UN watchdog demands Uzbekistan halt use of torture
Uzbekistan must halt its routine use of torture and cease reprisals against human rights campaigners who expose state abuses, United Nations monitors said Friday.
24 November 2013
China creates air defence zone over Japan-controlled islands
Beijing on Saturday announced it was setting up an "air defence identification zone" over an area that includes islands controlled by Japan but claimed by China, in a move that could inflame the bitter territorial row.
24 November 2013
Race for Arctic resources must be conflict-free: Pentagon
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday the United States will assert its sovereignty in the rapidly thawing Arctic but called on countries to work together to avoid conflict over the untapped frontier.
23 November 2013
Obama praises leadership of Morocco's Mohammed VI
President Barack Obama praised the "leadership" of Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Friday after holding wide-ranging talks with the North African monarch for the first time at the White House.
23 November 2013
West disappointed after Ukraine scraps EU deal
Ukraine on Friday faced accusations from the West it had missed a historic opportunity and caved into Kremlin pressure after the government scrapped plans to sign a deal to deepen trade and political ties with the European Union.
Venezuelan president tries out new emergency powers
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro exercised new emergency powers for the first time Thursday, signing decrees limiting business profit margins and tightening regulation of imports.
Fiji minister cool on rejoining 'irrelevant' CommonwealthFiji's foreign minister has labelled the Commonwealth "irrelevant" and said the Pacific nation is in no hurry to rejoin the international organisation that suspended it four years ago.
21 November 2013
US, Afghanistan agree post-2014 troop dealSecretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday he had nailed down terms governing the presence of US troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014, just hours before Afghan leaders debate the deal.
21 November 2013
Obama, Clinton unite at JFK's graveA pair of Democratic presidents, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton silently honored John F. Kennedy at the former US leader's grave Wednesday, marking the 50th anniversary of his assassination.
21 November 2013
US rules out Afghanistan 'apology' in security talksThe United States has ruled out apologizing to Afghanistan for "mistakes" made during the 12-year war and denied claims in Kabul that such a mea culpa was being drafted.
Azerbaijan, Armenia agree to discuss peace settlement: OSCEThe presidents of arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed Tuesday to discuss a peace settlement over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh, the European security body OSCE said.
20 November 2013
New York City raises legal age for cigarettes to 21A New York City law banning cigarette sales to people under 21 was signed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday, the latest move in the Big Apple's war on smoking.