Iran’s military is going ahead with four days of war games despite rising criticism about the country’s nuclear program. State-run media said the military exercises are taking place Saturday in an area near the border with Afghanistan. The official Press TV said the initial phase of the drills was meant to test the ability of […]
Obama Heading Home after Asian Tour
Posted November 19th, 2011 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama is on his way home Saturday, after a nine-day Asia-Pacific tour that took him to Hawaii, Australia and Indonesia for a summit of East Asian leaders. Just hours before Air Force One departed from Bali, Indonesia, Mr. Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met on the sidelines of the East Asia […]
UN Supports Burma’s Selection to Chair ASEAN
Posted November 19th, 2011 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the U.N. is backing the Association of Southeast Asia Nations’ decision to choose Burma to be its chair in 2014. Speaking at the East Asia Summit Saturday in Bali, Indonesia, Mr. Ban said the military-led government in Burma has long been a source of contention for the international […]
Italian PM Wins Second Confidence Vote
Posted November 18th, 2011 at 9:30 pm (UTC-5)
New Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has won a second vote of confidence in parliament, securing his government’s mandate to help resolve Italy’s debt crisis. The lower house approved the new government Friday by a vote of 556 to 61. The large margin followed a similar easy win in the Senate Thursday. After receiving the […]
Pressure Growing on ‘Isolated’ Syria
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 3:15 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, […]
Rajoy’s Conservatives Appear Headed for Victory in Spain’s Sunday Elections
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
Spanish voters head to the polls Sunday, with all indications pointing to a win for Mariano Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party after nearly eight years of Socialist rule led by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The election comes as Spain fights to avoid slipping back into recession for the second time in two years. Unemployment […]
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 […]
Activists: Syrian Rebels Attack Military Site Near Damascus
Posted November 16th, 2011 at 5:25 am (UTC-5)
Syrian opposition activists say army defectors have attacked a military base near the capital, Damascus, in an apparent escalation of an eight-month uprising against the autocratic 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 in the Damascus […]
Taliban in Afghanistan Vows to Disrupt Loya Jirga
Posted November 15th, 2011 at 3:05 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. State Department says it is confident that this week’s traditional assembly of Afghan leaders will affirm the close ties between the United States and Afghanistan. More than 2,000 Afghan politicians, tribal elders and community leaders are gathering in Kabul on Wednesday to begin a several day loya jirga to discuss relations with the […]
Ai Weiwei Lawyer Accuses Beijing of Blocking Tax Settlement
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 8:15 am (UTC-5)
A lawyer for world-renowned artist Ai Weiwei says Chinese authorities have thrown up new obstacles to a settlement of his client’s tax case. Lawyer Pu Zhiqiang told reporters Monday that tax officials are demanding that a $1.3 million deposit be paid directly into a tax bureau bank account, rather than a certificate of deposit as […]
