres in Syria to the government and one to the rebels.

The report also states that torture and rape are widespread and war crimes are being committed on both sides.

 

Obama observe 12th 911 anniversary

U.S. President Barack Obama has observed a moment of silence in memory of those who died in the 9/11 attack 12-years ago. 

Names of victims have been read at a ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza in New York.

None of the political figures at the ceremonies made comment.

The terrorist attack killed nearly 3-thousand people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

 

Egyptian army deploys more troops in Sinai after 9 killed in car bombing

At least nine people have been killed in two car bomb attacks on security personnel in Egypt's North Sinai.

Another seven people, including three women are injured.

Egyptian security said the two bombings were carried out by suicide bombers.

Both attacks were targeted at army intelligence headquarters in the region.

The Egyptian army has since poured in more troops to quell the violence in the restive peninsula.

Sinai-based Islamist militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Islamist extremists have been staging daily attacks on the army checkpoints and police stations in Sinai since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3.

 

30 killed, 55 wounded in suicide attack Iraq's capital

At least 30 people have been killed and 55 others wounded in a suicide attack in Iraq at a Shiite mosque in northern Baghdad on Wednesday.

Authorities are taking heavy-handed measures in an effort to quell rising violence in the country.

A huge numbers of cars have been ordered off the roads.

Sectarian violence has surged in Iraq in recent months, reaching its highest level since 2008.

More than 5,000 people have been killed and 12,000 injured so far this year

 

Indian court defers sentencing of 4 convicts in Delhi gangrape case till Friday

An Indian court has decided to defer the sentencing of four men convicted of a brutal gangrape until Friday.

The prosecution in the case is demanding the death penalty.

The defense counsel is calling for leniency.

The men have been convicted this week of brutally gang-raping a 23-year-old student onboard a moving bus in December.

The young woman later died of her injuries.

 

Scandal-hit Taiwan legislative chief expelled from party

The head of Taiwan's legislature has been expelled from Kuomintang party for his alleged involvement in a lobbying scandal.

Without KMT membership, Wang Jin-pyng will lose his qualification as a legislator and will no longer chair the legislative body.

Wang is accused of lobbying prosecutors not to appeal a case involving a senior lawmaker of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

Then head of the island's justice authority has already resigned in connection with the scandal.