South Korea has dismissed a New Year’s Day speech by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calling for reduced tensions with Seoul. Unification Minister Yu Woo-Ik Wednesday called Mr. Kim’s speech “bland,” saying it contained no groundbreaking proposals. He said Seoul has good reason to question the young leader’s intentions. Mr. Kim Tuesday urged an […]
South Korea Dismisses Kim Jong Un’s Call for Reduced Tensions
Posted January 2nd, 2013 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
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Global Markets Higher As US Congress Averts Financial Crisis
Posted January 2nd, 2013 at 9:15 am (UTC-5)
World markets are opening 2013 on a high note, after the U.S. Congress reached a deal to avert an early 2013 financial crisis that threatened to send the world’s largest economy into recession. Asian stock markets welcomed the development in the first trading of the new year, with Hong Kong jumping 2.9 percent on Wednesday, […]
US Oil Rig Grounded Off Alaska
Posted January 1st, 2013 at 4:25 pm (UTC-5)
A huge Shell Oil drilling rig has run aground in a storm off the rugged coast of the remote U.S. state of Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard said the Kulluk broke free from the ship handling it in rough seas in the Gulf of Alaska on New Year’s Eve and then was cut loose from […]
60 Crushed to Death in Ivory Coast
Posted January 1st, 2013 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Officials in Ivory Coast say at least 60 people were crushed to death during a stampede at a New Year’s celebration in Abidjan. At least 50 others were injured in the incident, which took place early Tuesday in the Plateau district, at a stadium where people had gathered to watch fireworks. AIP television in Ivory […]
Pakistan Releases More Afghan Taliban Prisoners
Posted December 31st, 2012 at 11:15 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan has released eight Afghan Taliban prisoners, including the minister of justice during the Taliban’s rule of Afghanistan in the late 1990s. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday the prisoners were released “in order to further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process.” Pakistan said that among those released were former Afghan Justice Minister Mullah […]
New Year’s Celebrations Unfold Around the World
Posted December 31st, 2012 at 7:15 pm (UTC-5)
Nations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia have welcomed in the new year as celebrations unfold around the globe. Fireworks lit up the sky over dozens of cities to celebrate the arrival of 2013, including festivities in Athens, Moscow and London. Dubai marked the new year with a light show at the world’s tallest […]
Pakistan Releases More Afghan Taliban Prisoners
Posted December 31st, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan has released eight Afghan Taliban prisoners, including the minister of justice during the Taliban’s rule of Afghanistan in the late 1990’s. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday that among those released were former Afghan Justice Minister Mullah Nooruddin Turabi and former Helmand province Governor Abdul Bari, as well as two other former […]
23 Killed as Iraq Bombings Target Pilgrims
Posted December 31st, 2012 at 12:25 pm (UTC-5)
Iraqi authorities say a wave of bombings across the country has killed at least 23 people in the latest apparent effort by militants to undermine confidence in the security forces. In Monday’s deadliest attack, insurgents blew up several houses in the town of Musayyib, south of Baghdad, killing seven people. In Baghdad’s Karrada district, a […]
Sydney Fireworks Dazzle as Asia-Pacific Greets New Year
Posted December 31st, 2012 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
A gigantic fireworks display has lit up Sydney harbor as Australia and other Asia-Pacific nations become the first to welcome the new year. An estimated 1.5 million people gathered around the Sydney harbor on a warm summer night to see the $6.9 million fireworks show, with some camping out for much of the day to […]
Central African Republic President Offers Unity Govt to Rebels
Posted December 30th, 2012 at 2:30 pm (UTC-5)
The Central African Republic’s President Francois Bozize says he is willing to enter into a coalition government with the rebels who have taken control of a third of his country and are poised outside the capital. Mr. Bozize made his comments in a press conference Sunday following his meeting with visiting African Union chief Thomas […]
