Super typhoon Haugupit, the worst to hit Guangdong in more than a decade, claimed six lives and has wrecked havoc in South China.
It made landfall in Maoming, Guangdong, on Wednesday morning, bringing torrential rain and high waves to the Pearl River Delta.
Packing winds of 200 km per hour, Hagupit has since weakened and continues to trail off as it moves north-westward.
Nightclub fire in Shenzhen
The deputy director of Longgang district, Shenzen, has been dismissed and police have arrested 13 other people, in relation to a deadly nightclub fire on Saturday.
Forty-three people have died, and the number of people in critical condition has risen from four to nine.
It is believed that fireworks used during a show in the illegal club set the ceiling on fire and rapidly engulfed the whole club.
Bomb blast in Islamabad, Pakistan
A massive suicide attack on the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, has left 53 people dead.
The Interior Ministry said 266 people were wounded, 11 of them foreigners, after the bomber blew up a truck packed with 600 kg of explosives.
The attack was staged hours after new President Asif Ali Zardari made his first address to parliament, calling for terrorism to be rooted out.
Livni closer to PM job
Israel’s chief negotiator with the Palestinians and Foreign Affairs minister, Tzipi Livni, is one step closer to becoming Israel’s next Prime Minister.
She won an internal election within the ruling Kadima party to replace embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
President Simon Peres has given her the mandate to put together a coalition government in 42 days. Failure to do so would lead to an early election.
IN-DEPTH
Shenzhou VII blasts off
The Shenzhou VII blasts off tonight, the first Chinese astronaut walk in space will likely to do so on Saturday, around 4:30pm.
With its Long March II-F carrier rocket, the spacecraft will lift off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at between 9 pm and 10:30 pm this evening.
In the days leading up to the launch, scientists simulated the ignition of the rocket and the in-flight moves of the capsule to test how the observation, control and communication systems at the command center would work.
During the mission, one of the three astronauts will conduct China's first spacewalk.
Milk food crisis continues
Four babies have died and over 53,000 are ill in China after drinking milk contaminated with melamine.
The children were diagnosed with urinary tract infections, including kidney stones and are being treated in hospital or convalescing.
On the weekend, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Li Keqiang visited children and families in hospital.
Wen promised the government would do all it can to step up food quality production.
Meanwhile, the head of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine resigned on Monday.
Li Changjiang took responsibility for not handling the milk food scandal, being the highest official to lose his job.
Four children in Hong Kong also have sickened from milk products. Hong Kong as well as Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan have banned, suspended or recalled Chinese milk products.
Wen goes to the UN
Premier Wen Jiabao is in New York attending the UN meeting-- the Millennium Development Goals.
He will address two meetings, and giving speeches to further outline China’s development objectives.
Representatives from some 150 countries, including more than 90 heads of state or governments are expected to attend the summit.
The aim of the meeting is to further realize the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
During his three-day visit, Wen is expected to meet world leaders, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, overseas Chinese and foreign media.
PICTURE News
60th Emmy Awards
Mad Men, about the New York advertising industry in the 1960s, and John Adams, about America’s second president won top honors at the 60th Emmy Awards on Sunday.
Best comedy series went to 30 Rock, starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin.
The awards were hosted by Tom Bergeron, William Shatner and model Heidi Klum.
No home advantage at Beijing Open
Wednesday was not a good one for Chinese tennis players as four of them, including China’s number one Li Na, bowed out of the first round of the China Open in straight sets.
The Chinese women failed to continue their form one month after the Olympics despite the high hopes of home fans.
Olympic semifinalist Li slipped to a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) defeat against Italy's Francesca Schiavone.
World Trade Center dig exposes Ice Age rocks
Crews excavating the site of the World Trade Center have uncovered features carved into the bedrock by glaciers about 20,000 years ago.
The huge pothole has given scientists a rare window into the deep past and formations.
But the reminders of the glaciers won’t be around much longer as the pothole and other features will be covered, filled in or blasted away.
（英語點津 Helen 編輯）
" style="WIDTH: 618px; HEIGHT: 2px" title="">
" style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 120px" title="">Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
" style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 80px" title="">Dylan Quinnell is a freelance journalist and photographer from New Zealand who has worked in TV, print, film and online. With a strong interest in international affairs, he has worked in Denmark, Indonesia and Australia, covering issues like the EU, indigenous people and deforestation. Dylan is in Beijing on an Asia New Zealand grant working as a copy editor for the English news department.
" style="WIDTH: 618px; HEIGHT: 2px" title="">
" style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 120px" title="">Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
" style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 80px" title="">Dylan Quinnell is a freelance journalist and photographer from New Zealand who has worked in TV, print, film and online. With a strong interest in international affairs, he has worked in Denmark, Indonesia and Australia, covering issues like the EU, indigenous people and deforestation. Dylan is in Beijing on an Asia New Zealand grant working as a copy editor for the English news department.