Shenzhou-9 full-system drill a success: official

The Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft mission has successfully completed its first full-system drill. All relevant systems including astronauts, the spacecraft, rocket, launch center as well as surveillance, control and communication systems appeared well-organized and coordinated.
Commander of the launch site Cui Jijun.
"Technical conditions and equipment are working normally, organization and command are smooth, and all the conditions have met the requirements for the real launch. In the next few days, we will review and double checks the test data of the system, solidify the technical conditions, and then prepare for the filling of rocket propellant, and finally begin the launch procedures."
The spacecraft will be launched in mid-June. When in space, it will perform the first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module.
The official said all systems relevant to the space docking mission have arrived at the launch center, where experts have finished checking the condition of the equipment and the physical conditions of the astronauts.
"Angry crowds" prevent UN observers of carrying out their mission in northern Syria

United Nations monitors in Syria have come under attack as they attempted to reach the town of Haffa in the north of the conflict-stricken country.
Monitors said that their car came under attack from an angry crowd throwing stones. There are also reports that their convoy was fired upon.
Three of the crowd were reportedly struck and seriously injured by the convoy as it attempted to retreat.
The latest incident comes as Herve Ladhous, head of UN peacekeeping, said that Syria is now effectively in a state of civil war.
Moscow ready to host international conference on Syria: Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow is ready to host an international conference on Syria.
He said Iran should participate in such a conference, and urged the United States to also facilitate a settlement to the Syrian crisis.
Lavrov said Russia saw no alternative to the peace plan brokered by the international envoy Kofi Annan.
Lavrov is scheduled to visit Iran on Wednesday to discuss the country's nuclear program and the situation in Syria.
UN Security Council extends mandate of panel of experts on DPRK

The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the panel of experts on North Korea.
The panel of experts was created by the Security Council in 2009.
It is tasked with providing feedback to the council on the implementation of sanctions and embargoes imposed on North Korea by the Security Council.
Tunisia declares curfew following spate of violence

The Tunisian government has declared a curfew in the capital Tunis and some other main cities after a spate of violence hit the country.
In the past few days, a series of attacks allegedly backed by the Salafists - a Muslim jihadist movement - took place in several Tunisian towns, leaving some 60 people injured.
The riot erupted following Sunday's protests by Salafists angered by a modern art exhibition in northern Tunis.
Protesters claimed sort of the art displayed in the exbibition was blasphemous.
Fitch downgrade 18 Spanish banks

Ratings agency Fitch downgraded the creditworthiness of 18 Spanish banks, following its decision on Monday to cut its ratings on the country's two biggest banks, Santander and BBVA.
The move comes less than a week after the agency cut the country's sovereign debt rating, underscoring the potential for lenders' assets to deteriorate further.
Spain's banks have been beset by bad debts since a property bubble burst.
The Spanish government has already spent 15 billion euros bailing out small regional banks.
Spain's biggest failed bank, Bankia will cost 23.5 billion euros to rescue.
Spain's 10-year-bond yield hits euro-era high

Spain's borrowing costs have risen to the highest rate since the launch of the euro in 1999.
The benchmark 10-year bond yield hit 6.8 percent, as optimism about the weekend's Spanish bank bailout continued to evaporate.
Italy's 10-year bond yield rose to 6.3 percent, a rate not seen since January, as concerns about its finances rose.
The rates are seen as unsustainable in the long run for two countries weighed down by huge debts.
LOCOG briefing on London 2012 opening ceremony

Plans for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics have been revealed by oscar winner Danny Boyle.
Boyle - the artistic director in charge of the July 27th opening ceremony - says the three-hour event will see the Olympic Stadium turned into a typical English meadow, complete with grass, cows, sheep, chickens, and even a cricket match.
"Obviously it's a meadow, but I just wanted to tell you, it's a real meadow, with real grass, and real animals and it's the green and pleasant land I guess, is the thing you would use about it. This land, 200 years ago, was a meadow really, and it went through an extraordinary transformation. "
As well as depicting Britain's heritage, Boyle says he's hoping to capture the unique British sense of humour, while also looking at the future.