Reuters – Switzerland remains the world’s most competitive economy, while the United States has fallen from second to fourth after losing the top spot last year, according to the World Economic Forum’s annual rankings issued on Thursday.

Read the original post:
U.S. slips in WEF’s competitiveness rankings
(Reuters)

Reuters – North Korea’s capital is ready for its biggest political event in decades: giant billboards proclaim an event to make the country’s “history shine forever,” the dress rehearsals are complete and the army is ready.

Continue reading here:
Mysterious N.Korea keeps world guessing on rare meeting
(Reuters)

AP – World stocks were mostly higher Thursday as news of a successful bond sale by Portugal eased worries over Europe’s debt woes. But Chinese shares fell on fears that authorities might do more to cool the property sector.

Original post:
Asian shares mostly rise as Europe worries ease
(AP)

AFP – Taliban leader Mullah Omar said the NATO-led coalition is losing the war in Afghanistan, calling on Afghans to redouble their struggle and pressing the United States to withdraw.

Original post:
US losing war in Afghanistan: Taliban leader
(AFP)

AP – Extra water, some fertilizer and a lot of patience was all one Michigan lawn service owner needed to convince his lady to say “I do.” Originally posted here: Tended lawn’s wedding proposal works for Mich. man (AP)

Read more:
Tended lawn’s wedding proposal works for Mich. man
(AP)

Time.com – While China has been showing off its new hardware, a potentially more important military advancement has gone largely unnoticed — a major breakthrough in quantum teleportation

View original post here:
China’s Great (Quantum) Leap Forward
(Time.com)

AP – The imam behind a proposed Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero cautioned Wednesday that moving the facility could cause a violent backlash from Muslim extremists and endanger national security.

Read more:
Imam fears moving NYC mosque could inflame tension
(AP)

AP – As thousands of people waited to learn if their homes survived a raging Colorado wildfire, Dan Hackett hiked a second time behind roadblocks to make sure his house near boulder was still standing.

Original post:
Crews contain 10 percent of Colorado wildfire
(AP)

AP – North Korea celebrated its 62nd anniversary Thursday with odes to supreme leader Kim Jong Il and pilgrimages to his late father’s statue amid hints that a political meeting believed aimed at promoting his son as successor is imminent.

Originally posted here:
Dynasty speculation on North Korea founding day
(AP)

AP – Cuba’s communist economic model has come in for criticism from an unlikely source: Fidel Castro.

View post:
Fidel latest to say Cuba’s communism doesn’t work
(AP)