KAZAN, Russia - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  wrapped up a European tour yesterday by calling on Russia to  uphold human rights and prevent attacks on activists who  challenge the Kremlin.
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PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Pakistani aircraft bombed Taliban  fighters in their South Waziristan bastion yesterday as more  soldiers and tanks moved in for an expected offensive against  the militant hub.
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WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama held three hours of  talks with top advisers on a new strategy for Afghanistan yesterday, with some aides emphasizing that the main threat to  U.S. interests is al Qaeda, not the Taliban.
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BEIJING - North Korea’s neighbours and the United States are  coordinating closely to draw the isolated state back to nuclear  disarmament talks and reviewing possible next steps, a senior  U.S. diplomat said yesterday.
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MOSCOW - Russian opposition parties walked out of parliament yesterday in a rare act of protest against disputed regional  elections, with the Communist Party blaming Vladimir Putin for  an unworkable system of governance.
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BRUSSELS – The European Union’s executive arm said yesterday that Croatia could wrap up EU entry talks next year  and recommended that the bloc start membership negotiations with  Macedonia.
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WASHINGTON - Democrats opened difficult talks on healthcare  reform in the U.S. Senate yesterday, promising to bridge  party divisions on a government-run insurance plan and paying  for the overhaul.