US officials: A hunch, careful intelligence work led to discovery of Iranian nuclear siteWASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence agencies hit paydirt several years ago when they searched for a hidden Iranian uranium-enrichment site, spotting telltale signs of digging outside the holy city of Qom. Bombardier joint venture awarded $4 billion contract to supply high speed trains to ChinaTORONTO — Train maker Bombardier Inc. said Monday its Chinese joint venture has been awarded a $4 billion contract to build 80 high-speed trains for China’s railway ministry. Asia markets lower as US consumer confidence drop sows economic recovery doubtsBANGKOK — Asian stock markets were mostly lower Wednesday as a surprise drop in U.S. consumer confidence sowed new doubts about the pace of economic recovery. Asian stocks fall on weak US data, strengthening Japanese yenSEOUL, South Korea — Asian stock markets sank Monday as the yen surged to a nine-month high and disappointing data from the United States undermined hopes of a fast economic recovery. Fog and SWAT teams settle on downtown Beijing ahead of massive military paradeBEIJING — China’s capital was wrapped in tight security and thick fog Wednesday as police blocked off Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and other popular tourist landmarks ahead of a massive parade marking 60 years of communist rule. US eyes energy, financial sanctions on Iran if Tehran can’t prove nuclear program is peacefulNEW YORK — The Obama administration is working up plans to push for new sanctions against Iran, targeting its energy, financial and telecommunications sectors if it does not comply with international demands to come clean about its nuclear program, U.S. officials said Monday. Gates says Iran ripe for further economic penalties in wake of nuclear site revelationWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the disclosure of Iran’s secret uranium-enriching facility could force more economic penalties against a country reeling from serious social and political divisions. Administration doubtful of quick progress with Iran, but not in hurry to push new sanctionsWASHINGTON — The Obama administration, while skeptical of an early breakthrough in nuclear talks with Iran, indicated Tuesday it does not intend to swiftly press for stiffer economic sanctions. Communist China at 60: Each family in richest village has house and car awarded by communityHUAXI, China — Public loudspeakers in the central square blare the village anthem hourly: “If you want to see a miracle, come to Huaxi.” Not that any reminders are needed. NKorea’s state media says Chinese Premier Wen to visit NKorea next weekSEOUL, South Korea — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will travel to North Korea next week, Pyongyang’s state media said Monday, amid a flurry of international efforts to convince the reclusive regime to return to stalled nuclear disarmament talks. US says its climate bill unlikely to pass before global conference on cutting greenhouse gasesBANGKOK — The fate of U.S. legislation capping carbon emissions weighed heavily on delegates at U.N. climate talks starting Monday in Bangkok, with the Americans saying delays in passing the bill could deter commitments from other nations. UN climate talks kick off in Bangkok with calls to reach deal, avert catastropheBANGKOK — U.N. climate talks kicked off Monday in Bangkok with leaders calling for delegates to break the deadlock over a global warming deal and warning that failure to act would leave future generations fighting for survival. Separatist acts on web banned in XinjiangURUMQI - The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region legislature has passed a regulation prohibiting the instigation of ethnic separatist activities via the Internet, The China Daily reports. UN chief, Netherlands, Slovakia admonish Iran for new secret nuke programUNITED NATIONS — Iran’s sudden revelation of a formerly secret uranium enrichment plant brought more condemnation Saturday at the U.N. General Assembly, with the Netherlands calling Tehran’s presumed weapons program “a major challenge to international peace and security.” Nostalgia for an unknown past: Red Guard look popular for some Chinese wedding photosHANGZHOU, China — Sun Fengqing is not getting married in a white dress, or even a traditional cheongsam. She’s going to wear a green military outfit with a Red Star on her hat and a Mao Zedong badge — the uniform of the young Red Guard from China’s Cultural Revolution. UN chief and Netherlands PM admonish Iran for new secret nuke programUNITED NATIONS — Iran’s sudden revelation of a formerly secret uranium enrichment plant brought more condemnation Saturday at the U.N. General Assembly, with the Netherlands calling Tehran’s presumed weapons program “a major challenge to international peace and security.” Analysis: Exclusive club of global economic powers expands; can it deliver on big promises?PITTSBURGH — The world’s most exclusive club has expanded, pledging big things for the global economy. But it’s likely to have just as much trouble delivering on those promises. Palin gets big bucks for speech to Hong Kong investors, helps pay off hefty legal billsWASHINGTON — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin emerged from a two-month absence from public view with a private talk, heavy on foreign policy, to a group of investors in Hong Kong. Hong Kong publisher to issue banned Chinese history book critical of authoritarian ruleHONG KONG — A Hong Kong publisher best known for a memoir of the Chinese premier ousted for opposing a crackdown on student protesters in Tiananmen Square is releasing a critique of authoritarian rule that is banned in mainland China. Analyst says Palin’s speech in Asia was less about politics and more about making moneyWASHINGTON — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin emerged from a two-month absence from public view in an unlikely manner: with a closed-door speech, heavy on foreign policy, to a group of investors in Hong Kong. Once-likely climate change deal in doubt as UN talks resume in BangkokBANGKOK — Two years ago, governments from around the world came together on the island of Bali and agreed to urgently rein in the heat-trapping gases blamed for deadly heat waves, melting glaciers and rising seas. Analysis: G-8 passes the baton to the G-20 with less than stellar resultsPITTSBURGH — The world’s most exclusive club has just gotten bigger, and it is promising a lot of big things for the global economy. But it is likely to have just as much trouble delivering results as the smaller group it replaced. Jury convicts retired Air Force officer of selling secrets to China, faces 20 year sentenceALEXANDRIA, Va. — A jury has convicted a retired Air Force officer on charges of selling classified information on U.S.-China military relations to a Chinese agent and lying to the FBI about it. Obama says world leaders united and confident after bringing economy out of crisisPITTSBURGH — World leaders on Friday issued sweeping promises to fix a malfunctioning global economic system in hopes of heading off future financial meltdowns. President Barack Obama said actions taken so far “brought the global economy back from the brink.” Ascension of G-20 trades 20th-century alignment for the priorities of a new centuryPITTSBURGH — For the world, apparently, eight is no longer enough. G-20 leaders pledge ambitious financial overhaul, stop short of details on how to get therePITTSBURGH — World leaders lined up Friday behind sweeping promises to fix a malfunctioning global economic system in hopes of heading off future financial meltdowns. For now, they said, they would keep stimulus programs going “until recovery is assured.” China bats down notion of punishing Iran with sanctions for secret nuclear facilityPITTSBURGH — China on Friday batted down the notion of punishing Iran with additional sanctions for developing a secret nuclear facility, saying negotiations are a better way of dealing with Tehran. Obama, British and French leaders demand inspections of just-revealed Iranian nuclear facilityPITTSBURGH — President Barack Obama and the leaders of France and Britain declared Friday that the revelation of a previously secret Iranian nuclear facility puts heavy new pressure on Tehran to quickly disclose all its nuclear efforts — including any moves toward weapons development — “or be held accountable.” China charges 21 people with murder following its worst ethnic violence in decadesBEIJING — China issued its first indictments Friday in connection with July’s bloody rioting between minority Muslim Uighurs and majority Han Chinese, the country’s worst outbreak of ethnic violence in decades. G-20 leaders take global board-of-directors role and pledge reform agendaPITTSBURGH — Major world leaders formed themselves into a new board of directors for the global economy Friday, vowing to overhaul lax financial regulations and work harder to control dangerous imbalances that contributed to a financial meltdown. |