Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:orgs/united_nations_security_counciltag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Putin_welcomes_Chinas_landmark_talks_b20d

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's new leader Xi Jinping are to hold landmark talks Friday in the hope of further cementing the two countries' partnership with a range of strategic agreements.

2013-03-22T06:13:40ZAFP Global Editionby Anna Smolchenkotag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/officials_China_cooperative_NKorea_sanctions_8ec1

US officials involved in enforcing international sanctions against North Korea expressed optimism on Friday that China was willing to cooperate to disrupt financing for Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.

2013-03-22T06:06:53ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Korea_video_depicts_invasion_South_ab14

North Korea posted a new propaganda video Friday, showing paratroopers descending on Seoul in an invasion scenario that envisages taking around 150,000 US residents in South Korea hostage.

2013-03-22T04:15:34ZAFP Asian EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Putin_welcomes_Chinas_landmark_talks_b20d

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's new leader Xi Jinping are to hold landmark talks on Friday in the hope of further cementing the two countries' partnership with a range of economic and strategic agreements.

2013-03-22T02:49:06ZAFP Global Editionby Anna Smolchenkotag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/launch_Syria_chemical_weapons_inquiry_ce18

The United Nations will investigate whether chemical weapons have been used in the Syria conflict, UN leader Ban Ki-Moon announced Thursday.

2013-03-21T18:26:32ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Western_Sahara_deal_urgent_envoy_3ad1

UN envoy Christopher Ross said on Thursday that a solution to the decades-old Western Sahara conflict was "more urgent than ever" after meeting top Moroccan officials on a visit aimed at reviving stalled peace talks.

2013-03-21T14:18:12ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Korea_threatens_bases_Japan_43ff

North Korea on Thursday threatened strikes on US military bases in Japan and Guam, escalating tensions as suspicion deepened that Pyongyang was behind a cyber attack on South Korean broadcasters and banks.

2013-03-21T10:26:35ZAFP Asian Editionby Park Chan-Kyongtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Korea_threatens_bases_Japan_Guam_abbf

The North Korean army on Thursday threatened a possible strike against US military bases in Japan, in response to the use of nuclear-capable US B-52 bombers in joint military drills with South Korea.

2013-03-21T05:10:10ZAFP Asian Editionby Park Chan-Kyongtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/West_calls_inquiry_into_Syria_c20e

Britain, France and the United States called Wednesday for a United Nations inquiry into accusations by the Syrian government and the opposition of chemical weapons attacks.

2013-03-20T23:29:48ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/Khamenei_urges_Iran_stand_sanctions_eb39

Iran began the Persian New Year on Wednesday with its most senior leader asking the people to stand up to piling Western economic sanctions and also warning that the pressure was unlikely to ease.

2013-03-20T18:17:24ZAFP Global Editionby Mohammad Davaritag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/says_formal_Syria_request_chemical_d6d4

The United Nations said Wednesday that Syria has made no formal request for a UN investigation into government claims that opposition rebels have used chemical weapons.

2013-03-20T17:14:04ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/Philippines_seeks_protection_peacekeepers_31e5

The Philippines has asked the United Nations to provide more protection to its peacekeeping forces, Manila said Wednesday after announcing its troops would remain in the Golan Heights after a recent abduction.

2013-03-20T16:10:13ZAFP Asian EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/Syria_regime_rebels_trade_chemical_c407

The US and UN were attempting to verify claims and counterclaims by Syrian troops and insurgents that chemical weapons were used for the first time in the two-year conflict.

2013-03-20T07:52:38ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Afghan_government_says_NATO_aimless_be84

Afghanistan's presidential spokesman on Tuesday described the NATO-led military operation in the war-torn nation as "aimless and unwise", in the latest broadside by Kabul against the international coalition.

2013-03-19T20:17:15ZAFP Asian Editionby Ben Sheppardtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/major_powers_warn_Afghanistan_over_4c5a

The United States and United Nations on Tuesday warned Afghanistan that ensuring a credible presidential election next year would be "critical" to maintaining international support after 2014.

2013-03-19T18:03:23ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/World_powers_Iran_discuss_nuclear_cf9a

World powers gave Iran fresh details on a proposed deal aimed at ending international concern over Tehran's nuclear programme during talks in Istanbul, the European Union said Tuesday.

2013-03-19T10:41:11ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Korea_says_nuclear_blackmail_will_8099

North Korea said Monday that "nuclear blackmail" by the United States would drive more countries to follow its lead and build their own atomic weapon.

2013-03-18T22:57:06ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Experts_meet_Istanbul_over_Irans_a7f9

Iranian and foreign nuclear experts gathered in Istanbul on Monday to discuss Tehran's controversial atomic programme, a European Union spokeswoman said.

2013-03-18T15:19:44ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Putin_hold_talks_with_Chinas_aa30

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's new leader Xi Jinping will this week discuss political and economic issues during the Chinese president's first foreign visit, the Kremlin said on Monday.

2013-03-18T11:45:39ZAFP Asian EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/China_replaces_five_arms_exporters_a532

China has overtaken Britain to become the world's fifth largest arms exporter with five percent of the global trade, its highest position since the Cold War, a Swedish think tank said on Monday.

2013-03-18T10:24:05ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reporter