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East Sea, West Sea, South Sea or Our Sea
The South East Asian countries are trying to influence matters by semantics, explorations and military exercises, but they are all scrambling to assert their rights to the resources of the sea and the sea bed. Asia is the world's industrial heartland and the race for energy and mineral resources is as frenetic as the competition between the European powers in the 19th Century.
FM Lieberman: EU peace efforts in Mideast are 'naive'
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman rejected on Tuesday the European Union's peace initiative. The plan, revealed in Haaretz on Tuesday, aims to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority by convening a Middle East peace conference in Paris.
Hamas may nominate Haniyeh to head unity Palestinian gov't
A senior Hamas official told pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat on Tuesday that the group plans to nominate Hamas President Ismail Haniyeh to head the new unity Palestinian government if Fatah nominates only Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to the same position.
Berlusconi offers to host Mideast peace talks in Sicily
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi offered to take personal steps to help restart stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, telling Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Rome on Monday that he would be willing to host negotiations in Sicily.
Fighter-jet engines stolen from Israeli air base
Israeli Air Force (IAF) officials on Monday said eight engines that power F-15 and F-16 jets, which comprise the backbone of the IAF, were stolen from its northern Ramat David air base about three months ago.
Israel to develop gas field near Gaza coast
The decision to grant the approval was made in light of a severe shortage of natural gas supplies in the country beginning in late 2012, ministry officials said.
Sudan's Bashir and Kiir 'agree Abyei troop pull-out'
The northern seizure of the town last month sparked fears of renewed conflict, as the south prepares to secede in July.
CIA to operate drones over Yemen
The plan to move CIA-operated Predator and other unmanned aircraft into the region reflects a decision by President Obama that the al-Qaeda threat in Yemen has grown so serious that patrols by U.S. military drones are not enough.
Lebanon PM names new government after months of limbo
Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati has formed a new government that he hopes will receive the backing of parliament, he announced Monday, five months after the country's last government fell.
Clashes mar visit by Jordan's king, witnesses say
Clashes broke out between citizens and anti-riot police during a visit by King Abdullah to southern Jordan on Monday.
Third Russian plane heads to Yemen for evacuation
Two Emergencies Ministry evacuation flights from Yemen brought 175 Russian and CIS citizens, including 59 children, to Moscow Monday. Russia has already recalled 14 diplomats and their families from its embassy in Sana'a and general consulate in Aden. There are about 800 Russians remaining in Yemen.
North Korean ship turned back by U.S. Navy
A North Korean ship suspected of transporting missiles or other weapons technology was intercepted by the U.S. Navy two weeks ago and turned back, U.S. officials said Monday. The incident in the South China Sea was the Obama administration’s highest-profile confrontation in the past year with North Korea and with Burma, the suspected destination of the weapons.
China is not happy with U.S. involvement in the South Sea.
Vietnam bolsters military stance amid China marine row
Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued a decree about a potential military call-up, amid rising tension with China.
Russia 'concerned' over US warship in Black Sea
Russia is voicing concern about a US warship now just off its shores in the Black Sea. The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey, which is taking part in annual joint military exercises conducted by Nato and Ukraine, is an integral part of US plans to create a missile shield in Europe, which Russia opposes.
Libyan troops fire rockets into Tunisia
Libyan troops fired Grad rockets from positions controlled by Muammar Gaddafi over the border into Tunisia on Tuesday, witnesses said, in an assault likely to raise already high tensions between the two countries.
Egypt tells Iran that Gulf security is 'red line'
Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Elaraby on Monday told Iran not to meddle in the internal affairs of Gulf Arab states, saying that Cairo considers the security of fellow Arab countries "a red line", or no-go area.
British woman to have womb transplanted to daughter
Doctors are hoping that if the transplant is successful, Sara - who was born without reproductive organs - could carry a child in the same womb from which she herself was born.
Arizona wildfire spreads across the border
Firefighters have stopped the northward advance of the second-largest wildfire in recorded Arizona history and are now focusing on its eastern flank, which has burned its way into New Mexico.
Missouri and Iowa flooding.
China flooding update.
China Exceeds U.S. in Energy Use for First Time in 2010
China reaches new milestones in energy every year, it seems, and 2010 goes down as the year China used more energy than the United States. That’s just one of the many important facts to be gleaned from BP’s annual “Statistical Review of World Energy,” released June 8.
Malaysia minister attacks 'Obedient Wives Club'
The "Obedient Wives Club" was started by a fringe Muslim group earlier this month. Its founders say domestic violence and prostitution could be cured by teaching women to keep their men happy in the bedroom. They say women should be "better than a first-class prostitute". That way, the men are less likely to stray or resort to violence, they say.
For faithful, San Fran ban on circumcision a cut too deep
A ballot measure to ban circumcision in San Francisco has become a national punch line, but it’s being taken seriously by religious groups who see the proposal as an attack on their faith.
