By Seana Magee NEW YORK, Jan. 30 (PNA/Kyodo) — China, South Korea and North Korea on Wednesday criticized Japan at the U.N. Security Council for its handling of history, slamming Prime Minister…
Category: International
New Czech Republic gov’t sworn in
PRAGUE, Jan. 30 (PNA/Xinhua) — Czech President Milos Zeman sworn in a new coalition government on Wednesday, more than three months after the elections. The new government was formed by the centre-left…
Syria talks in Geneva make ‘positive’ step forward
By Zeina Karam GENEVA, Jan. 30 (PNA/RIA Novosti) — Syrian negotiators discussed the establishment of a transitional government body for the first time Wednesday, an opposition delegate said, describing it as a…
UN urges Syria to speed up role in elimination of chemical weapons
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 29 (PNA/Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said he has expressed concern to the Syrian government of its “now behind schedule” in the elimination of chemical weapon…
Trucks carrying WFP food arrive in CAR capital: UN spokesman
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 29 (PNA/Xinhua) — Ten trucks carrying 250 metric tons of rice and maize meal provided by the UN World Food Program (WFP) arrived in Bangui, the capital of the…
Putin: Russia not to interfere in situation in Ukraine
BRUSSELS, Jan. 29 (PNA/ITAR-TASS) — Russia will not interfere in the situation in Ukraine, which has been hit by anti-government protests, President Vladimir Putin said after a Russia-EU summit on Tuesday. “How…
China bans smoking in schools
BEIJING, Jan. 29 (PNA/Xinhua) — The Chinese government on Wednesday released a tough smoking ban for all the country’s schools. According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Education, “nobody is…
As clashes resume, Yanukovych offers PM job to opposition
KIEV, Jan. 27 (PNA/RIA Novosti) -– Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych offered opposition leaders top jobs in the government at talks taking place against a backdrop of resumed street fighting in Kiev. Pro-Western…
Thai election commission offers to postpone parliamentary polls for 6 months
BANGKOK, Jan. 27 (PNA/ITAR-TASS) –The election commission of Thailand on Monday said the snap elections to the country’s National Assembly (the parliament) would need to be postponed for six months in order…
SoKor economy posts first rebound in three-years, grows 2.8 pct in 2013
SEOUL, Jan. 23 (PNA/Xinhua) — The South Korean economy grew 2.8 percent in 2013, the first rebound in three years, central bank data showed Thursday. Real GDP, the broadest measure of economic…
Japan proposes agricultural cooperation with ASEAN universities
JAKARTA, Jan. 22 (PNA/Antara) –The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has proposed an agriculture-food related areas cooperation through universities around the Southeast Asian countries. Japanese Minister-Counselor and Deputy Chief…
Sanctions can be lifted after all Iran nuclear problems settled – P5+1 mediators
MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (PNA/ITAR-TASS) — Political directors of P5+1 international mediators (Russia, Great Britain, Germany, China, the United States and France) on Iranian nuclear program with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs…
Putin, Obama discuss Syria, Iran, US-Russia relations on phone
TEHRAN, Jan. 22 (PNA/IRNA) –Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama discussed the agenda of the international conference on Syria to open in Montreux on January 22, in a phone…
Kerry: Geneva II a check for all who backs Syrian people in fight for freedom
MONTREUX, Jan. 22 (PNA/ITAR-TASS) — The Geneva II peace conference “is a check for everyone who backs the Syrian people in its fight for freedom,” US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed…
UN chief invites Iran to Geneva II conference
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 20 (PNA/Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday that he had invited Iran to attend this week’s Syria peace conference in Switzerland, also known as Geneva II….