The United States vowed continued military cooperation with Australia, as the two countries opened annual defense talks in Perth, Australia on Wednesday. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in the summit’s opening remarks that U.S.-Australia relations were an important part of Washington’s strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific. “Our biggest challenge now is, as we rebalance to […]
Hu Steps Down, as China’s Leadership Transition Begins
Posted November 14th, 2012 at 3:25 am (UTC-5)
Chinese President Hu Jintao formally stepped down as head of the Communist Party on Wednesday, setting the stage for Vice President Xi Jinping to take the country’s top leadership post. Addressing the final day of the party’s week-long congress, President Hu told delegates at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People they should be unified as […]
Xi, Li Named to Top Spots as China’s 18th Party Congress Ends
Posted November 14th, 2012 at 1:05 am (UTC-5)
China’s Communist Party wrapped up a pivotal week-long meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, one day before unveiling the country’s top leaders for the next decade. Gathering in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People for the closing ceremony of the 18th Party Congress, over 2,000 hand-picked delegates selected the few hundred members of the party’s Central […]
Obama Meets with Labor Leaders on US Fiscal Cliff
Posted November 13th, 2012 at 4:55 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. labor leaders met with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, calling on him to reject deep cuts in pensions and health care for the elderly as he works to resolve crucial government financial issues by the end of the year. Newly re-elected, Mr. Obama is turning this week toward a series of talks at the […]
Greece Sells Bonds to Avoid Default Friday
Posted November 13th, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
Cash-strapped Greece has raised the money it needs to help it avoid a default later this week, but says it still urgently needs more bailout funds in the coming days. The Athens government sold more than $5 billion in bonds Tuesday, which coupled with other cash will allow it to pay off more than $6 […]
Three Die in Italy Floods
Posted November 13th, 2012 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
Heavy rainfall and flooding has left at least three people dead in central Italy. Authorities say three power utility workers died when their car fell off a collapsed bridge in Tuscany late Monday. Thousands of people lost power as towns were cut off by rising waters that washed out roads, flooded homes and disrupted train […]
Greece Sells Bonds to Avoid Default
Posted November 13th, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Cash-strapped Greece has raised the money it needs to help it avoid a default later this week. The Athens government sold more than $5 billion in bonds Tuesday, which coupled with other cash will allow it to pay off more than $6 billion in financial obligations it owes on Friday. Greece has adopted another round […]
Japan’s Abe: We Want to Help the Suffering Tibet People
Posted November 13th, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
The man who could become Japan’s next prime minister met with the Dalai Lama Tuesday and called for freedom in Tibet, prompting an immediate protest by the Chinese government. Former prime minister Shinzo Abe, an outspoken nationalist who has been critical of Beijing, joined around 130 other parliamentarians in welcoming the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader […]
Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi Greeted Warmly in India
Posted November 13th, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was greeted by a crowd of supporters as she arrived Tuesday in New Delhi, her first trip to India in four decades. The Nobel laureate will meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other top officials during her week-long visit. She will also visit her alma mater, […]
United Syrian Opposition Receives Limited Recognition
Posted November 12th, 2012 at 8:25 pm (UTC-5)
The Arab League has welcomed the formation of a new Syrian opposition group, but stopped short of giving it full recognition as the representative of the Syrian people. The League, meeting in Egypt, urged regional and international groups to recognize the new coalition. Earlier Monday, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council became the first to formally […]
