South Korea says it will start building a naval base on eastern Ulleung-do island next year, to better guard nearby islets that also are claimed by Japan. Ruling party lawmaker Chung Mee-kyung said Wednesday the naval base will be able to accommodate Aegis destroyers and amphibious landing ships. Construction of the $300 million project is […]
South Korea to Build Naval Base Near Disputed Islands
White House Refuses to Endorse Mullen on Pakistan
The White House on Wednesday refused to endorse a top U.S. military officer’s accusation that Afghanistan’s militant Haqqani network is acting as a “veritable arm” of Pakistan’s military intelligence agency, the ISI. White House spokesman Jay Carney said although the comment made last week by departing Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen is consistent […]
Clinton to Attend Regional Event in Dominican Republic
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits the Dominican Republic next week for talks with officials from Canada and Latin America on boosting economic growth in the Western Hemisphere. The State Department says Secretary Clinton will travel to the Caribbean nation next Wednesday for the fourth Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas meeting. Pathways to […]
Indian Court Rules Against Tata Motors in Land Dispute
A court in India’s northeastern state of West Bengal has ruled the state’s government acted legally in taking back 400 hectares of agricultural land purchased by Tata automaker to build a new car factory. The Kolkata High Court upheld a law passed in June allowing the state government to reclaim the land allotted for Tata […]
EU Calling for More Unity in Debt Crisis
The European Union is calling for more unity to deal with the continent’s debt crisis. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso says the crisis is a test of Europe’s ability to respond to a challenge and more discipline is needed among the 17 nations that use the euro currency. He predicted debt-plagued Greece would remain […]
Japan Hosts ASEAN Delegates Seeking to Solve Maritime Disputes
Japan on Wednesday hosted delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for talks on simmering tensions in the South China Sea. The vice ministerial-level meeting — the third of its kind since 2009 — focused on the need to find consensus on the interpretation of maritime law regarding freedom of navigation. China, Taiwan, the […]
US Man Charged With Pentagon, Capitol Attack Plan
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in Boston, Massachusetts on charges of plotting to damage or destroy the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol with large, remote-controlled aircraft filled with plastic explosives. The Justice Department said Wednesday that Rezwan Ferdaus, a U.S. citizen, also was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign […]
US Stocks Close Lower
U.S. stock indexes closed sharply lower on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1.6 percent ((180 points) to close at 11,011. The broader S&P 500 was off 2 percent ((24 points) to end at 1,151 and the NASDAQ was down more than 2 percent to finish at 2,492. European stock prices also fell. […]
Sources: Saudi King Overturns Verdict Against Woman Driver
Sources within the Saudi government say King Abdullah has overturned a court verdict that sentenced a Saudi woman to 10 lashes for challenging the conservative Muslim kingdom’s ban on women driving. One of those who reported the king’s decision was a Saudi princess who announced it Wednesday on her Twitter account. There was no official […]
White House Refuses to Endorse Mullen on Pakistan
The White House has refused to endorse a top U.S. military officer’s accusation that Afghanistan’s militant Haqqani network is acting as a “veritable arm” of Pakistan’s main intelligence service. White House spokesman Jay Carney says the comment made last week by departing Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen is “not language that I would […]