North Korea lays out tough pre-conditions for talks
North Korea laid down rigid pre-conditions Thursday for any talks with Seoul or Washington, including the withdrawal of UN sanctions and a guaranteed end to South Korea-US joint military drills.
S. Korea 'regrets' North rejection of dialogue
South Korea voiced regret Monday at North Korea's dismissal of its offer for dialogue, as the South's armed forces remained on heightened alert for an expected missile test by Pyongyang.
Kerry looks to press China on N. Korea
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Beijing on Saturday to seek China's help to rein in a belligerent North Korea and provide a foundation for Seoul to lower soaring tensions with Pyongyang.
Obama tells N. Korea to stop 'belligerent approach'
The United States slammed North Korea's belligerence Thursday and pressed China to rein in its ally.
N. Korea border crossing shut to tourists: China official
The biggest border crossing between North Korea and China has been closed to tourist groups, a Chinese official said Wednesday as nuclear tensions mounted.
US vows to defend itself, allies amid N. Korea crisis
The United States vowed to defend itself and its regional allies Tuesday after North Korea again stepped up its warlike rhetoric and the UN warned that the crisis could spin out of control.
Serbia, Kosovo fail to find accord at EU talks
Serbia and Kosovo failed Wednesday to find common ground on how to defuse longstanding tensions at marathon EU-sponsored talks, but the door appeared still open for further discussions.
US military chief to pay rare China visit
Top US military officer General Martin Dempsey will pay a rare visit to China this month as the Pacific powers discuss concern over tensions with North Korea.
North Korea puts rockets on standby for US strike
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un ordered preparations Friday for strategic rocket strikes on the US mainland and military bases after US stealth bombers flew training runs over South Korea.
North Korea places South island in crosshairs
North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un threatened to "wipe out" a South Korean island as Pyongyang came under new economic and diplomatic fire Tuesday from US sanctions and UN charges of gross rights abuses.
S. Korea flexes muscles with naval exercise
South Korea staged a naval exercise involving US surveillance aircraft on Tuesday, flexing its military muscles at a time of high tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the North's third nuclear test.
Fresh riots in Belfast despite Clinton's plea for calm
Rioting broke out in Belfast late Friday in the latest flare of violence in Northern Ireland, just hours after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the troubled British province urging peace.
Tensions flare at political rally in Bangkok
Thai police fired tear gas and detained dozens of people as tensions flared at an anti-government protest Saturday in Bangkok, the scene of several outbreaks of violent unrest in recent years.
ASEAN to press China over sea tensions
Southeast Asian nations are set to press China Monday to quickly begin talks on easing tensions over maritime territorial rows that have shaken the region and overshadowed efforts to boost trade.
Gaza conflict adds tension to Palestinian UN bid
Israel's air strikes on the Gaza Strip have heightened the tensions surrounding the Palestinian bid for observer membership at the United Nations planned for later this month.
Stung by shock Israel hit, Hamas response may be limited
Israel's surprise hit on Hamas's top military commander in Gaza may have enraged the enclave's Islamist rulers, but analysts said it was unlikely the movement would respond in a way which would lead to all-out war.
Putin, Merkel seek to soothe Germany-Russia tensions
German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday with the two sides seeking to soothe tensions over Berlin's recent criticism of the Russian record on rights.
Multiple new Israeli strikes on Gaza: AFP
Israeli war planes carried out multiple new air strikes on the Gaza Strip, including several hits on Gaza City on Friday morning.
UN chief urges Israel to avoid 'new cycle of bloodshed'
UN leader Ban Ki-moon urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ease tensions with Gaza militants Wednesday and also discussed the crisis with Egypt's president.
US urges 'cooler heads' to preserve Asia's stability
The US on Thursday called for cooler heads to prevail amid regional tensions over disputed island chains, saying it was vital for the world economy to preserve stability in Asia.
