A rare yellow diamond from South Africa — believed to be the largest of its kind — has sold for a record $12.3 million. Sotheby’s auction house in Geneva sold the 110-carat “Sun-Drop Diamond” on Tuesday to an anonymous buyer who bid by telephone. Officials say the pear-shaped diamond is the largest vivid yellow diamond […]
Rare Yellow Diamond Fetches Record $12.3 Million
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
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Burma Gets Nod for ASEAN Chairmanship
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations say they will recommend to their leaders that military-dominated Burma be allowed to chair their regional bloc in 2014. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters Wednesday there is consensus that Burma — also known as Myanmar — deserves the diplomatic prize after a series of […]
Burma Gets Nod for ASEAN Chairmanship
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations say they will recommend to their leaders that military-dominated Burma be allowed to chair their regional bloc in 2014. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters Wednesday there is consensus that Burma — also known as Myanmar — deserves the diplomatic prize after a series of […]
Syrian Rebels Attack Damascus Military Base, Form Council
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
Syrian opposition activists say army defectors have attacked a government base near the capital, Damascus, and formed a rebel council in an escalation of an eight-month uprising against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The activists say rebels of the Free Syrian Army fired rockets and machine guns at an air force intelligence complex […]
Obama Calls for Developing Nations to Reduce Emissions
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 7:30 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States will urge emerging economies to do more to address global warming at a high-level climate change conference later this month in Durban, South Africa. President Obama told reporters Wednesday during his visit to Australia that the Durban talks should result in reduced carbon emissions, but warned that […]
Obama Calls for Developing Nations to Reduce Emissions
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 7:25 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama ways the United States will urge emerging economies to do more to address global warming at a high-level climate change conference later this month in Durban, South Africa. President Obama told reporters Wednesday during his visit to Australia that the Durban talks should result in reduced carbon emissions, but warned that […]
US Commission Urges Obama to Raise Religious Freedoms in Indonesia
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 7:10 am (UTC-5)
A U.S. government panel is urging President Barack Obama to address ongoing problems of religious freedom in Indonesia during his upcoming visit. Leonard Leo, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, sent a letter to the White House Monday highlighting a number of violent attacks that he said were carried out by […]
US Arrest of Taiwan Diplomat Raises Touchy Sovereignty Questions
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
A Taiwan diplomat is due in a U.S. courtroom Wednesday on charges that she mistreated her Philippine housemaid. The case has sparked protests and controversy in Taiwan, where officials argue that Liu Hsien-hsien should be covered by diplomatic immunity under a 1980 agreement on relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. The issue is complicated by […]
US, Australia Agree to Military Force Deployment
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 6:25 am (UTC-5)
The leaders of the United States and Australia have announced an agreement to maintain U.S. forces on Australian soil. U.S. President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard spoke to reporters about the agreement following talks Wednesday in Canberra. Ms. Gillard said the deal called for a force of 200 to 250 U.S. Marines […]
Karzai Outlines Conditions for US Troops Remaining in Afghanistan
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 6:25 am (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says his country wants its sovereignty and an end to night raids as conditions for a strategic partnership with the United States under which some U.S. troops would remain in Afghanistan. Mr. Karzai said Wednesday he does not want parallel institutions set up alongside his government. He spoke at the opening […]
