IN BRIEF (Page 12)

China

Li congratulates Merkel on victory

Premier Li Keqiang talked by telephone on Tuesday with his German counterpart Angela Merkel. Offering congratulations on the victory of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union in Sunday's federal election, Li went on to say encouraging progress has been made in bilateral relations and cooperation since he visited Germany in May. China appreciates the positive role Germany has played in facilitating a proper settlement of the China-EU trade disputes and stands ready to advance China-Germany relations from a long-term strategic perspective, he said.

Premier praises Hun Sen on win

China on Tuesday congratulated Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on his re-election. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei also extended congratulations on the opening of the new Cambodian National Assembly. He said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory message to Hun Sen. As traditional friendly neighbors, China and Cambodia have made substantial progress in their strategic cooperative partnership that has benefited both peoples, Hong said.

Pakistan

7.7-magnitude quake kills 33

A huge earthquake hit southwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 33 people, toppling scores of homes and sending people around the region rushing into the streets in panic. The 7.7-magnitude quake centered in Baluchistan province's Awaran district was felt as far afield as New Delhi and Dubai, residents said.

Mumbai bomb probe begins

Investigators from Islamabad began cross-examining witnesses in Mumbai on Tuesday over the deadly attacks on the Indian city in 2008, after seven people in Pakistan were charged over the carnage. Ten heavily armed men stormed a luxury hotel and other targets in Mumbai nearly five years ago, killing 166 people in the three-day attack, which India blamed on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group.

Philippines

Monsoon uproots 70,000 people

The Philippine government said on Tuesday that nearly 70,000 people have been displaced by recent floods caused by typhoon-enhanced monsoon rains that hit the northern part of the country, and the government is focused on assisting the victims. Philippines' deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the relevant government agencies are attending to the 15,863 families of 69,747 individuals who were affected by the monsoon rains.

Xinhua-AFP

(China Daily 09/25/2013 page12)