WORLD BRIEFS

CHINA: U.S. hacking us, military says

The military said Thursday that overseas computer hackers targeted two of its websites an average of 144,000 times per month last year, and almost two-thirds of the attacks originated in the United States. The claim from Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng follows accusations last week by American cybersecurity company Mandiant that Chinese military-backed cyberspies infiltrated overseas networks and stole massive amounts of data from U.S. and other entities. China denied the allegations. "Like other countries, China faces a serious threat from hacking and is one of the primary victims of hacking in the world," Geng said

EGYPT: Strikes bedevil Port Said

For nearly two weeks, protesters and strikers have shut down much of the Mediterranean city of Port Said, filling streets with one angry rally after another. At the unrest's height, they succeeded in closing off a multimillion-dollar port for days, forcing some ships to reroute. The strikes in this city of 750,000 have rattled the government of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in a way previous protests haven't, because they directly affect the economy.

SOUTH AFRICA: Police violence shocks nation

They bound his hands to the rear of a van and sped off, dragging the slender taxi driver along as onlookers shouted in dismay. He was found dead later. A gut-wrenching video of the scene is all the more disturbing because the men who abused the Mozambican immigrant were uniformed police officers and the van was a marked police vehicle. The graphic scenes shocked a nation long accustomed to reports of police violence. "No human being should be treated in that manner," said President Jacob Zuma.

IRAQ: Bombs target Shia, killing 22

A series of bombings struck Baghdad and towns south of the capital Thursday, killing 22 and wounding dozens in areas home to mostly Muslim Shia, the latest evidence of rising sectarian discord. Tens of thousands of Sunnis are to take to the streets Friday in protests against the Shia-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.