Six new cases of the H7N9 bird flu were reported in China on Friday, as more live poultry markets in the country were shut down.

One of the new cases has already been deadly.

The victim, a 67-year-old woman, was found dead in Guangdong. Her case is one of five in that province.

The other involves a 75-year-old woman in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. She is listed in critical condition.

for Shane, bjh-hourly: China's New Year's Eve fires kill 10

10 people have been killed by fire across China on the eve of Spring Festival.

More than a thousand fires were reported between 8 p.m. Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday.

This, despite nationwide police patrols looking for fire hazards, and nearly 180-thousand firefighters standing by.

It's a tradition for Chinese people to light fireworks during Spring Festival to bring good fortune, but lighting firecrackers is an easy way to cause fires.

 

China Exclusive: "Green" fireworks fail to curb pollution

It seems that the 'green' fireworks introduced to help curb smog during Spring Festival have failed to have the desired effect.

The product is made with improved black powder and other chemicals, and shouldn't effect PM2.5 readings.

But those fireworks are about 10-to-15 percent effective, and a store owner in Shanxi province says the green alternative has not been selling as well as officials may have hoped.

In Beijing, people have been asked to replace fireworks with flowers and electronic substitutes, to curb smog in the capital.

Syria peace talks conclude with no concrete progress

The Syria peace talks have concluded with no concrete progress.

UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi told reporters that this round of Syria talks was a "difficult start" and progress was slow, but the sides "have become used to sitting in the same room" and have "engaged in an acceptable manner." 

Brahimi suggested the next round of talks resume on Feb. 10, which was agreed by the delegates of the opposition while those of the government side said that they needed to consult with Damascus first.

 

Russia urges mediators not to place new demands on Iran/xinhua

A senior Russian diplomat is urging the six world powers involved in the Iranian nuclear talks not to submit new demands on Tehran.

The official says such a move would undermine the trust that's been established between Iran and the P5+1 nations.

Those nations are being advised to adhere strictly to the interim nuclear deal reached in Geneva in November.

Under the deal, Iran has suspended a uranium enrichment program in exchange for the easing of western sanctions.

 

S. Korea slams Abe's comments over disputed islets

South Korea's government has issued a statement denouncing the latest remarks from Japan's prime minister regarding an ongoing territorial dispute.

Shinzo Abe has said that Tokyo is considering requesting a hearing before the International Court of Justice.

The argument is over some islets off the east coast of Korea, called Dokdo by the South Korean side and Takeshima by the Japanese.

South Korea's foreign ministry has dismissed Abe's comments as "empty rhetoric and a meaningless thing."

Thai court announces not to issue injunction over emergency state

Thai Civil Court has decided not to issue an injunction over the legality of the emergency state decree, issued earlier this month by the government.

The court announced that as the decree does not state that the government will crack down against protesters, there is no need to issue a suspension.

Britain, France vow to strengthen cooperation in defense, nuclear energy

British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande have agreed to beef up the two countries' cooperation in defense, nuclear energy and climate policy.

Britain and France inked the cooperation deals at the UK-France Summit 2014 held in Britain.

Ukrainian president signs amnesty bill, repeals anti-protest law

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed into law a bill that grants amnesty to all detained protesters and approved the repeal of controversial legislation that has fueled the mass riots in Ukraine.

The amnesty law envisages that the police would free all protesters arrested during demonstrations since Nov. 21, on conditions that they abandon the buildings they have seized within 15 days. 

The amnesty bill and the scrap of controversial legislation are part of the series of concessions from Yanukovych to opposition aimed at ending the two-month protests, which left at least four people dead and hundreds others, including police officers, injured.

AU summit wraps up with strong echoes for continued pursuit of peace and development

African leaders have wrapped up their 22nd summit in the Ethiopian capital, vowing to continue the push for a more peaceful, integrated and prosperous Africa. 

Newly appointed chairperson of the continental body, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, said Africa is fully aware of the tasks and challenges that lie ahead of its development path, and would strive to build capacity to respond to the tasks and challenges. 

He stressed the need for expeditious operationalization of an African Standby Force to resolve conflicts, and encouraged member states to contribute to the force.