A U.S. senator says the American Congress may try to push through a sale of advanced F-16 jet fighters to Taiwan even if the Obama administration decides against the sale. The administration says it will decide by October whether to make the sale, which would almost certainly provoke an angry response from China. But published […]
US Senator Proposes Back-Door F-16 Sale to Taiwan
Ammunition Explosion Kills Russian Soldiers
Russian emergency officials say an ammunition explosion at a military installation in southern Russia Tuesday killed six soldiers. Another 12 soldiers were injured in the incident at the Ashuluk base in the Astrakhan region. Officials say the explosion probably occurred as the soldiers were disposing of old ammunition. The exact cause is yet to be […]
US Conservatives Blast Biden Over China Policy Remark
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is facing sharp criticism from conservatives politicians and commentators over a remark made during his recent visit to China that appeared to condone the country’s one-child policy. Several candidates for the Republican Party presidential nomination — including former ambassador to China Jon Huntsman — have condemned the remark, saying the […]
Libyan Capital Celebrates But Gadhafi Evades Capture
Residents of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, celebrated early Wednesday despite finding no sign of Moammar Gadhafi or his family after rebels overran his compound, taking weapons, television sets and souvenirs from the home of their embattled leader. The storming of Bab al-Aziziya, long the center of Mr. Gadhafi’s power, came after three days of fighting […]
Biden Wraps Up Asia Tour
U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden is wrapping up his Asian tour Wednesday with a visit to U.S. Embassy workers in Tokyo and U.S. troops stationed at Yokota Air Base in Japan. He returns to Washington after a stop in Hawaii Thursday where he will deliver a speech at a Marine Corps base. While in Japan, […]
Moody Cuts Japan’s Rating
Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Japan’s sovereign debt rating citing concerns about the country’s budget deficit and growing government debt. The rating was cut by one notch Wednesday to Aa3 from Aa2. That is three notches below Moody’s top rating. Japan has been trying to recover since the global economic crisis in 2009. But after […]
Hurricane Irene Bears Down on Southeastern Bahamas
Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the southeastern Bahamas as it also takes aim at the eastern coast of the United States. The National Hurricane Center said in its latest bulletin Tuesday that the storm was about 145 kilometers east of Great Inagua Island, moving to the west-northwest with 150 kilometer-per-hour winds. Officials say that […]
UN Steps Up Horn of Africa Drought Relief
The U.N. refugee agency is stepping up its efforts to help the tens of thousands of people suffering from famine in the Horn of Africa region. The agency has sent an emergency team to Ethiopia’s Gode area, where there is a new influx of Somalis fleeing their famine-hit country. Officials say the team will register […]
UN Syria Sanctions Draft Targets Assad, Family
Western nations circulated a draft U.N. Security Council resolution Tuesday calling for sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, influential family members and key associates aimed at stopping the government’s continued crackdown on dissent. U.S. and European delegations at the council hope to put the draft resolution to a vote as soon as possible. But Russia, […]
Search Continues for Germans Missing in Afghanistan
Authorities in Afghanistan are searching for two German citizens missing since Friday and feared to have been kidnapped. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Tuesday that his government is following up on indications the two may have been abducted. He said an intensive effort is underway to find them, but provided no further details. Afghan […]