CHINA: At Least 27 Killed In Kunming Train Station Attack

At least 27 people were killed and another 109 people injured in an attack by a group of knife-wielding men at the Kunming Railway Station in Yunnan province on March 1, Xinhua and AP reported, citing local television and state-run Yunnan News. Several of the attackers, who were reportedly wearing uniforms when they stormed the train station, were shot by police. The motive for the attack is not yet clear.

http://www.stratfor.com/situation-report/china-least-27-killed-kunming-train-station-attack

RUSSIA: Parliament Asks Putin To Withdraw Ambassador From United States

Russia's Federation Council, the upper house of the parliament, asked President Vladimir Putin on March 1 to withdraw the Russian ambassador to the United States over aggressive statements made by U.S. President Barack Obama, RIA Novosti reported. Obama's criticisms of Russia's recent actions in Ukraine were a direct threat and insult to the Russian people, the vice speaker of the Federation Council said. Russia has been emphatically reminding the world that the United States will not confront Russia militarily, even if it confronts Russia politically and possibly financially.

http://www.stratfor.com/situation-report/russia-parliament-asks-putin-withdraw-ambassador-united-states

CHINA: Authorities save 382 babies in Chinese trafficking sting

Chinese police rescued 382 abducted babies from four Internet-based trafficking rings, authorities announced on Friday. Fueled by China's one-child law, trafficking rings thrive in the country by selling kidnapped babies through fake adoption websites. Police arrested 1,094 suspects in the six-month operation, some of whom could face death sentences in a country with harsh trafficking punishments.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/china-busts-major-web-based-baby-trafficking-rings

JAPAN: Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox files for bankruptcy

Tokyo-based exchange Mt. Gox announced on Friday that it was filing for bankruptcy protection, following a security breach that allowed hackers to defraud the company's customers of more than 700,000 coins. The company admitted such a software flaw existed several weeks ago. “There were weaknesses in the system,” exchange executive Mark Karpeles said. “I’m truly sorry to have caused inconvenience.”

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/mt-gox-files-for-bankruptcy/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=1