North Korea claims to have missiles which could reach the United States mainland. The assertion comes two days after South Korea unveiled a missile defence pact with the US. The North’s two recent long-range missile tests have failed.
Mixed reports
A rebel attack in southern Sudan has killed five and left up to 23 wounded. Militants linked to Sudan People’s Liberation Movement claimed responsibility for attacks against government targets but denied civilian casualties.
Chavez wins
Venezuela’s socialist president Hugo Chavez has been re-elected to another six-year term. He won with 56 per cent of the vote – the slimmest in his political history. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles said he accepted the outcome of the vote.
Superpower fight
The FBI will investigate whether Chinese technology company Huawei engaged in fraud and bribery. US lawmakers referred concerns over the company’s conduct in seeking two contracts in the US. Huawei could be banned from operating in the US.
Doctors cell-ebrate
Doctors who discovered a process of turning adult cells back into more flexible stem cells have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine. Japan’s Shinya Yamanaka and Britain’s John Gurdon will accept their award in December.
Assange skips bail
Nine supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange have been penalised $150,000. The supporters had promised $220,000 surety before Assange skipped bail and sought asylum in Ecuador’s British embassy.
Egyptian pardon
Egyptian president Mohammed Mursi has pardoned all those arrested since the start of the revolution which brought him to power. The decree could see the release of several thousands of people. Those accused of murder are excluded.
Rampage denied
Nigerian military has denied reports that troops have been accused of opening fire and burning buildings in the country’s north-east, killing 30 people. Residents said civilians were killed in the rampage. However the army said it killed terrorists nearby.
Tight security
Greek authorities have rostered 7,000 police officers on to secure Athens ahead of a visit by German chancellor Angela Merkel. It is her first visit to Greece since the debt crisis. She is blamed for Greece’s austerity program and protests are planned.
Deadly disease fears
A fungal meningitis outbreak the US has killed 8 people. More than 100 have been diagnosed with the disease already. It is feared thousands of people may have been exposed to the disease through a tainted batch of steroid injections.
Post published in: World News