Kobane: Syrian Kurds ‘launch operation against IS’
Fighting has continued overnight around the Syrian border town of Kobane, with reports of Kurdish forces launching an operation against Islamic State At least 12 people were killed in protests by Kurds in Turkey on Tuesday over the lack of Turkish military support. Three weeks of fighting over... read more »
Egypt: Army offensive kills 16 militants in Sinai
El-ARISH, Egypt: Egyptian military officials say troops have killed 16 members of an al-Qaida-inspired militant group in the restive Sinai Peninsula. The officials say four leading members of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis were arrested during the operations, which were still underway early Tuesday. The... read more »
China sacks 160,000 government employees who did not exist
BEIJING – China has taken 160,000 “phantom” government staff off its official payroll who were receiving salaries despite not doing any work. A total of 162,629 officials who were taking government wages without working have been removed in a nationwide campaign over the last year, the... read more »
Nepal bus crash kills 29 people and injures dozens
An overloaded bus in western Nepal has fallen off a road and plunged into a gorge, killing 29 and injuring dozens, the BBC reported. Most of the passengers in the bus were reportedly travelling to meet their families to celebrate the Hindu festival of Dashain. Police said the bus had more than 100... read more »