Barack Obama
Japan's Abe scores central bank win, aims at trade
Mar 15, 2013 04:38 EDT
Japan's hard-charging prime minister got his pick installed as central bank chief Friday, then readied to tackle the powerful farming lobby by committing the world's number three economy to pan-Pacific trade talks.
Japan cabinet approves child abduction treaty
Mar 15, 2013 02:06 EDT
Japan moved one step closer to adopting a long-delayed treaty on child abductions on Friday when the cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave its approval, a government spokesman said.
Japan's Abe to announce joining trade pact talks
Mar 15, 2013 01:25 EDT
Japan will announce its participation in talks to forge a US-backed free trade deal on Friday, an official said, giving the pact much-needed economic clout, but possibly angering farmers at home.
Israel poised for coalition deal ahead of Obama visit
Mar 15, 2013 00:01 EDT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to ink a long-awaited coalition deal that would see a new government sworn in just days before a visit by US President Barack Obama.
Obama reaches out to China's new president
Mar 14, 2013 19:26 EDT
US President Barack Obama wasted no time in courting China's new President Xi Jinping Thursday, calling him within hours of his elevation, and then pressing him on cybercrime and North Korea.
Obama coming 'to listen' to Israel, Palestinians
Mar 14, 2013 18:31 EDT
US President Barack Obama said Thursday his forthcoming trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories was to "listen" to both sides and hear their views on how to move forward after over two years without peace talks.
US Senate panel backs assault weapons ban
Mar 14, 2013 18:07 EDT
US lawmakers approved a Democratic bill Thursday that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity gun magazines, in a party line vote three months to the day after the Newtown school massacre.
US conservative confab confronts Republican rifts
Mar 14, 2013 18:05 EDT
Still nursing election wounds, soul-searching Republicans gathered Thursday at the first conservative casting call for the US presidential election in 2016, with the party divided over how to broaden its appeal.
'Over year or so' for Iran to get the bomb: Obama
Mar 14, 2013 17:22 EDT
Iran is "over a year or so" from getting a nuclear bomb, US President Barack Obama said in an interview on Thursday a week before visiting Israel, warning that the military option remained on the table.
Iranian fighter tries to intercept US drone in Gulf: US
Mar 14, 2013 16:49 EDT
An Iranian fighter jet tried to intercept a US Predator drone over the Gulf but backed off after encountering two American military aircraft, the Pentagon said Thursday.
Israel poised to ink govt deal ahead of Obama visit
Mar 14, 2013 16:43 EDT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was working to ink a long-awaited coalition deal on Thursday that would see a new government sworn in just days before a visit by US President Barack Obama.
Canada a 'beachhead' for EU free trade deal with US
Mar 14, 2013 16:14 EDT
If Europe can secure a free trade deal with Canada, it would lay the groundwork for a planned, much larger accord with the United States, French and Canadian leaders said Thursday.
Marantis named acting US trade representative
Mar 14, 2013 15:59 EDT
The departing top US trade official Ron Kirk announced Thursday that his deputy Demetrios Marantis will serve as acting US trade representative.
China names Xi Jinping as new president
Mar 14, 2013 15:53 EDT
China's parliament named Xi Jinping as president Thursday four months after he took charge of the Communist Party with pledges of reform that have raised hopes but so far yielded little change.
Obama to Israel: no plans to free spy Pollard 'immediately'
Mar 14, 2013 15:04 EDT
US President Barack Obama on Thursday said he had no plans for "immediately" releasing an Israeli jailed for spying who has been in prison since 1985, saying he was guilty of "a very serious crime."
Kerry to make first Asia trip in mid-April
Mar 14, 2013 14:47 EDT
US Secretary of State John Kerry will make his first trip to Asia as America's top diplomat in mid-April, an official announced Thursday, with North Korea expected to top the agenda.
New US Treasury chief Lew to visit China
Mar 14, 2013 14:22 EDT
US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew will travel to China next week for talks with China's new leadership on his first international trip since taking office, the Treasury Department said Thursday.
China's Xi, Obama discuss cyber-security, N. Korea
Mar 14, 2013 14:12 EDT
China's new President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama held telephone talks Thursday on the expansion of ties, cyber-security and the situation in North Korea, state media reported.
Ten years on, Iraq haunts US response to Syria, Iran
Mar 14, 2013 11:44 EDT
Ten years after the US-led invasion of Iraq, the searing memory of what became a deeply unpopular war has made Washington policy makers reluctant to use even limited force in Syria or Iran.
Israel poised to unveil new govt ahead of Obama visit
Mar 14, 2013 11:33 EDT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to formally unveil his long-awaited coalition government on Thursday that will be sworn in just days before a visit by US President Barack Obama.
