Yemen to launch tough talks on reconciliation Yemen, the only country where an Arab Spring revolt led to a negotiated settlement, is to launch a UN-backed national dialogue on Monday aimed at drawing the state's divisive players towards a reconciliation.
15 March 2013
US, China to increase nuclear sanctions on N. Korea The United States and China will on Thursday seek to tighten the UN sanctions screws on North Korea after its widely condemned nuclear bomb test last month.
07 March 2013
Iran, world powers respond to counter-offers World powers and Iran were due Wednesday to respond to offers presented by both sides in a final day of talks aimed at breaking a decade of deadlock over Tehran's nuclear drive.
27 February 2013
Syria rebels agree to meet Kerry, dismiss Damascus offer Syria's opposition has cancelled a planned boycott of an international conference on the two-year conflict after appeals from Britain and the US, but rejected an offer of talks from Damascus.
26 February 2013
Iran installing new nuclear equipment: IAEA World powers condemned Iran just days before talks on its controversial nuclear programme, after an IAEA report said it had begun installing advanced equipment at one of its main nuclear plants.
22 February 2013
Iran envoy warns West against nuclear pressure A top Iranian envoy said Wednesday that increased Western pressure over his country's nuclear program could end hopes for a negotiated settlement.
21 February 2013
Kerry, Lavrov talk, finally, on Syria, NKorea: US US Secretary of State John Kerry finally talked Sunday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who had been unavailable for days after the North Korean nuclear test.
US to launch free trade talks with EU: Obama The United States and Europe will launch talks on what would be the world's largest free trade zone, US President Barack Obama declared Tuesday in his State of the Union address.
UN Security Council looms for Iran as IAEA tries again Iran faces possible referral to the UN Security Council in early March unless Tehran and the UN atomic agency defy expectations in talks Wednesday and reach a deal on enhanced inspections.
Next Iran talks: stalemate on the steppes? Agreeing a venue for the next round of talks between Iran and six world powers on Tehran's nuclear drive was hard enough. Achieving progress will be tougher still.
06 February 2013
Syria opposition head seeks talks with Assad's VP The United States has strongly backed a move by Syria's opposition chief to open dialogue with President Bashar al-Assad in a bid to end 22 months of warfare that has cost tens of thousands of lives.
Germany security talks begin with Syria in focus Syria's opposition chief said the international community must not be a bystander to the tragedy of the Syrian people as US and other officials, ministers and military brass gathered for the Munich Security Conference.
02 February 2013
Mali's president rules out talks with IslamistsMali's interim president ruled out talks with Islamist groups who ruled the north for nine months, but said he was ready to meet Tuareg activists from the region.
01 February 2013
Change in Israel needed for peace talks: Palestinians The Palestine Liberation Organisation said Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have to drastically change tack if peace talks were to resume.
31 January 2013
US calls for 'unconditional' Sudan talks with rebels The United States on Thursday called on Sudan to hold "unconditional" talks with rebels battling government forces in two strife-torn states where the UN says thousands are close to starvation.