January 2, 2013
US Oil Rig Grounded Off Alaska
A huge Shell Oil drilling rig has run aground in a storm off the rugged coast of the remote U.S. state of Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard said the Kulluk broke free from the ship handling it in rough seas in the Gulf of Alaska on New Year's Eve and…
January 2, 2013
Syria Begins New Year With More Violence
Syrian government troops and rebel forces fought Tuesday on the outskirts of Damascus and near the city of Aleppo. Government aircraft pounded eastern suburbs of the capital and rebel-held areas of Aleppo, the country's commercial hub. Authorities…
December 27, 2012
Syrian Delegation in Russia For Talking on Ending Unrest
A Syrian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Maqdad has begun talks in Moscow on resolving Syria's 21-month-old uprising. The group arrived on Thursday for meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The delegation is expected…
December 27, 2012
Trade with China Expanded Rapidly in 2011: Seoul
A new report says North Korea's trade with China accounted for more than 70 percent of its total commerce last year, as the isolated nation deepens its reliance on its only major ally. South Korea's national statistics office said Thursday that…
December 23, 2012
Somali troops ‘free’ 22 hostages held by pirates
Twenty-two hostages seized by pirates nearly three years ago have been freed, the authorities in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland say. They said their maritime force began the operation to free the hostages - and their ship - nearly two…
December 23, 2012
Egyptian constitution ‘approved’ in referendum
Egyptians appear to have approved a controversial new constitution in a referendum, unofficial and preliminary results indicate. Results reported by state media suggest that some 63% of voters backed the charter over two rounds of polling. Critics…
December 23, 2012
South Korea Lights Border Christmas Tree
South Korea has allowed a Christian group to light a massive steel Christmas tree tower near the country's tense border with North Korea. The holiday display is thought to be in response to North Korea's recent launching of a long-range rocket…
December 23, 2012
Gandhi Meets Delhi Rape Protesters
India's ruling Congress party chief has met with protesters demonstrating outside her New Delhi residence about the recent gang rape of a female student. Sonia Gandhi met early Sunday with the demonstrators who are demanding that action be taken…
December 23, 2012
Police Clash with Rape Protesters
Police in India's capital Sunday used tear gas and water cannons for a second day on demonstrators who are demanding speedy action against the six detainees accused of a gang rape and beating of a 23-year-old female student. Sonia Ghandi, chief of…
December 23, 2012
South Korea Says Pyongyang has ICBM Technology
South Korea says debris from a rocket fired by the North this month shows Pyongyang has significantly advanced it ballistic missile technology. South Korean Defense Ministry officials said Sunday their reclusive North Korean neighbor has developed…