World News

The former top cop of a major Chinese city has dropped from sight amid unconfirmed reports he is seeking U.S. asylum following a quarrel with one of China's most powerful local politicians.

Japan and the United States agreed Wednesday to proceed with plans to transfer thousands of U.S. troops out of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, leaving behind the stalled discussion of the closure of a major U.S. Marine base there.

Greek coalition leaders are preparing their responses to a draft deal on steep cutbacks demanded by creditors in return for a euro130 billion ($170 billion) bailout that will shield the country from a looming bankruptcy.

Chinese repression has lead to the self-immolations of nearly two dozen Tibetans and deadly clashes with Chinese authorities, the head of Tibet's government-in-exile said Wednesday.

The West's increasing pressure on Iran has meant scrutiny for South African businesses that operate in the Middle Eastern nation accused of having nuclear ambitions.

The European Union will impose harsher sanctions on Syria, a senior EU official said Wednesday, as Russia tried to broker talks between the vice president and the opposition to calm violence. Activists reported at least 50 killed in military assaults targeting government opponents.

A senior EU official say the bloc will soon impose harsher sanctions against Syria as it seeks to weaken the regime and end President Bashar Assad's crackdown against political opponents.

A lawyer says News International has settled nine lawsuits over phone hacking.

Syrian troops bombed residential neighborhoods in the central city of Homs Wednesday for the fifth straight day, killing scores of people in what activists say is the regime's final push to retake areas controlled by the rebels.

The Pakistani army says it is holding a meeting with NATO and Afghan forces to improve coordination along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.