News
Leaders of divided Koreas to hold formal talks
South Korea's president will hold formal talks with reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Wednesday, after the second summit of two states technically still at war got off to a cool start.
UAE president gives $10 million for Iraqi refugees
The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan, has donated $10 million to the United Nations to help Iraqi refugees in Syria, the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday.
Iraq refugees may be undercounted, experts say
The number of Iraqis driven from their homes by war and sectarian violence could be far larger than official estimates of the country's deepening humanitarian crisis, some experts say.
Green doesn't mean sacrificing US lifestyle, says Florida governor
Americans do not need to pare back their lifestyles to help protect the global environment but may need to use sugar or orange peel to power their energy-guzzling Hummers and Cigarette boats, Florida's governor said on Tuesday.
China lawyer abducted, tortured, says human rights group
A Chinese lawyer who represented as online dissident, an imprisoned environmentalist and the leader of a Christian sect was abducted and badly beaten by men he believes worked for Beijing's police, a rights group said.
Japan to cut back on aid to Myanmar
Japan will cut aid to Myanmar following the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests, a newspaper reported on Tuesday, although Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said a decision would not be made before the return of an envoy from the country.
Australia to be hit hard by climate change
Australia, the driest inhabited continent in the world, will get even hotter and drier due to climate change triggered mainly by greenhouse gases, authorities said on Tuesday in new projections.
U.S. threatens more sanctions after Darfur killings
The United States on Monday threatened more sanctions on those in Sudan who targeted civilians or blocked a United Nations-led peace efforts and strongly condemned the weekend killings of African Union peacekeepers in Darfur.
Climate will alter travel patterns in decades
Global warming will produce stay-at-home tourists over the next few decades, radically altering travel patterns and threatening jobs and businesses in tourism-dependent countries, according to a stark assessment by U.N experts.
UN Council stymied over AU's attackers in Darfur
The U.N. Security Council failed to issue a formal statement on Monday condemning a rebel attack on an African peacekeeping base in Darfur over the weekend because of a dispute over naming the culprits.
UN envoy leaves Myanmar after Suu Kyi meeting
United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari flew out of army-ruled Myanmar on Tuesday after meeting junta chief Than Shwe and a second session of talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Nordic peacekeepers ready, still await Darfur call
Norwegian and Swedish army engineers could be in Sudan's Darfur region as early as November as part of the U.N.-AU Darfur peacekeeping mission, their commander says, but so far their offer has yet to be accepted.
Japan to remap climate plans to reach Kyoto goal
Japan will draw up new measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions by next March in an attempt to meet its targets under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, a top official said on Tuesday.
South Korean president meets dour Kim in North
South Korea's president arrived in the capital of hermit North Korea on Tuesday to cheering crowds and an unsmiling leader Kim Jong-il for only the second summit between Cold War-era foes who remain technically at war.
North Korea has date for removal from terrorism list
A draft agreement reached at North Korean disarmament talks sets a timeframe for taking the country off a U.S. terrorism blacklist, the North's chief negotiator said on Tuesday, but he declined to be more specific.
Brown in Iraq to discuss Basra handover
Britain's Gordon Brown arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday on his first visit as prime minister to discuss when Iraqi forces can take responsibility for security in the southern province of Basra, a British official said.