Taiwan’s Ma says ending China standoff a must for the economy
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Ending Taiwan’s political standoff with mainland China is necessary to boost Taiwan’s sagging economy and to help it integrate more effectively with the region, the island’s president, Ma Ying-jeou, said.
Thai stocks, currency plunge over election uncertainty
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai stocks and the baht currency tumbled on Thursday as uncertainty deepened about a February election that anti-government forces are determined to block in their bid to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Palestinian, 85, dies after clashes with Israelis: eyewitnesses
NABLUS, West Bank (Reuters) – An 85-year old Palestinian died on Thursday after inhaling tear gas fired by the Israeli army to disperse local protesters landed in his home in the occupied West Bank, local eyewitnesses told Reuters.
South Korea military to fight to keep ban on sex by academy cadets
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s military said on Thursday it would fight a court ruling quashing its move to kick an officer candidate out of the elite Army Academy for having sex with his girlfriend while on leave.
Grenade attack at Kenyan coast wounds 10: police
MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) – A grenade attack on a popular nightclub outside the coastal Kenyan city of Mombasa wounded at least 10 people early on Thursday, police said.
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.
