Burma plays host this week to senior U.N. and U.S. diplomats amid mounting interest in that nation’s cautious moves toward democratic reform. Vijay Nambiar, chief of staff to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, arrived in the Burmese capital Monday for a five-day visit that will include talks with senior government officials. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State […]
Israel Considers Response to UNESCO Vote
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 6:20 am (UTC-5)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with top advisers Tuesday to weigh a possible response to the U.N. cultural agency’s decision to grant Palestinians full membership. Officials said the discussion will include possible punitive measures against the Palestinians, who hailed the UNESCO vote as a historic moment. UNESCO is the first U.N. agency the […]
Damage Reported in One of Two Earthquakes in China
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 6:05 am (UTC-5)
Authorities in China say at least 50 homes were destroyed by a moderate earthquake that struck the northwestern part of the country early Tuesday. The U.S. Geological Survey says a 5.4 magnitude quake struck Xinjiang province between the border areas of Yining and Gongliu counties, at a depth of 27 kilometers. The quake was initially […]
European Markets Plunge Ahead of Greek Referendum Vote
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 5:45 am (UTC-5)
European markets plunged Tuesday in reaction to Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s proposal to hold a referendum on whether to approve the European debt-relief plan agreed to last week. Major European markets fell two percent or more in early trading. Mr. Papandreou has been a staunch supporter of the plan that could cut Greece’s debt […]
UN Urges Libya to Secure Weapons
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. Security Council has urged Libya to prevent the spread of arms throughout the region, as the country’s provisional authority elected a new interim prime minister to lead the political transition. The 15-member Council unanimously adopted a Russian-backed resolution Monday that highlighted the threat of shoulder-fired missiles and other arms ending up in the […]
Nepal Arrests Tibetan Protesters
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
Nepalese police detained more than 60 Tibetan refugees early Tuesday as they demonstrated in support of Buddhist monks who have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule in their homeland. Police say the demonstrators were arrested after shouting anti-China slogans during a prayer service outside a monastery on the outskirts of the capital, Kathmandu. […]
South Korean Officials Take Nuclear Agenda to Beijing, Moscow
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 5:30 am (UTC-5)
South Korea’s chief nuclear negotiator is in Beijing for the latest round of talks on efforts to restart negotiations on North Korea’s nuclear programs. The visit comes as South Korean President Lee Myung-bak flies to Moscow for talks expected to deal with the nuclear issue as well as a proposed trans-Korea gas pipeline. Nuclear envoy […]
UNESCO Accepts Palestinians, Loses US Funding
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 5:00 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. cultural agency granted Palestinians full membership Monday, in a move that cost the organization nearly a quarter of its funding and drew criticism from U.S. and Israeli officials saying the vote will hurt Middle East peace chances. The U.S. State Department said Washington will not make a $60 million November payment to UNESCO […]
Cyber Attacks on Chemical Firms Traced to Chinese Computers
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
An American company says at least 48 chemical and military-related companies have been targeted in cyber attacks traced to computers owned by a man in central China. U.S.-based Symantec Corporation said the attacks targeted 29 chemical companies and 19 other companies, most of them based in the United States and Britain. It said the purpose […]
Thai Anger Grows as Floods Hit Some, Spare Others
Posted November 1st, 2011 at 4:00 am (UTC-5)
Anger and frustration are rising in Bangkok’s northern and western suburbs, where successful efforts to save the city center from swirling floodwaters have led to even more misery. In some cases, vigilante groups have broken holes in the makeshift barriers protecting central Bangkok to let the waist-deep floodwaters escape more quickly from their own communities. […]