The South East Asian countries are trying to influence matters by semantics, explorations and military exercises, but they are all scrambling to assert their rights to the resources of the sea and the sea bed. Asia is the world's industrial heartland and the race for energy and mineral resources is as frenetic as the competition between the European powers in the 19th Century.
FM Lieberman: EU peace efforts in Mideast are 'naive'
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman rejected on Tuesday the European Union's peace initiative. The plan, revealed in Haaretz on Tuesday, aims to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority by convening a Middle East peace conference in Paris.
Hamas may nominate Haniyeh to head unity Palestinian gov't
A senior Hamas official told pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat on Tuesday that the group plans to nominate Hamas President Ismail Haniyeh to head the new unity Palestinian government if Fatah nominates only Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to the same position.
Berlusconi offers to host Mideast peace talks in Sicily
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi offered to take personal steps to help restart stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, telling Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Rome on Monday that he would be willing to host negotiations in Sicily.
Fighter-jet engines stolen from Israeli air base
Israeli Air Force (IAF) officials on Monday said eight engines that power F-15 and F-16 jets, which comprise the backbone of the IAF, were stolen from its northern Ramat David air base about three months ago.
Israel to develop gas field near Gaza coast
The decision to grant the approval was made in light of a severe shortage of natural gas supplies in the country beginning in late 2012, ministry officials said.
Sudan's Bashir and Kiir 'agree Abyei troop pull-out'
The northern seizure of the town last month sparked fears of renewed conflict, as the south prepares to secede in July.
CIA to operate drones over Yemen
The plan to move CIA-operated Predator and other unmanned aircraft into the region reflects a decision by President Obama that the al-Qaeda threat in Yemen has grown so serious that patrols by U.S. military drones are not enough.
Lebanon PM names new government after months of limbo
Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati has formed a new government that he hopes will receive the backing of parliament, he announced Monday, five months after the country's last government fell.
Clashes mar visit by Jordan's king, witnesses say
Clashes broke out between citizens and anti-riot police during a visit by King Abdullah to southern Jordan on Monday.
Third Russian plane heads to Yemen for evacuation
Two Emergencies Ministry evacuation flights from Yemen brought 175 Russian and CIS citizens, including 59 children, to Moscow Monday. Russia has already recalled 14 diplomats and their families from its embassy in Sana'a and general consulate in Aden. There are about 800 Russians remaining in Yemen.
North Korean ship turned back by U.S. Navy
A North Korean ship suspected of transporting missiles or other weapons technology was intercepted by the U.S. Navy two weeks ago and turned back, U.S. officials said Monday. The incident in the South China Sea was the Obama administration’s highest-profile confrontation in the past year with North Korea and with Burma, the suspected destination of the weapons.
China is not happy with U.S. involvement in the South Sea.
Vietnam bolsters military stance amid China marine row
Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued a decree about a potential military call-up, amid rising tension with China.
Russia 'concerned' over US warship in Black Sea
Russia is voicing concern about a US warship now just off its shores in the Black Sea. The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey, which is taking part in annual joint military exercises conducted by Nato and Ukraine, is an integral part of US plans to create a missile shield in Europe, which Russia opposes.
Libyan troops fire rockets into Tunisia
Libyan troops fired Grad rockets from positions controlled by Muammar Gaddafi over the border into Tunisia on Tuesday, witnesses said, in an assault likely to raise already high tensions between the two countries.
Egypt tells Iran that Gulf security is 'red line'
Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Elaraby on Monday told Iran not to meddle in the internal affairs of Gulf Arab states, saying that Cairo considers the security of fellow Arab countries "a red line", or no-go area.
British woman to have womb transplanted to daughter
Doctors are hoping that if the transplant is successful, Sara - who was born without reproductive organs - could carry a child in the same womb from which she herself was born.
Arizona wildfire spreads across the border
Firefighters have stopped the northward advance of the second-largest wildfire in recorded Arizona history and are now focusing on its eastern flank, which has burned its way into New Mexico.
Missouri and Iowa flooding.
China flooding update.
China Exceeds U.S. in Energy Use for First Time in 2010
China reaches new milestones in energy every year, it seems, and 2010 goes down as the year China used more energy than the United States. That’s just one of the many important facts to be gleaned from BP’s annual “Statistical Review of World Energy,” released June 8.
Malaysia minister attacks 'Obedient Wives Club'
The "Obedient Wives Club" was started by a fringe Muslim group earlier this month. Its founders say domestic violence and prostitution could be cured by teaching women to keep their men happy in the bedroom. They say women should be "better than a first-class prostitute". That way, the men are less likely to stray or resort to violence, they say.
For faithful, San Fran ban on circumcision a cut too deep
A ballot measure to ban circumcision in San Francisco has become a national punch line, but it’s being taken seriously by religious groups who see the proposal as an attack on their faith.