Al-Qaeda's regional branch in Yemen took control over another large city in Yemen's southeastern province of Shabwa on Wednesday, a week after they controlled the southern Abyan province, local officials and residents said.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Wednesday issued a presidential decree, ordering the establishment of a body, which would serve as the foundation of the national dialogue.

Brazil's environment agency has backed construction of a hydro-electric dam in the Amazon, opposed by indigenous groups and environmentalists.

Keeping peace and stability in the East Sea is necessary for the whole region, for the benefit of coastal countries and related nations, stated a declaration issued at an international seminar on the East Sea that wrapped up in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 31.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned the murder of a Pakistani journalist who had recently written an article about al-Qaeda infiltration in Pakistan's navy.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) firmly rejected the Republic of Korea (RoK)'s conditional proposal of holding a summit between the two countries' leaders later this month, a National Defense Commission spokesman said on Wednesday.

The Libyan government says NATO air raids have killed more than 700 civilians since bombing began in March.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree granting a general amnesty, state media say.

An international seminar on the East Sea opened in Jakarta on May 31 by Indonesia’s Habibie Centre in collaboration with India’s Centre for Asian Strategic Studies.

US President Barack Obama on May 31 nominated seasoned businessman John Bryson as the next Secretary of Commerce, the administration's latest effort to improve the nation's competitiveness and speed up exports and job creation.