January 2, 2012
Fiji Announces Lifting of State of Emergency
Fiji's military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama said Monday that he will lift a two-year state of emergency next Saturday and begin a process of drafting a new constitution leading to new elections in 2014. In his New Year's message, Mr. Bainimarama…
January 2, 2012
Nigeria fury as fuel prices double after subsidy ends
Ordinary Nigerians and trade unionists have condemned the government for withdrawing a fuel price subsidy which has led some petrol prices to double and many filling stations to stay shut. The BBC's Chris Ewokor in the capital, Abuja, says…
January 2, 2012
Egypt’s generals move up next round of elections
Egypt's ruling military council has moved up the scheduled elections for the upper house of parliament by nearly three weeks, with voting now scheduled to start in late January, the state news agency MENA reported Sunday. Balloting will be held…
January 2, 2012
Iran Announces Missile Test After Nuclear Development
Iran says it has successfully tested a cruise missile, a day after announcing another missile test and a new development in its nuclear program. State media reported the ground-to-sea cruise missile test Monday, the last day of Naval exercises.…
January 2, 2012
Seoul Sees Opportunity for Better Ties with North Korea
South Korean President Lee Myung Bak says a new era in inter-Korean relations can be opened if North Korea shows sincerity. In a nationally televised New Year's address Monday, Mr. Lee said there is a new opportunity on the Korean peninsula as the…
January 1, 2012
New Year’s Eve 2012: Celebrations around the world
Revellers around the world are celebrating the end of 2011 and are seeing in 2012.
Sydney…
January 1, 2012
European Leaders Express Somber New Year Messages
European leaders delivered somber New Year's messages to their citizens Saturday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned that France's future will hang in the balance in 2012. He acknowledged that many people are starting the new year worried…
January 1, 2012
Nigeria Declares State of Emergency After Attacks
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in areas hard hit by violence blamed on the radical Islamist sect Boko Haram. In an address on state television Saturday, Mr. Jonathan said the measure is in force in parts of…
January 1, 2012
North Korea Vows to Defend Kim Jong Un “Unto Death”
North Korean officials have pledged in their annual New Year's message to make every effort to bring the country to prosperity and to defend its new leader Kim Jong Un. The message published Sunday by the state-run new agency KCNA comes a day…
January 1, 2012
Afghan President Welcomes US Remarks on Taliban
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Saturday he welcomed U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's recent remarks that the Taliban in Afghanistan is not America's enemy. During a speech in Kabul, Mr. Karzai said the Afghan people are very happy about the…