BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) ― An envoy of Moammar Gadhafi told Greece’s prime minister Sunday that the Libyan leader was seeking a way out of his country’s crisis two weeks after his government’s attacks to put down a rebellion drew international airstrikes, Greek officials said.Abdul-Ati al-Obeidi, a former Libyan prime minister who has served as a Gadhafi envoy during the crisis, will travel next to Tu

The following article was contributed by UNESCO on meat production and consumption in Asia. ― Ed. Tens of billions of pigs, chickens, turkeys and cattle are eaten globally every year, and about 2 billion people worldwide live on a meat-based diet. Asia’s population and economic growth has been charted as the fastest annual growth of any region in the world in energy demand. Even though the demand

MINAMISANRIKU, Japan (AP) ― The only thing left of Minamisanriku City Hall are its two front steps.Nearby, a pink octopus lies dead in a pool of sea water, its tentacles wrapped around a crumpled sheet of corrugated aluminum that may have been a roof, a gate, a wall. Beside it, a broken tarmac road runs as far as the eye can see through fields of demolished houses and debris.As post-tsunami Japan

IMPHAL, India (AP) ― In his years as a police officer in the badlands of Manipur, Khaidem Muhi had survived an attack on his post and an ambush on a convoy he was guarding. He had been overpowered by insurgents and had his weapon stolen so many times he was hit with a 12-year suspension.Back on the job last month, the 50-year-old was guarding the home of a government official under threat from ins

WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Barack Obama is about to make one of Washington’s worst kept secrets official: He wants a second term.Democratic officials familiar with the president’s plans said Saturday that Obama intends to file papers as early as this coming week with the Federal Election Commission to launch his 2012 re-election campaign. He also will announce his candidacy to supporters by email

Contamination 10,000 times higher than the government standard for nuclear plantsTOKYO (AP) ― Radiation exceeding government safety limits has seeped into groundwater under a tsunami-crippled Japanese nuclear plant, according to the operator, but has not affected drinking supplies.The leak announced late Thursday could pose a long-term problem, however, and at the very least it is a concerning ind

DAMASCUS (AFP) ― Syrian authorities Thursday announced a raft of measures aimed at meeting protesters’ demands as opposition movements ready for more rallies across the country after Friday Muslim prayers.“Our date is Friday, from all houses, all places of worship, every citizen and every free man, to all squares, for a free Syria,” said a statement posted Thursday on Facebook group The Syria Revo

KUWAIT CITY (AFP) ― The ruler of the Gulf state of Kuwait on Thursday issued a decree accepting the resignation of the cabinet which quit earlier in the day, plunging the oil-rich emirate into a fresh political crisis.The decree, cited by the official news agency KUNA, asked Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahamd Al-Sabah and other ministers to continue as a caretaker government until a ne

An aerial view of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is seen in Fukushima Prefecture in this photo taken by Air Photo Service on March 24.(AP-Yonhap)SENDAI, Japan (AFP) ― Japan was Wednesday considering plans to drape shattered nuclear reactor buildings with special covers to limit radiation, and pump contaminated water into a tanker.The embattled nation, reeling from the triple calamity

SHANGHAI (AFP) ― Bob Dylan’s first China concerts next month could be a sign the times are a-changing as the world’s biggest promoters make a push to bring more international music stars to the mainland.The music legend’s shows in Beijing and Shanghai mark perhaps the biggest international music act in China since the Rolling Stones played Shanghai in 2006 ― and since the global financial crisis r

TOKYO (AP) ― Highly toxic plutonium is seeping from the damaged nuclear power plant in Japan’s tsunami disaster zone into the soil outside, officials said Tuesday, further complicating the delicate operation to stabilize the overheated facility.Plutonium has been detected in small amounts at several spots outside the Fukushima Daiichi power plant for the first time, plant operator Tokyo Electric P

TOKYO (AP) ― Workers at Japan’s damaged nuclear plant raced to pump out contaminated water suspected of sending radioactivity levels soaring as officials warned Monday that radiation seeping from the complex was spreading to seawater and soil. Mounting obstacles, missteps and confusion at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex have stymied emergency workers struggling to cool down the overheating p

BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) ― French fighter jets hit aircraft and a crossroads military base deep inside Libya as the U.S. reduced its combat role in the international operation that is working to thwart Moammar Gadhafi’s forces by land, sea and air.Explosions could be heard in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, before daybreak Friday, apparently from airstrikes.Libya’s air force has been effectively neutrali

YANGON (AFP) ― More than 50 people were killed and dozens of buildings destroyed when a strong earthquake struck Myanmar near the Thai border, officials from both countries said Friday.Tremors were felt as far away as Bangkok, almost 800 kilometers from the epicenter, Hanoi and parts of China during the earthquake Thursday, which the U.S. Geological Survey measured at magnitude 6.8.A Myanmar offic

BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) ― NATO ships began patrolling off Libya’s coast Wednesday as airstrikes, missiles and energized rebels forced Moammar Gadhafi’s tanks to roll back from two key western cities, including one that was the hometown of army officers who tried to overthrow him in 1993. Libya’s opposition took haphazard steps to form a government in the east, as they and the U.S.-led force protectin

Buoyed by Western strikes, Libya rebels try to advanceZWITINA, Libya (AP) ― Coalition forces bombarded Libya for a third straight night, targeting the air defenses and forces of Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi, stopping his advances and handing some momentum back to the rebels, who were on the verge of defeat just last week.But the rebellion’s more organized military units were still not ready, and t

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Radiation-tainted spinach from Japan’s damaged nuclear reactors may sound scary, but here is a reality check: Even if any made it to stores there, you would have to eat an exorbitant amount to need to worry.With some fallout found in an increasing number of foods, Japan’s government is acting to stop contaminated products from reaching consumers, and the United States and other c

The following is the message from Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, prime minister of Pakistan, on the occasion of Pakistan Day. ― Ed. Syed Yousaf Raza GillaniToday Pakistan celebrates the 71st anniversary of the adoption of the Pakistan Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940 with traditional zeal and zest. On this historic day, the Muslims of the sub-continent gathered in Lahore under the inspiring leaders

Ideally geo-strategically located in South Asia, Pakistan is your access to the energy rich Central Asian Republics, the affluent Gulf States and the hi-tech and economically developed Far East. In addition to the available extensive rail and road network, Pakistan has developed Gwadar port and is constructing a network of highways which would link up adjoining regions to Central Asia. There are p

The following is the message by Shaukat Ali Mukadam, ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of Korea. ― Ed. Shaukat Ali MukadamIt was on March 23, 1940, 72 years ago that the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent resolved to have an independent country. And after a valiant struggle from the colonial rulers, Pakistan became an independent state 64 years ago, on Aug. 14, 1947.