Iran concludes 10-day navy drill

伊朗10天军演结束

Iran has successfully test-fired three more missiles, including a long-range shore-to-sea missile, on the final day of its 10-day naval exercises in the Persian Gulf.

Iranian navy commander Habibulah Sayari.

"The Strait of Hormuz is in our possession. Security of the Strait is in our control and the Strait is in our total control."

The long-range missile is reported to have an improved accuracy.

The drills came during tensions in the Persian Guld, with Iranian officials threatening to shut down the Strait of Hormuz if international sanctions initiated on the country's oil exports.

However, Iranian officials contend they have no plans to close the straight in the immediate.

AL chief calls for end to shootings in Syria

阿盟主要负责人呼吁叙利亚停止枪击行为

The head of the Arab League is now confirming reports of snipers active across a number of cities in Syria.

Nabil al-Arabi is issuing a new call for the snipers to stand down.

"What about rumors that shootings are still occurring? Yes, this is true. What about rumors that snipers continue to operate in some cities? Yes, this is true. I spoke to the head of the observer's delegation and we want all kinds of violence to end."

At the same time, al-Arabi says the Syrian military has pulled back from residential areas and is on the outskirts of the country's cities.

The Arab League says that authorities have now released some 35-hundred prisoners since the International Monitors arrived in the country.

Nigeria fury as fuel prices double after subsidy ends

Nigerians are fuming, following a government move to eliminate a fuel subsidy.

The move has more than doubled the price at the pumps in many parts of Nigeria.

"if you want to remove fuel subsidy, we are not saying you shouldn't do it, do it at the right time where you have put the road in order, make all the employers get results from what they are working for"

"I believe some countries their price is more than this, but their government is doing well, but if our government will follow like other countries, then fine, we don't have problem, but if they know that they can not be able to do well for the masses, then I believe they have to reduce it."

There have already been number small protests, and the trade unions in Nigeria have been calling for a large-scale strike.

Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer, but is a net-importer of petrol because of a lack of refining capasity brought on by years of corruption and mismanagement.

Suspect arrested in string of arson fires in L.A.

洛杉矶新年纵火案嫌疑人被捕

Authorities in Los Angeles have now made an arrest in connection with the string of arsons that have been plaguing the Hollywood area over the past week.

A 55-year old German national is being held in connection with the over 50 fires that have been set throughout the New Year's holiday.

Police haven't released the suspect's name, but say the 55-year old is upset about the recent deportation of his mother.

Although no one has been seriously hurt in any of the fires, property damage is estimated at around 2-million US dollars.

Officials in Los Angeles say the string of arsons are the worst the city has seen since the Rodney King riots of 1992.

Health authorities identify virus leading to Guangdong bird flu death

Health authorities in Guangdong have now identified the virus that led to the death of a local bus driver.

Genetic analysis of the virus indicates that it is similar to a virus found in dead migrant birds discovered in Hong Kong last month.

However, health authorities say they don't know yet if the case in Guangdong is related to migrant birds.

A 39-year-old man, tested positive for the H5N1 virus, died of multiple organ failure last week in Shenzhen.

The source of his infection remains unclear, as the man didn't have any contact with poultry in the month leading up to his being hospitalized.

China eyes increased coal-bed methane output to reduce coal mine deaths

The central authorities here in China have issued a new plan to try to extract 30 billion cubic meters of coal-bed methane by 2015 to try to reduce deadly coal mine accidents.

The National Development and Reform Commission's new plan would see coal-bed methane extraction here in China satisfy the power needs of 3.2 million households by 2015.

The new plan is expected to help reduce the number of deadly coal mining accidents here in China by 40%.

Methane gas found within coal deposits is the leading cause of coal mine accidents.

Chinese families head to science museums for holiday

中国许多家庭假日参观科学博物馆

Chinese science museums are reporting an increase in its number of visitors during the 3 day New Year holiday.

Statistics show around 9-thousand people visited the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing on Sunday.

That's up 68 percent from a year ago.

In contrast, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, two of the city's most-visited tourist sites, only registered growth rates of 13 percent and 19 percent on the same day.