• Leftist party splitting up

    The strife-ridden Unified Progressive Party (UPP) seemed to be on course for a break-up Monday after moderates passed a proposal to make Rep. Kang Ki-kab as the leftist party’s emergency leader. The decision came in a vote of 536-9 during an online meeting of the party’s highest decision making central…

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  • New NK badge elevates power of late Kim

    A new badge spotted in North Korea featuring late leader Kim Jong-il alongside his father Kim Il-sung is garnering attention as it appears to hoist the son to a similar level as the worshipped country founder. Websites following movements in the North have recently posted photographs of the new badges…

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  • Politics

    A host of economic challengies agonize Syria

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to the media at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, April 19, 2012. Ban said here Thursday that the situation in Syria remains highly precarious, and he looks forward to an early action by the UN Security Council on his proposed expansion…

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  • Politics

    Joint statement issued after trilateral summit meeting

    Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, center, President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-bak, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attend the Fifth Trilateral Summit Meeting among China, ROK and Japan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2012. <Xinhua/Huang Jingwen> BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua)…

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  • Politics

    Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo to start FTA talks

    Three leaders warn against NK’s provocations The leaders of South Korea, China and Japan agreed at a summit in Beijing Sunday to launch negotiations for a three-way free trade agreement (FTA) this year, raising hopes that the move will bring new momentum to trilateral cooperation. “The three countries have agreed…

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  • Politics

    U.S. provides $40 mil for victims of Syrian crisis

    The United States has allocated $40 million to assist relief agencies aiding victims of the Syrian crisis, the Department of State has said. “The United States is pursuing every avenue to get humanitarian relief to those affected by the violence in Syria and is engaged in focused diplomatic efforts to…

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  • Politics

    Greek leaders fail to form government

    Leftist Alexis Tsipras, the leader of Greece’s second party Syriza, said on Wednesday that he failed to form the government, local media reported. “We won’t be able to realize our dream for a left government. Tomorrow morning I will return the mandate,” Tsipras said to the state television. He received…

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  • Politics

    Algerians vote in parliamentary elections

    Algerians have began voting for the parliamentary elections across the nation, which authorities say will be the freest and most transparent elections ever hosted in the North Africa country. Reports say that more than 48,000 voting stations opened on Thursday morning at 8:00 am local time, with many venues under tight police…

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  • Politics

    Ex-President Medvedev Confirmed as PM

    Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was confirmed as the country’s new prime minister by a majority of votes in the State Duma on Tuesday. President Vladimir Putin submitted Medvedev’s candidacy for the post shortly after his inauguration as president on Monday. Medvedev occupied the presidential post in 2008-2012. United Russia…

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  • Politics

    U.S. to Continue Pressing for Assad’s Resignation

    The United States will continue its efforts to make Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, the country’s envoy to the UN, Susan Rice, said. “The United States remains focused on increasing the pressure on the al-Assad regime and on al-Assad himself to step down,” she said, adding that it…

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