Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson and Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt are starting an unofficial visit to North Korea Monday on what is being described as a “humanitarian mission.” Richardson says he plans to talk to officials about the arrest of Korean-American citizen Kenneth Bae, who is being held in North […]
Private American Delegation Visiting North Korea
Afghan Future to Top Karzai-Obama Talks
Afghan President Hamid Karzai heads to Washington Monday for talks with President Barack Obama that will focus on Afghanistan’s future after U.S. forces withdraw next year. Ahead of his visit, Mr. Karzai met in Kabul with a delegation of visiting U.S. senators. His office said the meeting Saturday focused on a range of issues — […]
New Fight Looming Over US Debt
U.S. lawmakers are getting ready for another political fight over the country’s budget woes. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell warned Sunday his party will not consider any more tax increases. He told ABC television’s This Week that “the tax issue is finished.” He said President Barack Obama and lawmakers now need to focus on cutting […]
Syria’s Assad Offers Dialogue, Slams Rebels in Rare Public Speech
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a rare public speech Sunday, again calling for a political solution to the civil war while denouncing opposition forces as “terrorists.” In his first national speech since June, Mr. Assad told a crowd of loyalists at the Damascus Opera House that he is prepared to hold a national reconciliation conference […]
Twin Suicide Bombing Targets Afghan Tribal Elders, Kills 5
Officials in southern Afghanistan say a twin suicide attack has killed five people and wounded at least 15 others. Authorities say the two bombers attacked a meeting of tribal elders at a government compound Sunday in the town of Spin Boldak in Kandahar province. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. There were no reports […]
New Fight Looming Over US Debt
U.S. lawmakers are positioning themselves for another political fight over the country’s budget woes. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell warned Sunday his party is done considering any tax increases, telling ABC’s “This Week” that “the tax issue is finished.” He said President Barack Obama and lawmakers now need to focus on cutting spending, calling Washington’s […]
Egypt’s Morsi Expands Brotherhood Influence in Cabinet
Egypt’s Islamist President Mohamed Morsi has expanded the number of Muslim Brotherhood ministers in his Cabinet as part of a reshuffle aimed at improving the government’s handling of an economic crisis. Ten Egyptian ministers were sworn in on Sunday, three of them members of Mr. Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement. A Brotherhood spokesman said the reshuffle […]
South Africa Deploys Troops to Central African Republic
The South African government has authorized the deployment of some 400 troops to the Central African Republic. A statement issued by the office of President Jacob Zuma Sunday says the deployment is part of its international obligation to the country. It says the soldiers will assist with the capacity building of the C.A.R. Defense Force, […]
Syria’s Assad Offers Dialogue, Slams Rebels in Rare Speech
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has made a rare public speech reiterating support for a political solution to his country’s civil war, while also denouncing opposition forces as “terrorists” and urging his people to fight them. In his first national address since last June, Mr. Assad appeared at the Damascus Opera House on Sunday, telling a […]
Tentative Deal in North American Hockey Lockout
North America’s professional hockey league could resume play in the coming weeks, after owners and the player’s union reached a tentative labor agreement. National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the agreement early Sunday, saying “there is still a lot of work to be done but the basic framework of the deal has been agreed […]