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 »
Islamic State video shows beheading of British hostage Alan Henning
LONDON: British taxi driver Alan Henning, who skipped Christmas with his family to raise funds to purchase ambulances and medical equipment and join an aid convoy to Syria, has been beheaded by Islamic State militants. Henning (47) from Eccles, Greater Manchester had been held captive in Syria for... read more »
