The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog wants to send a high-level mission to Iran to seek “clarifications regarding possible military dimensions” to its nuclear program. International Atomic Energy Agency’s chief Yukiya Amano said Thursday he put the request in writing to Iran’s top nuclear officials earlier this month and that he hoped a date […]
ASEAN Leaders Meet With Security and Burma at Forefront
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
Regional leaders have approved Burma’s bid to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2014. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters that the government heads agreed to the bid on the first day of their annual summit in Bali Thursday. Human rights groups and some foreign governments have opposed the bid, arguing Burma […]
Pressure Growing on ‘Isolated’ Syria
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 6:20 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations is being urged to add its voice to the growing chorus of condemnation aimed at Syria for its bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters. Germany, Britain and France are pushing for a U.N. resolution condemning the Syrian regime for human rights violations in its ongoing battle with civilians. Germany’s U.N. Ambassador, Peter Wittig, […]
UN Nuclear Watchdog Puts Spotlight on Iran
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 6:05 am (UTC-5)
The United States and several European countries are pushing for the U.N. nuclear watchdog to come down hard on Iran for its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation board of directors opens a two-day meeting in Vienna Thursday, the agency’s first gathering since it alleged last week there is “credible” evidence Tehran is […]
US Urges Comprehensive Peace Deal in Darfur
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. State Department is calling for the resumption of peace talks between the Sudanese government and armed rebel movements in Darfur. The State Department made the comments on Wednesday at the end of a two-day workshop with Darfuri rebel groups and civil society leaders at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington. The workshop […]
Greece Deploys Thousands of Police for Thursday’s Protest March
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
Greece has deployed thousands of police officers to Athens to prevent violence during an annual protest march Thursday. The march to the U.S. embassy is expected to include demonstrators upset over the new interim government’s austerity measures. The demonstrations come a day after the government overwhelmingly won a vote of confidence in a parliamentary vote. […]
HRW Calls on ASEAN to Set Conditions for Burma
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 5:30 am (UTC-5)
Human Rights Watch says the Association of Southeast Asian Nations needs to set clear benchmarks for Burma before it assumes chairmanship of the 10-member regional grouping in 2014. The U.S.-based human rights group says those benchmarks should include the immediate release of all political prisoners, the repeal of laws used to suppress peaceful dissent, an […]
Obama Hails US-Australian Alliance in Visit to Troops
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama praised the alliance between the United States and Australia during a visit Thursday to a military base in Darwin, the city where up to 2,500 U.S. troops soon will be based. Mr. Obama made the remarks to U.S. and Australian troops before departing for the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia. […]
ASEAN Leaders Meet With Security and Burma at Forefront
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 5:15 am (UTC-5)
Southeast Asian leaders have begun their annual meeting in Bali, Indonesia, with security concerns and Burma’s bid to chair the organization in 2014 expected to dominate the discussions. Host President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also stressed the need for sustained economic growth in his opening remarks Thursday to leaders from the 10 Association of Southeast Asian […]
