South Korea says Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik will visit the United States this week to coordinate policy on North Korea. The visit will be Yu’s first to Washington since he took charge of North Korea policy in September promising to be more flexible than his hard-line predecessor. The visit comes amid accelerating diplomacy aimed at […]
South Korean Minister to Visit Washington This Week
Unmanned Spacecraft Heads to International Space Station
Russia says an unmanned Progress cargo spacecraft launched successfully from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan Sunday, and headed for the International Space Station. The successful launch follows a failed attempt in August. Russia’s Federal Space Agency says Progress will arrive Wednesday and deliver necessities such as food, water and clothing for the astronauts on […]
Chinese President Visits Austria Ahead of Vital G-20 Meeting
Chinese President Hu Jintao is in Austria for a state visit amid signs that Beijing will seek major concessions in exchange for investing in Europe’s debt rescue fund. Mr. Hu arrived in Vienna late Sunday and begins his official program later Monday. The official Xinhua news agency said he will meet senior government leaders and […]
Kyrgyz PM Set to Win Presidential Vote
Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev is poised to become president after taking a commanding lead in the country’s first presidential election since last year’s bloody uprising ousted the government. With about 90 percent of the votes counted, official results have Mr. Atambayev far ahead of 15 other candidates. They include former boxer Kachimbek Tashiyev, whose […]
3 Killed in Afghan Suicide Blast
Afghan officials say a suicide car bomb blast has killed three people near the offices of a non-government organization in the southern city of Kandahar. Authorities say two people were wounded in the Monday morning blast. After the explosion, armed insurgents rushed into the area and exchanged gunfire with security forces. The bombing took place […]
World Population to Reach 7 Billion Monday
A U.N. report says the world’s population will reach the 7 billion mark Monday. The report looks at the 7 billion milestone as a sign of people living longer and improved birth survival rates. Experts say the U.N. report displays the disparities between countries. One of the study’s authors, Richard Kollodge, says many low-income countries […]
Japan Drives Down Yen With First Intervention Since August
Japan intervened in currency markets Monday for the first time since August, driving the yen down sharply against the dollar and euro. Finance Minister Jun Azumi said he gave the order to begin selling yen at mid-morning after the dollar slid to 75.32 yen, its lowest point since World War II. By mid-day the dollar […]
2 Killed in Afghan Suicide Blast
Afghan officials say a suicide bomb blast has killed three people near the offices of an non-government organization in the southern city of Kandahar. Authorities say two people were wounded in the Monday morning blast. The bombing took place near a U.N. agency guest house in Kandahar. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility […]
Blast Near NGO in Afghanistan
Afghan officials say there has been an explosion near the offices of an non-government organization in the southern city of Kandahar. Details about casualties in Monday’s blast are developing. The French news agency calls the explosion a suicide car bombing, and says two people were killed. The report has not been confirmed.
UNESCO Vote on Palestinian Membership Could Boost U.N. Bid
Palestinians expect to win full membership at the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO as early as Monday, in a vote that would boost their bid for international recognition as an independent state. Paris-based UNESCO is the first U.N. agency the Palestinians have sought to join since President Mahmoud Abbas applied last month for full recognition […]