China to open high speed rail link to North Korean border in 2015
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will open a high-speed rail line to the North Korean border next year, state media said on Thursday, in a sign that China remains committed to boosting trade and economic ties with the isolated, nuclear-armed state.
China sacks former aide to retired domestic security chief
BEIJING (Reuters) – A former aide to China’s retired security tsar Zhou Yongkang has been sacked for suspected corruption, state media said on Thursday, the latest move against people close to Zhou who is himself subject of a graft investigation.
Syrian Electronic Army says hacked into Skype’s social media accounts
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Syrian Electronic Army, an amorphous hacker collective that supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, claimed credit on Wednesday for hacking into the social media accounts of Internet calling service Skype.
China’s first aircraft carrier completes South China Sea drills
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s first aircraft carrier has successfully finished a series of tests during a training mission in the disputed South China Sea and has returned to port, state media reported.
Ex-Israeli Prime Minister Sharon’s condition worsens: reports
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, comatose since a 2006 stroke, has deteriorated to a “life threatening” condition after suffering kidney malfunction, Israel Radio reported on Wednesday.
Sunni militants storm Iraq police stations to free prisoners
FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) – Islamist militants stormed police stations in several cities of Iraq’s western province of Anbar on Wednesday, seizing weapon caches and freeing prisoners after security forces dismantled a Sunni Muslim protest camp on Monday….
Two killed in clashes between Egyptian police and protesters
CAIRO (Reuters) – Two people were killed in violent clashes that erupted late on Wednesday between pro-Islamist protesters and police in Egypt’s coastal city of Alexandria, the Ministry of Interior said.
Over 6,000 seek mortgages under UK Help to Buy scheme
LONDON (Reuters) – Over 6,000 people have applied for mortgages under the British government’s Help to Buy scheme in its first three months, which if approved would amount to 910 million pounds ($1.5 billion) in loans, Prime Minister David Cameron anno…
Mali dismisses candidates for fraud in elections
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Mali dismissed candidates from three constituencies for stuffing ballot boxes in a parliamentary election meant to complete the country’s transition to democracy after a 2012 army coup.
Two killed in clashes between Egyptian police and protesters
CAIRO (Reuters) – Two people were killed in violent clashes that erupted late on Wednesday between pro-Islamist protesters and police in Egypt’s coastal city of Alexandria, state TV said.