At least 21 people were injured while 126 buildings collapsed after an earthquake measuring 5.5 rattled parts of eastern China early on Sunday morning. The quake occurred near the city of Dezhou, about 300 km (185 miles) south of Beijing, the Chinese capital, at 2.

At least 21 people were injured while 126 buildings collapsed after an earthquake measuring 5.5 rattled parts of eastern China early on Sunday morning. The quake occurred near the city of Dezhou, about 300 km (185 miles) south of Beijing, the Chinese capital, at 2.33 am (1833 GMT). According to China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), a second earthquake struck around 3:02 am, with a magnitude of 3.0, having a depth of 9 kilometres. According to state media agency China Central Television (CCTV), a level four response was launched by China's Ministry of Emergency Management. The earthquake also forced China Railway Group to suspend some train operations on routes including the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and Beijing-Kowloon Railway. Pingyuan, located in the central part of Dezhou, has a population of 420,000. Local authorities immediately launched an emergency plan and deployed seven rescue stations and 16 fire engines. They also dispatched 93 firefighters to the epicentre for rescue and relief efforts. WATCH | China: 6.8 earthquake hit Sichuan province, kills 74 and injures around 259 × “The tremor was so strong… during the earthquake, my head was shaking on the pillow, I thought I was having a nightmare," a Chinese netizen posted on Weibo from Shandong’s neighbouring Hebei province. According to multiple reports, the quake was felt as far away as the cities of Beijing and Tianjin as well as in Shanghai, some 800 kilometres from the epicentre. Watch | Giant oarfish, believed to be a 'harbinger of earthquakes', spotted in Taiwan Despite the strong quake and aftershocks, the water and communications infrastructure were functioning normally. Earthquakes are a regular phenomenon in China but it is rare for them to hit the eastern part of the country where the majority of the population resides. Add the closeness of the quake to the ground and it becomes even more rare. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China rattled by 5.5 magnitude earthquake, several injured, multiple buildings collapse

Protesters took to the streets following the grand jury charges in the Breonna Taylor case on Saturday. Outrage and heartbreak has boiled over into demonstrations in cities across the US.

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A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong

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Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the police officers shot on Wednesday did not have life-threatening injuries

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Amid tensions in South China, a study has said that China has shown the "most interest" in emerging sea routes as climate change melts ice in the Arctic Ocean.

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Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he had secured a “strong majority” from lawmakers to form a new government, seven months after a power grab within the ruling coalition brought down the administration elected in May 2018.

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Italians voted on reducing the size of parliament and in local elections in the government's first test amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Amidst nationwide protests against Belarus’ long-standing authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, the country’s beleaguered leader was sworn in for his sixth consecutive term in a sudden inauguration event on September 22.

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In a rare challenge to President Abdelfattah Elsisi and his government, small protests broke out in several cities across Egypt. The Egyptian authorities sought to prevent the second round of protests on 27 September by shutting down large parts of downtown Cairo and carrying out mass arrests.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that the world's second-biggest economy is facing a period of 'turbulent change' and that rising external markets risk required policymakers to increasingly rely on domestic demand to spur growth.

Xi, chairing a seminar on Monday with a group of policy advisors and state economists, discussed the country's mid- to long-term economic trends in preparation for the drafting of the 14th Five-year plan.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-us-china-relationship-took-a-turn-for-the-worse-314882">How US-China relationship took a turn for the worse</a>

The five-yearly economic blueprint is expected to be unveiled in the annual parliament meeting next year, and Xi said China must be prepared for "a period of turbulent change" as the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated protectionism, hammered the world economy and disrupted supply chains.

"In the coming period, we will face more and more headwinds in the external environment, and we must be prepared to deal with a series of new risks and challenges," he said, according to comments released by state news agency Xinhua late Monday night.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-pandemic-us-china-agree-to-push-forward-phase-one-trade-deal-322902" hreflang="en">Amid pandemic, US, China agree to 'push forward' phase one trade deal</a>

Xi said the domestic market will "dominate the national economic cycle" in the future, but vowed to further open up China's economy.

While Xi didn't make direct references to intensifying US-China tensions, he signaled China's willingness to work on issues with the United States.

"We must actively cooperate with all countries, regions and enterprises who are willing to cooperate with us, including states, localities and enterprises in the United States," he said.

The United States and China have been engaged in nearly two years of tit-for-tat tariffs and angry rhetoric, with tensions between the two economic superpowers spilling into other areas.

The US&nbsp;has sanctioned companies and individuals linked to a security crackdown in Hong Kong and human rights, banned a Chinese owned video app, penalized Chinese academics and closed Beijing’s consulate in Houston in recent months.

Xi also stressed the importance of technological innovation, adding without elaborating that China must "make breakthroughs in key core technologies as soon as possible."

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that the world's second-biggest economy is facing a period of 'turbulent change' and that rising external markets risk required policymakers to increasingly rely on domestic demand to spur growth.

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that the world's second-biggest economy is facing a period of 'turbulent change' and that rising external markets risk required policymakers to increasingly rely on domestic demand to spur growth. Xi, chairing a seminar on Monday with a group of policy advisors and state economists, discussed the country's mid- to long-term economic trends in preparation for the drafting of the 14th Five-year plan. Also see: How US-China relationship took a turn for the worse The five-yearly economic blueprint is expected to be unveiled in the annual parliament meeting next year, and Xi said China must be prepared for "a period of turbulent change" as the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated protectionism, hammered the world economy and disrupted supply chains. "In the coming period, we will face more and more headwinds in the external environment, and we must be prepared to deal with a series of new risks and challenges," he said, according to comments released by state news agency Xinhua late Monday night. Also read: Amid pandemic, US, China agree to 'push forward' phase one trade deal Xi said the domestic market will "dominate the national economic cycle" in the future, but vowed to further open up China's economy. While Xi didn't make direct references to intensifying US-China tensions, he signaled China's willingness to work on issues with the United States. "We must actively cooperate with all countries, regions and enterprises who are willing to cooperate with us, including states, localities and enterprises in the United States," he said. The United States and China have been engaged in nearly two years of tit-for-tat tariffs and angry rhetoric, with tensions between the two economic superpowers spilling into other areas. The US has sanctioned companies and individuals linked to a security crackdown in Hong Kong and human rights, banned a Chinese owned video app, penalized Chinese academics and closed Beijing’s consulate in Houston in recent months. Xi also stressed the importance of technological innovation, adding without elaborating that China must "make breakthroughs in key core technologies as soon as possible."

China: Jinping warns 'period of turbulent change' as external risks rise

The Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak is hitting China's belt and road initiative. Projects funded by China are stuck. Chinese workers are unable to return to work. This report has the details.

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus, China's belt and road projects grind to a halt