16 May 2014 Last updated at 08:18
Beijing's top general says US is worsening South China Sea tensions as Chinese in Vietnam are attacked over oil rig
Middle East
US demand may derail nuclear talks
By Gareth Porter
WASHINGTON - As diplomats began drafting a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear program and Western sanctions in Vienna, US officials were poised to demand a drastic cut in Iran's enrichment capabilities that is widely expected to deadlock the negotiations.
Iran is almost certain to reject the basic concept that it should reduce the number of its centrifuges to a fraction of its present
total, and the resulting collapse of the talks could lead to a much higher level of tensions between the United States and Iran.
The Barack Obama administration's highly risky diplomatic gambit rests on the concept of "breakout time", defined as the number of months it would take Iran to accumulate enough weapons grade uranium for a single nuclear weapon.
Recent satellite images show two new North Korean frigates, the largest surface combat ships the nation's navy has constructed in a quarter-century, a North Korea-watching website reported Thursday.
Congress admits India poll defeat
The opposition Hindu nationalist BJP party has promised "good times ahead" as early results suggest it is on course for a landslide victory.
Although final results are not expected until later, the scale of the predicted victory is such that the ruling Congress party has admitted defeat.
BJP leader Narendra Modi tweeted: "India has won. Good times ahead."
This is the most resounding victory for a political party in 30 years, say correspondents.
Mr Modi, formerly chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, is seen as a no-nonsense, can-do leader who stands for development and muscular nationalism, says the BBC's Soutik Biswas.
Vietnam riots: China accuses US as military chiefs meet in Washington
Beijing's top general says US is worsening South China Sea tensions as Chinese in Vietnam are attacked over oil rig
Top military leaders of China and the US have exchanged firm warnings in Washington over the escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, where Beijing's deployment of an oil rig has sparked violence in Vietnamagainst Chinese people and foreign commercial interests.
The US vice-president, Joe Biden, told the visiting General Fang Fenghui that the US was "seriously concerned" about China's unilateral actions in the territorial dispute with Vietnam.
Biden told Fang the US did not take a side in the confrontation between China and Vietnam but no nation should take provocative steps that undermined stability and peace.
Is Ukraine crisis just part of a broader Russian strategy? (+video)
At the GLOBSEC security conference in Europe, participants confronted a stark assessment that Russia is excelling at creating divides between Western powers over the crisis.
The crisis in Ukraine ranges far beyond the confines of eastern Europe to represent a critical challenge to the world order – and to the durability of the European Union, attendants at an international security conference in this city were told Wednesday.
The conflict in Ukraine is a “test case” for the EU's 28 members, given the emergence of a Russia-inspired “countervision.”
“Europeans are used to thinking, 'we only have one
vision, we are innocent, and everyone likes us,'” says Timothy Snyder, a fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna and a specialist on Central and Eastern Europe. “But since the middle of 2013 there has been a countervision under the name of Eurasia.”Middle East
May 16, '14
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US demand may derail nuclear talks
By Gareth Porter
WASHINGTON - As diplomats began drafting a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear program and Western sanctions in Vienna, US officials were poised to demand a drastic cut in Iran's enrichment capabilities that is widely expected to deadlock the negotiations.
Iran is almost certain to reject the basic concept that it should reduce the number of its centrifuges to a fraction of its present
total, and the resulting collapse of the talks could lead to a much higher level of tensions between the United States and Iran.
The Barack Obama administration's highly risky diplomatic gambit rests on the concept of "breakout time", defined as the number of months it would take Iran to accumulate enough weapons grade uranium for a single nuclear weapon.
New NKorea warships seen in satellite images
By MATTHEW PENNINGTON
Recent satellite images show two new North Korean frigates, the largest surface combat ships the nation's navy has constructed in a quarter-century, a North Korea-watching website reported Thursday.
The website, 38 North, says the frigates are designed to carry one helicopter each and appear to be designed to counter South Korean submarines and protect fisheries. The vessels appear to be equipped with anti-submarine rocket launchers.
The vessels can be seen in commercial satellite images from December and January. One is berthed at a shipyard in the west coast port of Nampo, other at a shipyard at the northeastern port of Nanjin.
Brazil hit by widespread protests |
A wave of protests in several cities raises fears of chaos, with four weeks to go before the World Cup kickoff.
Last updated: 16 May 2014 06:01
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Brazilian officials are bracing themselves for a wave of anti-government demonstrations in several cities, many in protest at the high spending on next month's World Cup.
Authorities said there were about 15 separate protests in Sao Paulo on Thursday. Most were gatherings of a few hundred people, although about 5000 demonstrators gathered near the Itaquerao soccer stadium in Sao Paulo, which is set to host the opening match of the World Cup.
People waved red banners and Brazilian flags as black smoke rose from burning tyres, spoiling the view of the stadium. Dozens of riot police blocked the main entrance next to a construction zone where cranes and other machines were lined up to carry materials still needed to finish the arena.
Groups also planned anti-government demonstrations in other cities hosting World Cup games. Some were called by two big unions that are demanding better wages and working conditions.
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