Japan foreign minister heads for Iran as talks bring hopeJapan's foreign minister was preparing Friday to fly to Tehran where he hoped to leverage Tokyo's friendship and cement progress made in talks with world powers over curbing Iran's nuclear drive.
Obama not 'poking' into origin of intelligence on alliesPresident Barack Obama Thursday said he had never poked and probed to find out the origin of US intelligence on key allies like Germany, following a furor over claims US spies eavesdropped on foreign leaders.
08 November 2013
US shutdown cost $2.0 billion in lost govt outputThe 16-day US government shutdown cost 6.6 million in lost workdays for furloughed federal workers, amounting to $2.0 billion in lost productivity, the White House said Thursday in a report.
Taiwan signs free trade deal with SingaporeTaiwan signed a free trade deal with Singapore on Thursday, its first with a Southeast Asian country, as the diplomatically isolated island steps up efforts to join regional economic blocs.
07 November 2013
Central Asia not ready for integrationKazakhstan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerlan Idrisov believes it premature to discuss integration in Central Asia and more appropriate to think of it as cooperation.
07 November 2013
Israel opposes alleged Iran nuclear proposalIsrael urged world powers on Wednesday to reject what it said was an Iranian offer to partly cut back its nuclear programme in return for an easing of Western sanctions.
Only six Americans enrolled on 'Obamacare' first dayJust six people managed enrol in Obamacare on day one of the health plan's troubled rollout, documents released by Republican lawmakers showed, in a new embarrassment for the White House.
03 November 2013
Taiwan's top prosecutor indicted on leaking secretsTaiwan's chief prosecutor was indicted Friday for leaking confidential information to President Ma Ying-jeou about a controversial probe into influence peddling claims.
US gives no spying guarantee to UN: spokesmanThe US government has guaranteed the UN that it is not intercepting its secret communications, a spokesman said Wednesday while not being drawn on reports of past spying.
31 October 2013
Uzbek first daughter confirms media empire shutdownThe eldest daughter of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov Wednesday confirmed the closure of television channels she is believed to control, as rumours build of a rift in the ruling family.
31 October 2013
British newspapers in bid to block tough new press watchdogBritish newspaper and magazine publishers sought a last-minute court injunction on Wednesday to stop a mechanism backed by politicians to regulate the press from being approved later in the day.