Venezuelan regime calls for massive Chavez rally
Venezuela's leftist leadership has called for a massive show of support for ailing President Hugo Chavez in Caracas on Thursday -- the day he is supposed to be sworn in to a new six year term in office.
Japan summons China envoy for first time under PM Abe
Tokyo summoned the Chinese ambassador Tuesday for the first time under the new nationalist government to "strongly protest" against the presence of official ships in waters around disputed islands.
Obama picks new CIA, Pentagon chiefs
US President Barack Obama on Monday nominated controversial former Republican senator Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon and proposed that hard-nosed counterterrorism czar John Brennan to head the CIA.
US draws plans for up to 9,000 troops in Afghanistan: report
The US Defense Department has prepared plans for a smaller presence in Afghanistan after the White House insisted on examining the option of leaving fewer troops in the country.
Chavez can stay in office without Jan 10 oath taking: VP
Venezuela's cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez can continue in office even if he is unable to be sworn in to a new term on January 10 as scheduled.
US politician hopes for 'positive' Pyongyang trip
Former US governor Bill Richardson said Friday he hopes to assess what is happening in North Korea under its new leader Kim Jong-Un during what he hopes will be a "positive" visit.
Venezuela assembly meets amid Chavez health crisis
Venezuela's National Assembly meets Saturday to elect its leadership in a session that also is expected to thrash out the country's political future as President Hugo Chavez battles cancer in Cuba.
Syria's Alawite area Assad's last resort: analysts
The last option for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, who is determined not to back down after 21 months of deadly conflict, is to battle to the end from a fortified Alawite statelet, analysts believe.
Japan scrambles jets to head off China plane
Japan scrambled fighter jets Saturday to head off a Chinese state-owned plane that flew near islands at the centre of a dispute between Tokyo and Beijing.