介绍:
50 trapped Chinese flown to Baghdad by helicopter
More than 50 Chinese nationals trapped in conflict-torn northern Iraq have reportedly arrived in Baghdad by helicopter.
Reports say the rest of the 1,200 employees of China Machinery Engineering Corp trapped in the province of Salahudin are expected to be taken to the Iraqi capital by bus within three days.
A previous evacuation plan failed earlier this week.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said most of the 1,200 workers were safe in their workplace residences.
A ministry spokesperson said Beijing is monitoring the security situation before deciding on any large-scale evacuation of Chinese citizens in Iraq.
China to reward terror informants
China's Ministry of Public Security has promised substantial rewards for those who give information to the ongoing crackdown on terrorism.
Rewards will be given according the value of the information in preventing terrorist attacks or catching suspects.
Among the provincial regions, Inner Mongolia has announced rewards up to 500 thousand yuan or 80 thousand US dollars.
A total of 32 terror cells have been busted and more than 380 suspects apprehended in western China's Xinjiang since a year-long nationwide anti-terror operation began on May 23.
It follows a deadly terror attack in the capital Urumqi a day earlier that killed 39 people.
Gas pipeline blast kills 14 in S. India
At least 14 people have died after a pipeline carrying gas exploded in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The huge blast occurred at the Gas Authority of India Limited in East Godavari district early on Friday.
At least 15 people were injured. It is not clear what caused the blast.
The firm is India's largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution company.
Ukrainian rebels free four OSCE hostages
Rebels in southeast Ukraine have released four out of eight international observers captured over a month ago.
The eight observers are part of a 100-strong mission from the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, tasked with monitoring an agreement drafted in April to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.
Securing the release of the four hostages has been a part of peace consultations between mediators of the Kiev government, OSCE, Russia and rebel leaders.
Obama seeks $500M to train, equip Syrian rebels
U.S. President Barack Obama is asking Congress for 500 million dollars to train and arm vetted members of the Syrian opposition.
The move comes as the U.S. struggles for a way to stem the civil war that has also fueled the al-Qaida inspired insurgency in neighboring Iraq.
The military training program would deepen the Obama administration's involvement in the more than four-year conflict between the rebels and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
If approved by Congress, the program would supplement a covert train-and-assistance program run by U.S. intelligence agencies.
N. Korea hails test of 'breakthrough' guided missile
North Korea says it has test-fired a newly developed missile.
The official KCNA news is calling it a "cutting-edge ultra-precision tactical guided missile."
It says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched the test-fire at the central monitoring post.
The report hails the test as a "breakthrough" in national defense capability.
The timing of the test has not been specified, but it appeared to coincide with the firing on Thursday of what South Korea described as three short-range projectiles into the Sea of Japan.
110 new cancer cases diagnosed daily in Beijing
The number of new malignant tumor cases exceeded 40,000 in Beijing in 2013, meaning an average of 110 people were diagnosed with cancer every day in the Chinese capital.
A whitepaper on health says cancer has become the top killer of Beijing residents for the seventh consecutive year, followed by heart disease and the cerebrovascular disease.
Ten years ago, an average of 63 people were diagnosed daily with cancer.
Experts believe that chronic diseases are closely connected to unhealthy lifestyles.
Luis Suarez banned for four months
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has been suspended from all football-related activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup in Brazil.
In addition, the 27-year-old Liverpool player has been banned for nine international matches, ruling him out of the rest of the World Cup.
FIFA's spokesperson Delia Fischer.
"The player Luis Suarez is to be suspended for nine official matches. The first match of this suspension is to be served in the upcoming FIFA World Cup fixture between Colombia and Uruguay on 28 June 2014."
This is now the 3rd suspension Suarez has received for biting an opponent.
Uruguay say they will appeal, calling the ban an "excessive decision"
