Iran’s Revolutionary Guards will hold new naval exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz in February, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Taiwan’s president appealed to protesters to keep rallies peaceful as the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit since 1949 arrived on the island for economic talks today amid a warming of ties between the long-time rivals.

Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today any Western attempt to punish Tehran ovr its nuclear programme would jeopardise energy shipments, an implied threat to try to close the Strait of Hormuz choke point, through which much of the world’s oil supplies must pass.

Ciaran Giles, SPAIN has activated a costly system of radars and extra-sensitive cameras with night vision along its southern coast in a bid to crack down on trafficking of immigrants and drugs between Morocco and Spain, the government said yesterday.