International peace envoy Kofi Annan says Syria has accepted his plan to end violence in the country. A spokesman for Mr. Annan said Tuesday Syria’s response came in a letter to the U.N.-Arab League envoy. Mr. Annan met with Chinese officials Tuesday in Beijing, including Premier Wen Jiabao, as China pledged to support his mediation […]
World Leaders to Continue Efforts to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism
Posted March 27th, 2012 at 6:10 am (UTC-5)
Leaders of more than 50 nations have reaffirmed their commitment to reducing the world’s stockpiles of nuclear weapons. U.S. President Barack Obama told attendees at the start of Tuesday’s final session of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul that the international community must make “a serious and sustained effort” to reduce the world’s stockpiles […]
South Sudan, Sudan Clash Along Tense, Disputed Border
Posted March 27th, 2012 at 5:50 am (UTC-5)
South Sudan is accusing Sudan of launching a second day of airstrikes on oil-rich territory along their disputed border, one day after a rare direct military confrontation between the two rivals. South Sudanese Information Minister Gideon Gatpan says the north’s Antonov fighter planes dropped at least two bombs early Tuesday on oil fields in the […]
Obama Calls for ‘Balanced’ Pakistani Review of Ties with U.S.
Posted March 27th, 2012 at 5:50 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama says he hopes Pakistan’s parliament will take a “balanced approach” in its review of ties with the United States. Mr. Obama spoke to reporters in Seoul moments before private talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday. The president said he would like the see the lawmakers respect U.S. national […]
Officials: Maoist Landmine Kills 15 Police in Central India
Posted March 27th, 2012 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
Indian police officials say a landmine planted by suspected Maoist rebels has killed at least 15 officers in the western state of Maharashtra. The mine went off Tuesday when police drove by in a vehicle. No other details are immediately available. Indian Maoist rebels say they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers. But […]
Amnesty: Fewer Nations Executing More People
Posted March 27th, 2012 at 5:00 am (UTC-5)
Amnesty International says a declining number of mainly Asian countries continued to carry out the death penalty at an “alarming rate” in 2011. The rights group said Tuesday that only 10 percent of the countries in the world now employ capital punishment. That represents a decline of more than a third from a decade ago. […]
Obama Explains Missile Defense Remarks
Posted March 27th, 2012 at 3:55 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama set out Tuesday to clarify private remarks about missile defense to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev inadvertently picked up by a live microphone. At the Seoul nuclear summit, Mr. Obama privately told the Russian president that this year is his last election and that he would have more flexibility after he is […]
Obama Says ‘Bad Actors’ Seeking Loose Nuclear Weapons
Posted March 27th, 2012 at 3:45 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama says the international community must make “a serious and sustained effort” to reduce the world’s stockpiles of nuclear weapons. “There are still too many bad actors in search of these dangerous materials, and these dangerous materials are still vulnerable in too many places. It would not take much, just a handful […]
Vietnamese Pastor Jailed for ‘Undermining National Unity’
Posted March 27th, 2012 at 3:30 am (UTC-5)
A Vietnamese court has sentenced the pastor of a banned Mennonite church to 11 years in prison for undermining national unity. State media reported Tuesday that Nguyen Cong Chinh was found guilty of writing and spreading material that slandered government authorities and “distorted Vietnam’s domestic situation.” It also accused him of having affiliations with anti-government […]
Father of Tongan Democracy is Laid to Rest
Posted March 27th, 2012 at 3:30 am (UTC-5)
Daily life came to a halt Tuesday on the island nation of Tonga during funeral services for the late King George Tupou , who will be remembered less for his eccentricities than for the introduction of democratic rule. The king’s body was carried to the service atop a massive steel-reinforced bier, which was carried by […]
