Japan PM to visit Africa, Mideast with cash pledge: reports
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Africa and the Middle East this week, reports said Monday, bearing development cash pledges as Tokyo pushes back against growing Chinese influence in the resource-rich region.
Harry Potter wizard invoked again as Japan hits back at China
The diplomatic bickering between Japan and China has descended into name-calling in the British press, with claim and counter-claim by the countries' ambassadors invoking the fictional evil wizard of the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort.
06 January 2014
Obama proposes new gun rules for mentally ill
The Obama administration proposed two new federal gun control rules Friday to ensure more information about the mentally ill reaches background check databases, after a series of high-profile US shootings.
06 January 2014
Deadly clashes kill 11 as Morsi backers rally in Egypt
At least 11 people were killed Friday in clashes across Egypt as police dispersed thousands of protesters demanding the reinstatement of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, the health ministry said.
06 January 2014
Nepal's court rules out amnesty for serious war crimes
Nepal's top court has rejected a demand by ultra-leftists that an amnesty be granted to people who committed serious rights abuses during the country's civil war, an official said Saturday.
05 January 2014
Indian PM Singh says will step down after 2014 elections
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced Friday that he will step down after elections this year and said reluctant political scion Rahul Gandhi should take his place if the ruling Congress party wins an unlikely third term.
03 January 2014
Kerry on second day of new Mideast peace push
US Secretary of State John Kerry launched a second day of talks with Israelis and Palestinians Friday, seeking to hammer out a framework to guide negotiations towards a peace deal.
Australia's WikiLeaks Party under fire for Assad talks
Whistleblowing group WikiLeaks said Tuesday it had no knowledge of and did not approve a delegation to Syria which met President Bashar al-Assad and included members of Australia's WikiLeaks Party.
01 January 2014
New Mayor of Taraz appointed
Nurzhan Kalenderov has been appointed the new Akim (Mayor) of Taraz city in southern Kazakhstan.
31 December 2013
Turkey 'takes $100 billion hit' from political turmoil
The political crisis engulfing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cost the economy $100 billion, a top official said Monday, as financial markets rebounded after days in freefall.
31 December 2013
Putin to keep within the law in terror hunt: UN
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Monday to stay within international law in the hunt for the perpetrators of two bomb attacks in the city of Volgograd, the United Nations said.
31 December 2013
Hollande tackles Middle Eastern crises on Saudi visit
French President Francois Hollande and Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday held talks on escalating tensions in the Middle East, with a focus on Lebanon and Syria, during a visit also aimed at boosting commercial ties.
31 December 2013
Nursultan Nazarbayev condolences Russia
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has sent his condolences to Russian President Putin over the terrorist attacks in Volgograd.
30 December 2013
Huge crowds hold Madrid mass after new abortion law
Tens of thousands of Roman Catholics joined in an open-air mass in central Madrid on Sunday to celebrate the Holy Family, just days after the Spanish government agreed to tighten the abortion law.
Argentina court grants abortion for teen rape victim
A court in Argentina ruled Friday that a 14-year old rape victim could have an abortion, overturning a judge's earlier decision barring the girl from seeking the procedure.