Presidents of China, Zambia pledge to elevate relationship
The presidents of China and Zambia have pledged joint efforts to bring bilateral relations to a new high.
After their hour-long talks in Beijing, Chinese President Hu Jintao and and his Zambia counterpart Rupiah Banda witnessed the signing of several cooperative documents ranging from economy to culture.
Banda is on his first state visit to China since becoming Zambian President in 2008. He is scheduled to meet with other Chinese leaders today before going to south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region and economic powerhouse Guangdong.

At least 23 injured in southwest China earthquake
At least 23 people had been injured and many houses were toppled as a 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The earthquake struck in the area between two neighboring counties Lufeng and Yuanmou.
The authorities in Yunnan have sent emergency crew and relief supplies to the area.
Lufeng is known as China's largest source of dinosaur bones. Anthropoid at Lufeng dated back to eight million years ago.

46 detained in southeast China for illegal emigration
Police in southeast China's Fujian Province have detained 46 people, including human smugglers and stowaways, for illegal emigration to Guam, Europe and America.
In one case, 20 human traffickers, or known in Chinese as "snakeheads", were detained in early February. They were found to have smuggled more than 80 people to Europe and America.

Hainan to pilot horse betting
China's tropical province of Hainan has started exploring ways to introduce betting on major international competitions, including horse racing in Hong Kong.
A lottery research center has been set up by the provincial government and a research group has also been established by state authorities.
Gambling is illegal on the Chinese mainland.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, encouraged Hainan in early January to explore and develop pari-mutuel sports betting and instant sports betting on large international events, in an effort to develop the island province into a global tourist resort.

More than 400 people trapped in Xinjiang deadly avalanches
Two avalanches in Xinjiang have killed at least seven people and trapped more than 400 others as rescuers found more people being caught in snow.
Xinjiang has been experiencing the heaviest snow and coldest temperatures in decades this winter.

Former air, navy commanders released after interrogation in Istanbul
Three most senior retired Turkish military officers have been freed by prosecutors after being questioned over an alleged plot to topple the government.
50 senior officers were detain earlier this week, accused of conspiring to topple Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government in 2003.
It was not immediately clear if they could still face charges in connection with the case.
Currently, 20 of the detained officers have been charged and put under arrest in connection with the "Sledgehammer" plot.

Syria, Iran affirm ties despite US calls
Syria has defied U.S. calls to loosen ties with Iran, saying his long-standing alliance with Tehran remains strong.
The U.S. has reached out to Syria in recent months, nominating the first U.S. ambassador to Damascus since 2005 and sending top diplomats to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Washington is hoping to draw Syria away from Iran and the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas.
But Assad said that America should not dictate relationships in the Middle East.
In a show of unity, Asad and visiting Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have signed an agreement to cancel travel visas between their countries.

Obama hosts bipartisan health care summit
U.S. President Barack Obama has convened a bipartisan health care summit.
Over 30 Democratic and Republican lawmakers would discuss how to bridge their differences on the top issue of the country's political agenda.
The meeting is broadcast live across the nation and features four major themes, which are cost control, deficit deduction, insurance reform and expanding coverage.

DPRK threatens military attack over U.S.-South Korea drills
North Korea is threatening a powerful military strike if the United States and South Korea launch joint military exercises.
The DPRK says it will -- quote -- "mercilessly destroy the aggression by mobilizing all offensive and defensive means including nuclear deterrent" if they proceed with the drills next month, which are set to begin on March 8th.
North Korea's official news agency says heavy forces including more than 18,000 U.S. troops deployed in South Korea and overseas are said to be involved in the planned exercises.

India, Pakistan agree to continue dialogue
India and Pakistan have agreed to keep high-level talks going.
This follows Thurdsay's meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart in New Delhi.
Rao told a press conference after the first formal talks between the two since the deadly attack in Mumbai in late 2008, that both sides have promised to keep in touch to restore the trust damaged by the Mumbai attacks.
She also urged Pakistan to do more to crack down on the terror groups behind the attack on Mumbai in November 2008 which left 174 people dead, including nine gunmen.

Yanukovych sworn in as Ukraine's president
Victor Yanukovych has now been sworn as Ukraine's President.
He is now the country's fourth president since the former Soviet republic got its independence in 1991.
Yaunkovych defeated Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in this month's elections.