China 'Quietly' Nudging North Korea To Drop Nuclear Test: Report
China has been nudging North Korea to shelve the plans for a third nuclear test, though it remains unclear how North may react to the pressure, sources aware of the secretive discussions between the two nations have said.
Afghanistan Demands $4.1 Billion A Year; Plans To Sell Islamic Bonds
Afghanistan, bracing for a potential sharp decline in financial support from the West amid fears of a fresh military offensive by the Taliban insurgents, has demanded $4.1 billion a year for its security forces after the foreign troops pull out in 2014, ahead of the NATO summit starting Sunday.
Ratko Mladic Goes On Trial Over War Crimes, Genocide; Taunts Survivors In Court
Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic went on trial Wednesday on 11 counts of war crimes, including genocide during Bosnian war in the 1990s, which saw the Srebrenica massacre and the bloody siege of Sarajevo.
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spy For Killing Nuclear Scientist
Iran has executed a man accused of being an Israeli spy, who was found guilty of killing an alleged Iranian nuclear physicist in 2010, Iranian state media reported Tuesday.
Pakistan Signals Rapprochement, May End Blockade On Afghan Route For NATO
The Pakistani government is considering reopening its Afghan border to NATO troop supplies, ahead of the military alliance's summit.
Nepal Plane Crash Kills 15
Fifteen passengers died on Monday when an aircraft carrying 21 people crashed in a mountainous terrain of Northern Nepal while attempting to land at an airstrip, authorities said.
Somali Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker In Arabian Sea; Indians, Filipinos Among Captives
Pirates based on the coast of northern Somalia hijacked a Greek-owned oil tanker in the Arabian Sea with a crew of 15, mostly Indians and Filipinos.
China-Philippines Standoff Likened To David Vs Goliath: Safety Alert Issued Over South China Sea Protests
Hundreds of Philippine protestors took to the streets outside the Chinese embassy in Manila demanding China to withdraw its ships from the region.
Putin Pulls Out Of G8 Summit And Meeting With Obama
Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday called off a much anticipated visit to the US where he was to join the other world leaders in a key summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrial nations and meet with US President Barack Obama, the Kremlin announced, citing domestic concerns as the reason behind the change of plans.
Algeria Elections: Sceptics To Abstain From Voting; Islamists Sense Opportunity
Political scepticism may mar the Algerian parliamentary election Thursday even as the ruling government aims at easing the pressure for democratic change created by the Arab Spring revolts last year.
China Launches Deep Water Oil Drilling In South China Sea
China's first deep-water oil drilling rig has begun operations in the South China Sea amid maritime tensions between Manila and Beijing over a disputed shoal in another region of the disputed waters, Chinese state media reported Wednesday.
Israel Cancels Early Elections; Opposition To Join Government
In an unexpected development, Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday called off early general elections hours after announcing his decision to hold polls on Sept. 4, almost a year earlier than it was originally scheduled. Israeli President Shimon Peres' office has confirmed the cancellation of the elections.
The Comeback That Isn't: Putin To Revamp Russian Economy, US Warned Against Interference
Among the flurry of decrees Vladimir Putin issued after returning to the presidency for a historic third term were calls for faster privatization and government-sponsored boost in capital investment and closer ties with the US, based on equality, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for one another's interests.
Why NATO And Eurozone Are Concerned About Hollande
The victory of socialist Francois Hollande in the French Presidential election has posed certain tough challenges to NATO and US President Barack Obama.
Alleged US Drone Attack On Pakistan Kills 9 Militants: US Drone Policy Shows No Signs Of Change
A US drone attack targeting a Taliban militant compound in Pakistan has killed nine people Saturday, Pakistani authorities have alleged.
Sudan, South Sudan Say They Accept African Union Peace Roadmap
Sudan Thursday expressed hopes that South Sudan will respond positively to the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) calls to establish peace between the warring nations and steer clear of likely sanctions.
US-Afghan Security Pact Doesn't Rule Out Drone Strikes In Pakistan
The security pact signed by US President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, which defines America's future role in Afghanistan, doesn't rule out the possibility of drone strikes against insurgent targets in Pakistan even after the withdrawal of US troops in 2014, US Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker has said.
North Korea Jamming South's Air Signals Affects Civilian Flights: Report
Electronic signals originating from North Korea have been allegedly intercepting scores of civilian aircrafts in and out of South Korea, after Pyongyang's recent threats of offensive action, including a sacred war, against the South.
Suicide Bomb Attack In Kabul Kills Six Hours After Obama's Surprise Visit
A suicide car bomb attack carried out by the Taliban militants in the Afghan capital of Kabul Wednesday, within hours of US President Barack Obama's surprise visit, has killed six persons and left several injured.
Taiwan Beauty Pageant Says No To 'Home Wreckers'
Participants at an annual Taiwan beauty pageant have been asked to sign an agreement which mandates them not to get involved in sexual relationships with married men. Any contestant found to be involved in an extramarital affair would be disqualified from the pageant.
Sarkozy To Sue Website Over Claims That Gadhafi Funded His Campaign
Less than a week ahead of the presidential election, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has threatened to sue a website over articles which claimed that the slain Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi donated around $65 million to his 2007 presidential campaign.
Malaysia Sets Minimum Wage For Private Sector; 3 Million Workers To Be Benefited
Malaysia has set the minimum wage for the private sector, covering all economic sectors except domestic services, saying it would benefit more than three million low-income workers.
Sudan Declares State Of Emergency Signaling Momentum Toward All-Out War
Sudan has declared a state of emergency along the border with South Sudan, indicating a greater impetus for an all-out war over disputed regions and natural resources.
Israel May Hold General Elections Within A Few Months: Report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be considering holding an early general election between the end of August to the beginning of November, to take advantage of his current popularity over the country's unprepared opposition.
North Korea?s Nuclear Test: Satellite Image Shows Work In Progress
An analysis of the latest satellite images of North Korea's nuclear test site appears to show that frantic activities involving a chain of mining carts are underway, amid rumors that the reclusive Asian nation may be planning to conduct a nuclear test, following its failed rocket launch April 13.
French Presidential Hopeful Hollande Will Uphold Ban On Face Covering
Socialist contender for the upcoming French presidential election Francois Hollande has said that, if elected, he will uphold the law banning burqa, or the veil used to cover face, enacted by incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservatives.
US And Japan Arrive On Okinawa Deal To Redeploy Troops
The US and Japan have reached a deal to reposition thousands of US troops from the island of Okinawa, which is considered a key strategic asset for Washington in the Asian region.
Pakistan?s Prime Minister Gilani Punished Symbolically For A Few Seconds In Contempt Case
Pakistan's Supreme Court Thursday sentenced Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to a symbolic detention for a few seconds after he was found guilty of contempt of court by refusing to reopen the corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
India Launches Risat-1; China Says It's Spy Satellite
India successfully launched an indigenous microwave Radar Imaging Satellite, Risat-1, from the spaceport at Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh Thursday.
North Korea Claims To Have 'Modern' Weapons Capable Of 'Defeating' US
A senior North Korean military officer has claimed that Pyongyang is equipped with powerful modern weapons capable of defeating the US. This declaration coincides with speculation that the reclusive Asian nation may be planning to conduct a nuclear test, following its failed rocket launch on April 13.
