TAIPEI - A STRONG 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Taiwan on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said, the biggest tremor to strike the island so far this year.
The epicentre of the quake, which occurred at 9.02pm (1302 GMT) was 25 kilometres (15 miles) south-east of the eastern city of Hualien, according to the USGS.
WASHINGTON - A TREACHEROUS, frightful wintry storm slammed the US East Coast on Saturday and dumped more than a foot (30 centimetres) of snow in some areas, hampering travellers and shoppers on the weekend before Christmas.
Forecasts called for up to 20 inches (50cm) of snow across the region, including Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and reaching up to New York. About 16 inches (40cm) fell west of Charlottesville, Virginia, and 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30cm) had already fallen in the US capital, the National Weather Service said.
BELGRADE (Serbia) - THE European Union on Saturday opened its borders unrestricted to more than ten million Serbs, Montenegrins and Macedonians after nearly 20 years, a major boost for the troubled region's hopes for closer ties with the 27-nation bloc.
The three western Balkan nations celebrated the lifting of visas with fireworks, concerts and all-night festivities, marking a significant milestone for citizens who have long felt shunned by the rest of Europe.
COPENHAGEN - UN SECRETARY-GENERAL Ban Ki Mooon on Saturday praised the deal at the Copenhagen climate summit as an 'essential beginning' but admitted it did not achieve all that was hoped.
'It may not be everything we hoped for, but this decision of the Conference of Parties is an essential beginning,' Mr Ban told reporters in the Danish capital.
