China, Ethiopia ink agreements on economic, infrastructure cooperation
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has officially started his 4-nation tour in Africa.
His first stop, in the capital of Ethiopia, has seen the signing of several cooperation agreements covering areas such as technology, infrastructure, and finance.
Premier Li and his Ethiopian counterapart, Hailemariam Desalegn, have also agreed to make efforts to deepen ties between the two countries.
The Chinese Premier also says that Beijing supports Ethiopia's efforts in establishing special economic zones and industrial parks, and is willing to share experience with Ethiopia in this regard.
During his stay in Addis Ababa, Li Keqiang is also scheduled to visit the African Union headquarters.
There he will deliver a speech to expound on China's Africa policy.
After his three-day stay in Ethiopia, Li Keqiang is due to continue his visit to Nigeria, Angola and Kenya.
67 pro-Russian activists released in Odessa
Dozens of pro-Russia activists in Odessa, a city in southern Ukraine, have been released from custody following a weekend that saw much violence and bloodshed.
The detainees were not released until after a mob stormed the local police station.
The 67 arestees had been picked up after a deadly standoff on Friday which killed 40.
The demonstration came as Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk visited Odessa on the same day in a bid to defuse mounting tensions.
Meanwhile, Russia has accused Kiev authorities of being direct accomplices in the violence in Odessa.
Ukraine has launched a major attack against pro-Russian forces around the eastern city of Slaviansk, one of the cities demanding a referendum.
Iran says successfully test-fires air defense system
Officials in Iran say the country's military has successfully tested a new air-defense system.
The mid-altitude missile system is said to be capable of hitting modern fighter jets and drones.
The test was conducted on Sunday.
Despite Western countries' concerns over the advancement of Tehran's missile program, the Islamic republic said that its military achievements will only be harnessed for defensive purposes.
New Libyan PM vote declared invalid
Libya's interim parliament has failed to select a new prime minister, despite holding a vote on Sunday.
Hours after holding that vote, amid a scene described as "chaotic", the result was declared invalid.
Parliament had selected Ahmed Maitiq, a 42-year-old businessman, to lead the country.
An initial vote failed to receive a quorum but a second vote did have enough participants to be valid. However, the first vice president of the General National Congress still scrubbed the vote.
Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
3 killed as bombs explode on buses in Kenya
At least three people have been killed and 60 others wounded after bombs exploded on two buses in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
So far, there is no report of Chinese nationals among the injured.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet.
The explosions come a day after four people were killed when attackers threw a grenade at passengers at a bus station in Mombasa.
Kenya has been hit by a wave of attacks since it sent troops to neighboring Somalia to fight the extremist rebels al-Shabab.
Afghan asks international aid for massive landslide
Afghanistan's Vice President says the government has asked international military forces to help rescue people buried in rubble after hundreds were killed in a massive landslide.
Mohammad Younus Qanooni visited the village of Abi Barik in the country's northeastern Badakhshan province as the country observed a day of mourning.
(The United Nations has put the death toll from Friday's landslide at up to 500.
But local officials say the number killed could be as high as 2,700.
Some 4,000 people have been evacuated from the area due to threat of more landslides.
Northern Ireland police release Sinn Fein leader from custody
Police in Northern Ireland have released Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams.
Adams were arrested Wednesday in connection with the murder of a widowed mother-of-10 in 1972
Police say Jean McConville was abducted in December 1972 from her flat in West Belfast and shot by the Irish Republican Army.
Prior to his arrest on Wednesday, Adams released a statement claiming innocence in relation to this case.
His arrest has been called "political policing" by Adams' political party, which accuses the British government of attempting to disrupt local government and EU elections that will take place in three weeks.
The British government has denied that accusation.
Air purifier sales in record increase last year
China has seen a record increase in the sale of air and water purifiers.
Data from market research and consultancy firm GfK shows that about 1.7 million air purifiers were sold in China last year, a 116 percent increase year-on-year.
In terms of water purifiers, combined sales revenue in all price ranges reached 9.5 billion yuan, up 79.5 percent year-on-year.
But according to ZOL, a website that provides e-commerce transaction records, seven of the 10 best-selling brands of air purifiers in China last year were foreign-made.
Industry analysts attribute the mistrust in domestic brands largely to an absence of up-to-date national standards.
Current standards on indoor air cleaners, enacted in 2008, don't take into consideration the need for consumers to filter PM2.5. |