World fears US default, Obama warns
President Barack Obama warned Tuesday that world leaders were nervous Republicans would "blow up" the US economy, and vowed not to budge on his demand for the debt ceiling to be lifted without conditions.
09 October 2013
China official sacked for extravagant wedding: media
A low-ranking official in Beijing was sacked for hosting a lavish wedding banquet, Chinese state media said, becoming the latest target of a high-profile official crackdown on corruption and waste.
Argentina leader to receive surgery for brain injury
Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner was to undergo surgery Tuesday to drain a brain hematoma, officials said, leaving her party in uncertainty in the run-up to this month's congressional elections.
08 October 2013
Syria arms inspectors face unprecedented danger: UN
The United Nations warned Monday that inspectors face a year-long mission of unprecedented danger in trying to destroy Syria's chemical weapons arsenal, as rebels launched a major offensive.
08 October 2013
Japan asks WTO to intervene on S.Korean atomic fish ban
Japan has asked the World Trade Organisation to step into a row over Seoul's import ban on fish caught in waters near the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, officials said Tuesday.
Default fears fuel angst in shutdown WashingtonThe "unthinkable" threat of a US default weighed on Washington Monday, as a standoff over raising the government debt ceiling drowned out angst over a week-long government shutdown.
08 October 2013
Canada threatens to pull Commonwealth fundingCanada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper has threatened to withdraw funding for the Commonwealth in an escalating row over rights abuses by Sri Lanka ahead of a summit next month.
08 October 2013
APEC leaders meet in shadow of US shutdownAsia-Pacific leaders opened an annual economic summit on Monday in the shadow of global growth clouds that are darkening by the day as the United States struggles to shake off policy paralysis.
Azerbaijan cracks down on critics ahead of pollsSakina Gurbanova says her son is facing 12 years in prison for daring to challenge Azerbaijan's government ahead of upcoming presidential elections in the tightly controlled ex-Soviet state.
07 October 2013
Kazakhstan may enter WTO in two months’ timeAleksei Likhachev, Russia’s Vice Minister of Economic Development, believes Kazakhstan is almost ready to enter the WTO and doesn’t exclude the country may accede to the WTO in two months’ time, at the 9th WTO ministerial conference on Bali.
07 October 2013
Kerry says Syrian chemical arms drive is to Assad's 'credit'US Secretary of State John Kerry said Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad could take "credit" for quickly starting the process of destroying his regime's chemical weapons arsenal and thanked Russia for its help.
Ireland votes on scrapping upper house of parliamentCash-strapped Ireland voted in a referendum on Friday on whether to back Prime Minister Enda Kenny's controversial proposals to abolish the upper house of parliament.