Weekly Address: Working Together in the New Year U.S. President Barack Obama says he is “hopeful” the new year will bring about more progress for the United States, including the ability to grow the economy and create jobs. In his weekly address Saturday, Mr. Obama said he is hopeful because lawmakers did “the […]
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Archive | December, 2011
French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet visits Afghanistan
December 31, 2011 
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French defence minister Gerard Longuet held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday on a two-day visit toAfghanistan to meet troops over the New Year. Longuet touched down in Kabul two days after two French Foreign Legion soldiers were shot dead by a man wearing an Afghan army uniform in eastern Kapisa province. The minister and Karzai discussed the strategic partnership […]
Read moreAfghan President Hamid Karzai welcomes US remarks on Taliban
December 31, 2011 Comments Off
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday welcomed remarks from the Obama administration that the Taliban were not necessarily America’s enemies. Earlier this month, Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview with Newsweek magazine that the Islamist militants did not represent a threat to U.S. interests unless they continued to shelter al-Qaida. “Look, the […]
Read moreLee, Chinese President Hu vow to move relations forward in New Year’s messages
December 31, 2011 Comments Off
SEOUL — South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged Sunday to further move relations between the two countries forward as they exchanged New Year’s messages celebrating 20 years of diplomatic ties. Lee said in his letter to Hu that relations between the two countries have rapidly expanded in all sectors […]
Read moreAddressing the nation, Angela Merkel predicts a new year of greater challenges
December 31, 2011 Comments Off
GERMANY — As the troubled euro turns 10, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel sees another tough year ahead to follow the last one. In her yearly televised address, Merkel has heralded 2012 with muted optimism. In her New Year’s address, which stressed challenges of the past and the future, German Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to […]
Read moreMyanmar sets April by-elections, Suu Kyi set to run
December 31, 2011 Comments Off
Myanmar — Myanmar has set a date of April 1, 2012, for by-elections that could see pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi enter parliament, although the military’s grip on the assembly will not be threatened. State television announced the date late Friday. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) refused to take part in […]
Read moreSouth Korean President sets 2012 policy goals on taming inflation, job creation
December 31, 2011 Comments Off
SEOUL — South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Saturday set taming inflation and job creation as two of his top goals for 2012 and vowed to reinforce the national defense posture against the hostility shown by North Korea’s new leadership. “The government will make its utmost efforts to defend the country under any circumstances […]
Read moreBila Perang Gaza 2008 Terulang, “Israel & Hamas Must Be Crazy”
December 31, 2011 Comments Off
Pesan Natal Untuk Benjamin Netanyahu Tentang Perdamaian Vox Populi Vox Dei Saat HAMAS Berpeluang Menangkan Pemilu Palestina Jakarta, 30 Desember 2011 (KATAKAMI.COM) — Dalam seminggu terakhir, terjadi berulang kali serangan militer yang saling bersahut-sahutan antara militer Israel dan sayap militer HAMAS di Jalur Gaza. HAMAS menyerang. Lalu militer Israel atau IDF (Israel Defense Force) […]
Read moreHaiti leader paves way for new elections
December 31, 2011 Comments Off
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian President Michel Martelly fired members of a nine-personelectoral council to make way for legislative and local elections planned for next year, a government official said Friday. Presidential adviser Damian Merlo said the leader removed the council members through a decree that will allow him to begin the process of naming new members to the provisional electoral councilwho will then pick […]
Read moreUS wants 2012 talks for Taliban political office
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration hopes to restore momentum in the spring to U.S. talks with the Talibaninsurgency that had reached a critical point before falling apart this month because of objections from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, U.S. and Afghan officials said. One goal of renewed talks with the insurgents would be to identify cease-fire […]
Read moreDavid Petraeus Almost Resigned Over Obama’s Decision To Withdraw Surge Forces From Afghanistan, New Book Claims
December 31, 2011 Comments Off
WASHINGTON — Four-star general-turned-CIA director David Petraeus was urged to resign as Afghanistan war commander over President Barack Obama’s decision to quickly draw down surge forces, according to a new insider’s look at Petraeus’ 37-year Army career. Conservative writer Max Boot had urged he take that course of action, but Petraeus decided that resigning […]
Read moreUS Congress frees up $40 million for Palestinians
December 30, 2011 Comments Off
The US State Department said Congress has released $40 million in aid to the Palestinians, part of the nearly $200 million that was frozen over their bid for full UN recognition. “We have been working with Congress for some time, because we don’t think it’s in US national interests to keep this money frozen,”State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters, […]
Read moreSouth Korean, U.S. Defense Ministers say North Korea power transition stable
December 30, 2011 Comments Off
SEOUL — Defense ministers of South Korea and the United States stated on Friday that North Korea’s latest father-to-son power transition has been stable to date, the South Korean defense ministry said. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta shared the view in a telephone conversation to discuss political […]
Read morePhotostream : Light painting signs of “2012″ greet coming New Year
December 30, 2011 Comments Off
North Koreans vow allegiance to new ‘supreme’ leader Kim Jong-un
December 29, 2011 Comments Off
SEOUL — North Korean officials pledged allegiance to their new leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday in a solemn memorial service for Kim’s late father Kim Jong-il. Kim Yong-nam, North Korea’s octogenarian ceremonial head of state, lauded Kim Jong-un who is in his late 20s as “the supreme leader of our party and army and […]
Read morePhotostream : Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh visits Sudan
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Israel plans tourism centre, homes in east Jerusalem
December 29, 2011 Comments Off
JERUSALEM — Israel on Wednesday approved plans for a large tourism complex in the heart of Arab east Jerusalem and another 130 homes for Jews elsewhere in the Holy City’s annexed eastern sector, an official said. Both new construction plans were rubber-stamped at a meeting of Jerusalem city council’s district planning committee, angering thePalestinians. The new tourism […]
Read moreIndonesia supports Myanmar’s democratization
December 29, 2011 Comments Off
YANGON, Burma/Myanmar — Indonesia’s foreign minister says his country is a forefront partner in Burma’s current democratization process. Marty Natelegawa said Indonesia can help Burma strengthen its democratization efforts in the same way his country has the past decade. He spoke Wednesday after meeting his counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin and later pro-democracy leader Aung […]
Read moreNorth Korea holds memorial service for late leader Kim Jong-il
December 29, 2011 Comments Off
SEOUL — North Korea began a nation-wide memorial service for Kim Jong-il on Thursday as the final event in the official mourning period for the late leader, who ruled the communist country with an iron fist. North Korea plans to fire rifle volleys in Pyongyang and other major cities at noon, the North’s official […]
Read moreNorth Korea calls Kim Jong Un ‘supreme leader’
December 29, 2011 Comments Off
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea declared Kim Jong Il’s son and successor “supreme leader” of the ruling party, military and the people during a memorial Thursday for his father in the government’s first public endorsement of his leadership. Kim Jong Un — head bowed and somber in a dark overcoat — stood watching from a balcony […]
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