Rescue teams, relief materials sent to quake-hit northwest China
Rescue teams from the central government, neighboring areas and armed forces are on their way to northwest China's Qinghai Province, which was hit by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake early Wednesday.
At least 300 people have died and 8,000 others were injured in the quake, which hit Yushu County just before 8a.m., according to the local government.
More than 85 percent of the houses in Jiegu Township, near the epicenter, collapsed and many are believed to be trapped under the debris.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs has initiated its emergency response mechanism, sending tents, clothes and quilts to the region.

Chinese president urges concerted action to enhance nuclear security
Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for collective action by every country in the world to increase nuclear security.
During a speech at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, the Chinese President said better nuclear security measures on an international level should help make it easier for countries to develop peaceful nuclear energy programs.
The 47 countries involved in the summit have agreed to a final communique which says that all nations are responsible for safeguarding nuclear materials and keeping them out of militants’hands.

Obama, Merkel, etc to attend funeral of Polish President - updated
World leaders will travel to Krakow to attend the state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria, later this week.
US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are among the dignitaries that will attend the ceremony on Sunday.
In a latest development, Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry says a total of 97 instead of 96 people were confirmed dead as the Polish president's plane crashed in western Russia Saturday.
So far 64 bodies have been identified.

Bakiyev says not to return to Bishkek for talks with interim government
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev says he will not return to the capital city for talks with the opposition-formed interim government since his safety cannot be guaranteed.
Bakiyev was speaking to the press in southern Kyrgyzstan.
Earlier, the deposed president said he's willing to step down, but wants security for his family and close circle as a condition of his resignation.

Death toll rises to 23 in clashes in Bangkok: emergency center
One more troop and one more civilian have succumbed to injuries inflicted during Saturday's clashes between Thailand's anti-government protesters and soldiers in Bangkok, raising the death toll to 23.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has expressed sorrow for the deaths and promised an independent probe. More than 800 were reported injured during the clashes.

Police seize 210 tons of drugs in past 3 months
Anti-drug police units in Peru have announced they seized 210 tons of chemicals used for producing drugs during the first quarter of the year.
5.5 tons of cocaine and cocaine hydrochloride were also confiscated.
Statistics show that police in the country had uprooted up to 3,000 hectares of coca plants and destroyed 261 laboratories for cocaine production nationwide in the past three months.

Sunken naval warship to be salvaged Thursday
Salvage work for a stern of a sunken South Korean naval warship will begin Thursday morning, as reported by Seoul's Yonhap news agency.
The move raises hopes that bodies of missing sailors will be recovered soon.
The ship with 104 crew members sank late last month into waters near the tense maritime border after an unexplained explosion. 48 were rescued alive and two were found dead.
The 44 missing sailors are believed to be trapped inside the rear part of the vessel.

Former judicial official to receive verdict in China gang crackdown
A former high-ranking judicial official will be sentenced Wednesday afternoon in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.
55-year-old Wen Qiang, former director of the Chongqing Municipal Judicial Bureau, was charged with protecting mafia-style gangs, taking bribes, rape, and owning huge amount of money and assets he could not justify.
He was among many high-ranking local officials prosecuted during a massive crackdown on organized crime launched in Chongqing last June.

Chinese mainland, Taiwan to exchange tourism offices in May
The Chinese mainland and Taiwan will open tourism representative offices on each other's side of the Taiwan Strait in May.
A mainland spokesperson says the offices will provide convenient services for tourists from both sides, with a focus on tourism consultation, advertising, coordination, and dispute settlement.
Taiwan lifted its ban on mainland tourists in June 2008, and the first group of mainland tourists arrived in July that year.

Toyota to halt sales of Lexus GX 460 SUV in U.S.
Japanese carmaker Toyota has suspended the sale of one of its luxury vehicles in the United States after an influential US magazine urged consumers not to buy it for safety reasons.
The Consumer Reports magazine said the Lexus GX 460 SUV may be prone to rollovers.
The automaker has sold about 6,000 of the 2010 version of the vehicle since it was introduced last fall.
Toyota insisted the car was safe.