Iran refuses bilateral meeting with U.S. in Istanbul
Iranian chief negotiator Saeed Jalili, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, refused a request from the United States for a bilateral meeting in Turkey's Istanbul Saturday.
The United Nations Security Council's five permanent members plus Germany (P5+1) held crucial talks with Iran in Istanbul Saturday, in the hope of suspending Iran's controversial nuclear program.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton described the nuclear talks as "constructive and useful" .
The next meeting between Iran and the P5+1, will be held on May 23 in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
Chinese top political advisor calls for closer China-New Zealand cooperation on reconstruction
Chinese top political advisor Jia Qinglin has proposed to enhance bilateral cooperation in disaster prevention and reconstruction between China and New Zealand.
He made the remarks Sunday in a meeting with Bob Parker, mayor of the earthquake-hit Christchurch in southern New Zealand .
Jia Qinglin called on the two countries to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in disaster prevention and reconstruction.
Christchurch is the first stop of Jia Qingin's four-day official good- will visit to New Zealand. He will also travel to Wellington, the capital city.
DPRK stages military parade to celebrate 100th birthday of Kim Il Sung

朝鮮閱兵紀念金日成
North Korea staged massive celebrations in Pyongyang's main square on Sunday with a grand military parade to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding leader Kim Il Sung.
In a speech delivered at the event, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Kim Jong Un called upon the whole nation to stick to the path blazed by his predecessors and strive to win new victories.
The military parade is among the festivities to mark the centennial of the birth of Kim Il Sung, who passed away in 1994.
Four Russian warships leave Vladivostok for joint exercise with China
Four warships from Russia's Pacific Fleet, as well as its support vessels, warplanes, helicopters and naval infantry, left Vladivostok Sunday for a joint exercise with Chinese navy.
The Russian warships are expected to arrive in China next Sunday for the exercise slated for April 22-27 in the Yellow Sea.
More than 20 Russian and Chinese warships and support vessels will be involved in the war game.
Sixth Americas summit opens, with regional cooperation in focus
The Sixth Summit of the Americas, a gathering of heads of state and government from the Western Hemisphere, opened in Colombia's Caribbean resort city of Cartagena on Saturday.
The two-day event, with a theme of "Connecting the Americas: Partners for Prosperity," offers regional leaders a platform to discuss policy issues of common interest and outstanding challenges like development and security.
Death toll in Shanxi colliery flooding rises to 10
The death toll in a colliery flooding in north China's Shanxi Province has risen to 10, as rescuers found one more body from the flooded pit this morning.
Rescuers are continuing the search for another trapped miner under the Shanfu Coal Mine, in Xiangyuan county of Changzhi city.
The mine owner initially claimed only nine miners were trapped. But authorities later found all together 11 workers were working under the mine when the accident happened Friday morning.
Investigators found the mine had already had its production license expired.
Twenty-one people, including the owner and the manager, have been taken custody. Police have also frozen the mine's assets and bank account.
Colliery flooding kills at least 5 in central China
At least five people died after a coal mine was flooded in central China's Henan province Saturday afternoon.
The accident happened around 4 p.m. at a coal mine in Shilong district of Pingdingshan city. The total number of workers underground is unknown.
Building collapse kills five, injures four in east China city
A building collapse triggered by an explosion in a nearby garage in east China's Fujian Province has killed at least five and seriously injured four others.
Rescuers are searching in the debris for more survivors.
The accident happened this morning when the explosion ripping through the garage toppled down a four-story building in Daji Village, Longyan City.
The building is a residential complex owned by Shubang Coal Mine.
Premier Wen vows greater anti-corruption resolve
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has promised more resolute measures to curb abuse of power and combat corruption in an article to be carried Monday by an influential magazine of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
In its final year of tenure, the government will continue to work for a clean government, further deepen reforms and improve institutional building, according to Wen's article to be published by Qiushi, or "Seeking Truth."