Syria foes set to end talks with no concrete progress
Syria's warring sides are expected to wrap up their first peace talks on Friday without concrete progress on ending the violence, a political transition or ensuring humanitarian aid for millions in need.
Kerry to meet Ukrainian opposition leaders
In a major show of support for pro-democracy protesters in Ukraine, US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet top opposition leaders for the first time this weekend.
US admiral nominated to be next NSA chief
President Barack Obama has nominated a US Navy officer, Vice Admiral Michael Rogers, to take over as head of the embattled National Security Agency.
31 January 2014
Obama repels new Iran sanctions push... for now
President Barack Obama appears to have prevailed, for now, in a campaign to stop Congress from imposing new sanctions on Iran he fears could derail nuclear diplomacy.
30 January 2014
Philippines stands firm in diplomatic row with Hong Kong
The Philippines insisted Thursday it would not apologise for a 2010 hostage crisis in which Hong Kong tourists died, saying its response to the tragedy had been generous and compassionate.
Syria, spying, Iran in focus at global security meet
Global leaders from politics, defence and diplomacy meet in Germany from Friday to discuss conflict hotspots and looming threats, from Syria and Afghanistan to East Asia and Africa.
29 January 2014
Hollande feels backlash over Valerie dumping
French President Francois Hollande has been hit with a backlash over the manner in which he dumped former first lady Valerie Trierweiler after being caught out having a secret affair.
29 January 2014
Tunisia parliament approves new cabinet line-up
Tunisia's parliament on Wednesday approved a technocratic caretaker government tasked with leading the country out of a bruising political crisis and to fresh elections.
29 January 2014
Give diplomacy a chance, says Obama
President Barack Obama declared Tuesday that America must move away from a permanent war footing to give diplomacy a chance to resolve some of the world's toughest problems, such as the nuclear standoff with Iran.
29 January 2014
LatAm summit lashes out at US spying
Cuban President Raul Castro Tuesday railed against US spying as he opened a summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders set up by Venezuela's late anti-US leader Hugo Chavez.
Ukraine PM resigns: government
Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned in a bid to ease Ukraine's deadly two-month crisis as lawmakers began an extraordinary session aimed at adopting crucial reforms.