Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has outlined the central government's major economic policies ahead of a key party meeting this weekend

Li Keqiang has made the policy statement following a meeting with several senior provincial governors.

The Chinese premier is emphasizing the need to manage the economy "within a reasonable range", saying any massive disruptions could derail the economy and make it "very difficult" to recover.

He laid out several major policy directions being promoted by his administration, including streamling the government, delegating powers to local authorities, urban renovation, stabilizing consumer prices and job creation.

The four-day plenary session this weekend is expected to include discussions on a host of major new policies.

 

Chinese Premier voices hope to advance BIT negotiation

Meantime, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says he hopes China and the United States can advance negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty.

He says the two sides need to convert their complementary advantages into cooperation.

The Premier has made the comments while meeting with former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson here in Beijing.

 

P5+1 talks started in Geneva over Iran nuclear issues

A new round of nuclear talks among Iran and the P5+1 grouping is underway in Geneva.

Ahead of the session, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif has expressed guarded optimism about the possiblity of reaching a tenative agreement this week.

Representatives of the 5-permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, are also sounding optimistic.

The White House says world powers may consider offering limited sanction relief if Iran takes concrete steps to halt its nuclear activities.

At the same time, the Chinese government has issued a new statement, calling for flexibility and pragmatisim in this latest round of negotiations.

 

Israeli forces shoot dead Palestinian in West Bank

Adding to the already-existing tensions, Israeli forces have shot and killed a Palestinian man at a check point in the West Bank.

The man was shot and killed after firing a flare gun at Israeli soldiers at the check point near the city of Nablus.

No Israeli soldiers were hurt in the attack.

The incident comes amid a visit to the region by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who has been working with both the Palestinians and the Israelis to try to hammer out the details of a lasting peace accord.

Tensions are already running high following allegations by Hamas that Israel is responsible for the poisioning death of former PLA leader Yasser Arafat.

New analysis delivered to the Palestinian authorities this week is suggesting Arafat may have died as the result of poisoning through radioactive Polonium.

The Israeli side has denied any involvement in Arafat's death.

 

Kurdish Turks protest building wall along Syrian border

Massive demonstrations have been taking place in southeastern Turkey, where the local Kurdish population has been protesting the planned construction of a wall between the Turkish-Syrian border.

Thousands of local Kurds have taken to the streets, demanding Ankara back down on its plans to build the 2.5-kilometer barrier.

Riot police had to use tear gas to dispurse the crowds after the demonstrations turned violent.

The local Kurdish community is upset with the planned wall, saying it will divide communities and families living in a town just across the border on the Syrian side.

Turkish authorities contend the proposed wall is meant to prevent smuggling.

When the current international borders were drawn up in the region following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, many ethnic communities - including the Kurdish population - were left separated in different countries.

Kurdish rebels have been fighting for decades for their own separate homeland in southeastern Turkey and the northern parts of Syria and Iraq.

 

Greek opposition tables no confidence motion in gov't over raid at former broadcaster

Greece's main opposition has tabled a no confidence motion against the government.

The radical-left SYRIZA party has called for the vote over a police raid earlier in the day at the headquarters of former state television and radio broadcaster ERT.

Greek police have removed protesters from the ERT's premises, which had been occupied since June.

A group of former employees had been occupying the building in objection to the broadcaster's shutdown and replacement by a new, leaner entity. 

The break up of the protest, which ended with no injuries, has sparked fierce reactions by labor unions and opposition parties.

The conservative coalition of Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras holds a slim majority in the parliament.

As such, should his government MP's stand against the no-confidence motion, Samaras' government should survive the vote.

 

Thai PM urges end to anti-amnesty demonstrations

Thailand's Prime Minister has taken to the airwaves, pleading for an end to anti-amnesty protests which have been sweeping across Bangkok.

In a televised speech, Yingluck Shinawatra has called on the protesters to bring an end to their rallies, saying she's concerned the growing protests will have a negative influence on the country. 

She also says her government has aborted its plans to push forward the amnesty bill.

The televised plea comes after Thailand's House of Representatives agreed to drop six amnesty-related bills from its agenda.

Yingluck also says her government will not try to force the current amnesty bill through the Senate, which is expected to reject the move.

The controversial bill would give a blanket pardon to those involved in the 2006 political unrest which eventually toppled Thaksin Shinawatra's government and forced the current Prime Minister's older brother to flee into exile.