SEOUL - South Korea and the United States on Monday began their annual extensive joint military exercises. That has prompted a renewed war threat by North Korea.
More than 12,000 members of the U.S. military are joining 200,000 South Korean service members for the maneuvers.
North Korea warns the drills could lead to war.
South Korean media report […]
NEW YORK - The United Nations refugee agency says almost 100,000 people have fled Libya into neighboring Egypt and Tunisia in the past week, to escape a deadly anti-government uprising.
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres asked the international community Sunday to provide quick and generous assistance to Egypt and Tunisia, so that they can […]
NEW YORK - The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to impose sanctions against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his immediate family and his top associates in connection with the regime’s deadly response to anti-government protests, and to refer the matter to a war crimes tribunal.
The resolution, passed Saturday evening, freezes the assets of Mr. […]
KUWAIT CITY - Kuwait has marked two decades of liberation from Iraq by staging a large military parade made up of servicemen from many of the coalition countries that took part in the Persian Gulf War. A total of 34 nations helped to drive Saddam Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait 20 years ago, bringing the […]
WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned Friday that the U.S. Army must restructure itself or risk losing important mid-level leaders and not being prepared for the conflicts of the future.
Secretary Gates traveled to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York to speak to the Army’s future officers about their careers. He […]
WASHINGTON - President Obama is calling for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to step down immediately. The call came in a statement issued by the White House detailing a private phone conversation Mr. Obama had with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In his phone call with Chancellor Merkel, according to the White House statement, President Obama shared “deep […]
NEW YORK - The Libyan ambassador to the United Nations made an impassioned appeal Friday to the U.N. Security Council, calling on the U.N.’s most powerful body to adopt a strong resolution and “save Libya.” His speech ended with him embracing his deputy, who had defected from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s camp earlier this week, […]
WASHINGTON - The United States is moving ahead with unilateral sanctions, and other steps in cooperation with international partners, aimed at pressuring Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to stop his government’s violent crackdown on opposition protesters.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney announced the steps at Friday’s White House news briefing as he spoke about a situation […]
WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan has ordered an investigation into allegations published in Rolling Stone Magazine that his deputy for training Afghan forces ordered a psychological operations unit to help him convince visiting U.S. officials to provide more money for his effort.
Officials see the training program as crucial to […]
TRIPOLI - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has blamed Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida terrorists for the anti-government protests in his country.
In a Thursday speech relayed to state television by telephone, he said al-Qaida forces had given “hallucinogenic” drugs to youth in Libya to get them to incite unrest. He said people “with any brains” would […]
WASHINGTON - The United States said Thursday it will seek Libya’s expulsion from the U.N. Human Rights Council as an initial step to try to bring an end to violence in the North African country. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will join in a meeting of the U.N. panel on Monday in Geneva.
Officials here say […]
SEOUL - Five American aid agencies report the food shortage in North Korea has become severe. They are appealing for quick assistance to feed the isolated country’s most vulnerable people. There are hurdles, however, to resuming aid to North Korea.
The five aid groups say many North Koreans are foraging for wild grasses and herbs because […]
WASHINGTON - The United States says it has imposed sanctions on a six-nation network of drug traffickers linked to Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa Cartel.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it has designated as drug traffickers Colombian native Jorge Milton Cifuentes Villa and more than 70 individuals and entities in his organization.
The action freezes any assets […]
NEW DELHI - Tens of thousands of people have gathered in India’s capital to protest surging food prices.
Demonstrators marched through the center of New Delhi Wednesday, heading towards the Indian parliament building as they chanted slogans against high food costs. Protesters included members of several trade unions, including one linked to India’s ruling party.
India has […]
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Wednesday strongly condemned Libyan government-sanctioned violence against demonstrators, and said the United States is stepping up international consultations on how to deal with the situation. The president appeared with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after talks at the White House.
The president’s remarks came at the end of a day […]
TRIPOLI - Witnesses in the Libyan capital Tripoli say many streets were deserted Wednesday, with residents afraid to leave their homes, a day after Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi urged his supporters to attack anti-government demonstrators.
The witnesses told foreign news agencies that armed Gadhafi loyalists and mercenaries from other African nations were roaming the capital, threatening […]
PARIS - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s government is facing new and stronger international calls to stop a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for the EU to impose “concrete sanctions” against Libya. In a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, he said those involved in the ongoing violence in Libya must know that […]
ATHENS - Greek riot police fired tear gas at rock throwing protesters, at the start of a general strike in the capital, Athens, on Wednesday.
Two major Greek unions representing public and private sector employees are striking in response to continuing austerity measures imposed by Prime Minister George Papandreou.
The strike called by Greece’s largest umbrella trade […]
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama took time out Tuesday from dealing with the Middle East turmoil and other crises to focus on the U.S. economy and politics. The president visited the politically important state of Ohio to promote his plan to boost American economic competitiveness.
The president wants the government to spend more money on a […]
NEW YORK - The U.N. Security Council has strongly condemned the violent crackdown on protesters in the North African country of Libya and called for an immediate end to the violence. But as the council issued its statement Tuesday, the Libyan deputy U.N. Ambassador warned that new attacks have begun on civilians in the western […]
TRIPOLI - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has ruled his north African nation since 1969. He is known for his eccentricities and ruthless rule. Now, despite massive protests, the 68-year-old leader refuses to leave and he says he will die a martyr.
As a young military officer, Moammar Gadhafi led a coup against the reigning king and […]
WASHINGTON - The United States has condemned the violence against anti-government protesters in Libya and called on Moammar Gadhafi’s government to stop the “unacceptable bloodshed” taking place in the North African nation.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday the world is watching events unfold in Libya “with alarm.” Her statement came amid reports from […]
TRIPOLI - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi briefly appeared on state television early Tuesday as his faltering 40-year regime showed more signs of crumbling in the face of a widespread popular uprising that has escalated into open, deadly confrontation.
Mr. Gadhafi, who appeared under a large umbrella learning out from the front seat of a van, said […]
SYDNEY - At least 65 deaths are being reported after a powerful earthquake struck the New Zealand city, Christchurch. Buildings have collapsed, prompting fears that residents and office workers could be trapped in the rubble.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Christchurch at lunchtime Tuesday, when one of New Zealand’s key cities […]
