Greek PM stresses urgency of austerity deal Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras stressed the urgency of sealing an austerity pact ahead of crucial talks Monday between Greek officials and the so-called troika of international creditors.
01 October 2012
Japan PM to reshuffle cabinet 'to cool China row' Japan's unpopular prime minister will use a cabinet reshuffle Monday to try to mend fences with China and to boost his flagging popularity ahead of an expected general election.
01 October 2012
Israel okays development of Gaza offshore gas field Israel has held new talks with the Palestinians over the development of a gas field off the coast of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli foreign ministry said in a new report released on Sunday.
24 September 2012
US rejects calls to slow Afghan withdrawals US President Barack Obama on Wednesday held a video conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai focusing partly on an unprecedented wave of attacks on NATO troops by their local comrades.
21 September 2012
S.Africa Lonmin miners end strike, accept pay raise Lonmin platinum mine workers in South Africa on Tuesday ended their strike in return for pay rises of up to 22 percent, after a nearly six-week standoff that claimed 45 lives.
20 September 2012
Protests stall US move to aid Egypt: report The protests that erupted in Cairo over an anti-Islam Internet video have stalled talks on relieving $1 billion worth of Egyptian debt to the United States.
19 September 2012
Pentagon chief seeks to calm China-Japan row US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was to deliver an appeal for calm in talks with senior Chinese military leaders Tuesday amid an escalating territorial dispute between Beijing and Tokyo.
18 September 2012
US, Morocco launch first strategic dialogue Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday the United States was looking to Morocco "to be a leader and a model" in the region as the two countries launched their first ever strategic dialogue.
14 September 2012
Platinum firm makes offer to striking S African miners Lonmin, the world's number three platinum producer, announced a new offer to striking miners at its South African operations following a fresh round of talks late Thursday.
14 September 2012
EU ministers explore fresh help to Syria opposition EU foreign ministers gather in Cyprus some 100 kilometres from the Syrian coast Friday to explore how to best assist its opposition while defusing a humanitarian crisis looming in Europe's backyard.
08 September 2012
Rebels to seek ceasefire in Colombia peace talks Colombia's FARC rebel group said Thursday it will seek a ceasefire in Latin America's oldest armed conflict when peace talks begin next month with the government, which has ruled out a truce.
08 September 2012
Tensions set to cloud APEC summit Asia-Pacific leaders gather in Russia's far east this weekend for talks aimed at promoting trade but territorial disputes and other regional tensions may cloud the event.
Clinton heads to China with hopes over sea tensions Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads Tuesday to Beijing after talks in emerging US ally Indonesia as she voiced hope for progress in managing soaring tensions in the South China Sea.
04 September 2012
FARC rebel chief confirms Colombia peace talks The leader of Colombia's leftist FARC rebels confirmed on Monday that they were ready to take part in peace talks aimed at ending Latin America's longest-running armed conflict, now nearly 50 years old.
04 September 2012
IAEA report to detail Iranian nuclear advances A new UN atomic agency report due Thursday or Friday is expected to detail how Iran is continuing to expand its nuclear programme despite painful sanctions and talk of Israeli military action.
29 August 2012
Lonmin hopeful more workers will return to S. Africa mines After a promising weekend turnout of workers at its South African platinum mines, Lonmin expressed hopes more will clock in on Monday as talks resume after violence that claimed 44 lives.
27 August 2012
Nigeria in back-channel talks with Islamists: official Nigeria's government has reached out to members of Islamist militant group Boko Haram through back-channel talks in a bid to end an insurgency that has killed hundreds, the president's spokesman said Sunday.
27 August 2012
North Korea, Japan to hold first direct talks in four yearsNorth Korea and Japan this week hold their first direct talks in four years with attention focused on whether they can show progress in overcoming deep-rooted suspicions that have hamstrung ties.
27 August 2012
Under-pressure but defiant Iran seeks elusive IAEA deal Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog were due in talks Friday to make a fresh push to patch up relations as Tehran feels the heat from sanctions and amid fevered speculation of imminent Israeli military action.