Syrian air force kills 45 civilians in stepped-up raids: monitor
AMMAN (Reuters) – At least 45 civilians were killed and some 175 wounded when aircraft bombed a northern Syrian city controlled by Islamic State, as Bashar al-Assad’s government stepped up air raids, residents and a monitoring group said on Friday.
Deputy head of China business regulator investigated for graft
BEIJING (Reuters) – The deputy head of one of China’s business regulators, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, is under investigation for suspected corruption, state media said on Friday.
Japan says close to deal with South Korea and U.S. on North Korea defense
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan, the United States and South Korea are close to reaching a deal on sharing and safeguarding sensitive information on North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs, Japan’s Defence Ministry said on Friday.
South Korea extends cyberattack emergency system for nuclear plants
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s nuclear operator and the energy ministry will keep emergency teams on stand-by to the end of this year in case of any cyberattacks on nuclear plants as threatened by a hacker.
New Zealand bar manager pleads not guilty to insulting Buddhism in Myanmar
YANGON (Reuters) – A New Zealand bar manager on Friday pleaded not guilty in a Myanmar court to charges of insulting religion after publishing a psychedelic image of Buddha wearing headphones to promote his bar in Yangon.
India seeks help from Bhutan, Myanmar to hunt down militants
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) – India has sought cooperation from Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh in an offensive against a tribal militant group that had shot dead at least 80 people in Assam state this week, officials said on Friday.
Sony’s ‘Interview’ draws U.S. moviegoers who trumpet free speech
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – “The Interview,” the Sony Pictures film about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, opened in more than 300 movie theaters across the United States on Christmas Day, drawing many sell-out audi…
Two U.S. drone strikes kill seven militants in Pakistan
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) – Two suspected U.S. drones fired missiles at militant hideouts in northwest Pakistan on Friday killing at least seven fighters, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
China police fire on Tibetans after self-immolations: rights group
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police have fired on Tibetan protesters demonstrating after a series of deadly self-immolations by people from Tibet campaigning against Chinese rule of their Himalayan region, a rights group said on Friday.
Russia says Kiev’s move to join NATO dangerous for Europe
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine’s pursuit of NATO membership posed a danger to European security and that the West was using Kiev’s bid to join the Atlantic alliance as a way to fuel confrontation between Russia a…
