China has voiced "discontent and opposition" to U.S. criticism on China's new fishing rules in the South China Sea, urging the country not to send wrong signals.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying says for the last 30 years, China's relevant laws and regulations have been implemented normally, without causing any tension. 

She says according to international laws, universal practice and domestic laws, the Chinese government bears the right and obligation to manage the biological and non-biological resources on relevant islands, reefs and in relevant waters.

Hua Chunying urges the U.S. side to respect and support relevant countries' efforts in settling problems via direct dialogue, play a positive role and avoid sending wrong signals.

 

Scientists awarded natl prize, premier stresses innovation

Two Chinese scientists have won the country's top science award for their outstanding contribution to scientific and technological innovation.

Physical chemist Zhang Cunhao and physicist Cheng Kaijia have won China's top science award for 2013.

Zhang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is an expert on chemical laser and molecular dynamics. 

Cheng Kaijia, the other winner, is a pioneer of Chinese nuclear technology.

He played an important role in the development of China's first atomic bomb.

 

China exports growth down in December; total 2013 trade surpass 4 billion USD

Chinese exports rose nearly 8 percent last year.

Customs authorities have released data for December and all of 2013, showing exports generated more-than 2.2 trillion US dollars in revenue.

Imports jumped more than 3 percent to 1.95 trillion.

Combined, the import-export total exceeds 4 trillion US dollars, the first time that has ever happened.

This makes China the world's largest trader in terms of volume.

 

Central African Republic president resigns

Central Africa Republic's interim President Michel Djotodia (mee-SHEHL joh-toh-JAH) has resigned.

He has made the decision at a regional summit designed to end violence in his country.

The country's prime minister Nicolas Tiangaye (NEE-koh-lah chahng-EYE) has also resigned.

CAR's entire transitional assembly is attending a meeting in Chad to decide on new leadership.

Djotodia came to power last year but has since failed to garner public support and end the violence between Christian and Muslim militias.

U.S. regrets over India's expulsion of American diplomat

The United States says it "deeply regrets" over India's expulsion of an American diplomat amid an ongoing diplomatic row.

State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki says this has clearly been a challenging time in the U.S.-India relationship.

The tit-for-tat move came hours after Devyani Khobragade, the Indian diplomat at the heart of the diplomatic row festering and straining bilateral ties over the past month, was indicted on Thursday in a New York court on charges of visa fraud and asked to leave the United States immediately. 

Khobragade, who returned to New Delhi on Friday, is not permitted to return to the United States, "except to submit to the jurisdiction of the court."

 

Former Israeli PM Sharon in 'grave' condition

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's health has deteriorated sharply.

Doctors say the former leader is now in grave condition.

Sharon has been in a coma since suffering a stroke eight years ago. 

The 85-year-old experienced a setback last week with a decline in kidney function, and in several other organs.

 

63 penalized over Sinopec pipeline explosion

Altogether 63 people have been penalized over a fatal pipeline explosion that claimed 62 lives in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao on Nov. 22.

Among them, 48 received punishments for violating Party and administrative discipline, and 15 others have been transferred to judicial organs for alleged crimes.

Sinopec has responded by saying that it would absolutely submit to the penalties and will bear in mind the "lesson of blood." 

It said in a statement that it will continue to cooperate with local government in handling the aftermath of the accident and overhaul safety hazards in its pipeline network.

 

China lowers gasoline, diesel prices

China's top economic planner has lowered gasoline and diesel prices for the first time this year.

The benchmark retail price of gasoline dropped by 0.09 yuan per liter and that of diesel down by 0.1 yuan per liter on Saturday.

 

Chinese police target online train ticket scalping/xinhua

Chinese authorities are going after people who are trying to scalp railway tickets online, ahead of the Spring Festival travel rush.

Railway police in the country have set up a task force to monitor sales on ticket booking websites.

They are looking for irregular transactions, like individuals buying dozens of train tickets all at once.

The Ministry of Public Security says on Wednesday a woman surname Liao was caught buying 81 tickets at a booth in Xiamen.

She apparently confessed to using fake IDs to book 186 tickets online since October, reselling them at inflated prices.

The Lunar New Year falls on the 31st, with the annual travel rush officially beginning on January 16th.

China Railway Corporation expects to serve nearly 260 million passengers during the 40-day travel period.