Hourly News updated 10:00 2011/11/02

 Moderate earthquakes hit western China

More earthquakes continue to rattle 1 China's northwest.
The latest is a 4.5-magnitude quake which hit early this morning in Gansu.
That follows a 5.1-magnitude shaker which hit the northwestern province yesterday afternoon.
And those come less than a day after a quake measuring 5.5 hit along the border area among Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi.
That trembler was followed by a larger, and more devastating 2 6.0-magnitude earthquake which hit Xinjiang's northwest border area with Kazahkstan and Kyrgyzstan. No fatalities 3 have been reported.
 
 
Death toll 4 climbs to 7 in SW China blast, over 200 injured
The death toll from a massive explosion in Guizhou now stands at 7, with at least 25 others in critical condition, following a massive explosion in the city of Fuquan
Two trucks loaded with explosives blew up in front of a vehicle testing station in the city, which is about 100-kilometers east of Guizhou's capital, Guiyang.
The blast destroyed a number of nearby cars, and also did considerable damage to a nearby apartment block.
An estimated 200 people have been hurt in the blast.
 
 
18 workers confirmed dead 6 days after coal mine accident in central China
Searchers in Henan have now given up hope of finding anyone alive, following last week's coal mine explosion in Jiaozuo.
The blast ripped through the mine 6-days ago, trapping the miners underground.
Managers at the state-run mine are being blamed for not doing enough to prevent the gas build-up which led to the blast.
Investigations 6 into the blast are continuing.
 
 
Chinese president visits Mozart residence in Austria
Chinese President Hu Jintao has continued his state visit to Austria and toured Mozart's residence in Salzburg and a farm outside the city.
During his visit to the birthplace of 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Hu Jintao says art can serve as a bridge for communication and a messenger of friendship between different peoples.
He also expressed the hope that China and Austria could strengthen cultural exchanges.
Earlier, The Chinese President toured a farm near Salzburg, which produces 610 tons of milk annually 7.
Following his trip to Austria, Hu will fly to France to attend a summit of the Group of 20, slated 8 for Thursday and Friday in Cannes.
 
 
Israeli ministers demanding all-out offensive in Gaza
Members of the Israeli cabinet are now threatening to demand an all-out assault on Hamas in Gaza.
Following days of rocket attacks and counter-attacks in southern Gaza, a number of members of Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet are now set to call for an emergency meeting to discuss a large-scale operation.
Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman is on record as saying Hamas must "be toppled."
A series of rocket attacks from southern Gaza since the weekend, followed by reprisal 9 attacks by the Israeli airforce, has left close to a dozen people dead, despite attempts by the Egyptian authorities to broker 10 a truce 11.
 
 
Arab League seeks bigger role in Libya's reconstruction 12
The Secretary General of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi, says the regional bloc 5 will play a vital role in Libya's reconstruction.
He has made the comments following a meeting with the outgoing head of Libya's National Transitional Council, Abdel Jalil.
The Arab League is planning to send a delegation 13 to Libya after the end of Ramadan.
At the same time, South African President Jacob Zuma is, again, expressing his concerns over Libya's future.
Zuma says the killing 14 of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi creates an "uneasy feeling" in Libya.
 
 
Syria reaches agreement with Arab League
Syria and the Arab League have now agreed on a plan to end the fighting in Syria.
While details of the plan haven't been revealed, the Syrian government has announced that it's letting all the prisoners who didn't commit murder out of jail.
It's estimated that some 10-thousand people have been detained since the unrest in the country began early this year.
The official announcement of the deal is expected to be released later on this Wednesday by the Arab League in Cairo.
 
 
Yahoo to acquire Interclick for $270 mln
Yahoo has announced that it is buying data-driven advertising 15 network Interclick.
The deal is said to be worth around 270 million U.S. dollars.
Interclick is a technology company that provides data-targeted solutions.
Some analysts 16 say that Interclick's technology could help Yahoo to grow its display advertising market to help it keep pace with Google and Facebook.
Although suffering through some tough financial times, Yahoo still has around 700 million visitors a month.
 
 
Apple iPhone 4S to arrive in China's HK, South Korea
The latest connotation of Apple's iPhone is now set to hit the shelves in a couple of days in Hong Kong.
Apple has announced that the iPhone 4S is going to be on sale in Hong Kong on Friday.
The phone is also going on sale in South Korea and 13 other places on Friday as well.
Still no word on availability on the mainland.
The iPhone 4S, which is essentially 17 the same model as the iPhone 4, but with new hardware, is already coming under fire.
Many of its owners have been complaining that the battery life is not up to expectations.
Apple is reportedly investigating.