Southern African Summit to Focus on Zimbabwe Elections

By Peta Thornycroft The Southern African Development Community holds a summit in Mauritius next week that is expected to focus on the situation in Zimbabwe, and proposed electoral reforms that would a

Kenyan Peace Prize Winner Campaigns for Forest Protection

By Cathy Majtenyi Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, Monday spoke against widespread practices, such as forest farming, that, she says, are responsible for deforestation in her country.

President Bush Reacts to US Intelligence Reform Proposal

By Paula Wolfson President Bush says he will consider all kinds of ideas to reform the nation's intelligence community, including the sweeping plan put forward by a key senator. Senate Intelligence Co

Iraqi Sunni Leaders Aim to Build on Shia Peace Gains

By Patricia Nunan It has been a week since a peace deal was struck in the Iraqi city of Najaf, bringing an end to three weeks of fighting and opening the predominantly Shia city up to millions of doll

French Rule Bomb outside Indonesian Embassy

By Lisa Bryant A small bomb exploded in front of the Indonesian Embassy in Paris early Friday, injuring 10 people. Authorities are calling the explosion a criminal action. The bomb exploded at around

EU's Solana Addresses Lingering Balkan Tensions

By Roger Wilkison The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, was in the Balkans Tuesday, urging Kosovo Serbs to take part in next month's elections and exhorting Slovenia and Croatia to

US Says Taleban Forces Remain a Threat in Afghanistan

By Dan Robinson The number two official in the State Department says Taleban forces remain a serious threat in Afghanistan, but have not been able to disrupt preparations for the upcoming election in

Sudan Peace Talks Resume in Nigeria

By Carrie Giardino The Sudan peace talks being held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, are resuming Saturday after a one-day hiatus. Members of the rebel factions are expected to present their position o

EU Worried About Rising Euro, Sinking Dollar

By Roger Wilkison European Union finance ministers are calling for the United States to shore up the sagging dollar by bringing its trade and budget deficits under control. The ministers are worried t

US Consumer Confidence Hits 2-Year High

By Kerry Sheridan The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index has hit a two-year high, according to a New York-based business research group. The findings signal an improved outlook for more jobs and an upswin

Rebel Leader Threatens to Blow Up Gas Plant in Nigeria

By Carrie Giardino Talks between a militia leader and the Nigerian president aimed at ending further violence in the oil-rich southern region are in a third day in Abuja. But the rebel leader has accu

Egyptians Criticize Government's Decision to Unify Call to P

By Ursula Lindsey The Egyptian government has announced plans to unify the call to prayer that is broadcast from thousands of different loudspeakers in the country's capital. The idea has been critici

US Welcomes End of Najaf Standoff, Criticizes Syria's Role i

By David Gollust U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is welcoming Friday's end of the three-week occupation of the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf by Shi'ite militiamen as a great victory for Ira

Powell Heads US Cabinet Delegation for Talks in Mexico

By David Gollust Secretary of State Colin Powell flies to Mexico City later Monday as head of a Bush administration Cabinet delegation for meetings of the U.S.-Mexico Binational Commission. It will be

Washington Expected to Refocus Military Strength in Asia

By Benjamin Sand Analysts say a planned re-alignment of U.S. military personnel abroad does not reflect a lessening of Washington's commitment to stability in Asia, but some individual countries in th

Britain Defends Legality of Iraq Invasion

By Michael Drudge Britain says it disagrees with the assessment of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the invasion of Iraq was illegal. Fresh controversy has erupted over the legality of the U.S.-

Nigeria to Delay Withdrawal from Potentially Oil Rich Penins

By Carrie Giardino Nigerian officials say they will not remove their troops and hand over the potentially oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon as scheduled Wednesday. The United Nations has been hel

Bush Voices Concern About Iranian Nuclear Program

By Scott Stearns President Bush says the international community must stand united in its opposition to Iran enriching uranium, which the United States believes is part of a secret plan to develop nuc

Brazil Tells Powell It Has Nothing to Hide on Nuclear Progra

By David Gollust Top Brazilian officials told U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Tuesday that country has nothing to hide on its nuclear program, despite a conflict over access by U.N. inspectors to

Putin: Russia Developing New Kind of Nuclear Missile

By Bill Gasperini Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is developing a new type of nuclear missile. Mr. Putin spoke at an annual meeting of the armed forces' senior leadership. President