United States Peace Treaty

Kim Jong Un has been formally named head of state of North Korea and commander-in-chief of the military in a new constitution observers said was possibly aimed at preparing for a peace treaty with the United States.

The United States said Friday it has no intention of signing a nuclear weapons ban treaty backed by this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, while stressing its commitment to "creating the conditions for nuclear disarmament."

The United States said on Sunday it received a North Korean proposal to discuss a peace treaty for the Korean peninsula but rejected it when Pyongyang refused to consider reducing its nuclear arsenal.

The Afghan Taliban named Mullah Akhtar Mansour as their new chief today, a historic power transition that raises hopes a more moderate leadership will pave the way for peace talks despite divisions within insurgent ranks.

President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia must defend itself if threatened, as the US warned against a return to a "Cold War status" after Moscow announced plans to boost its nuclear arsenal.

The leaders of Germany and France are expected to take peace proposals to Moscow today on the second leg of a dramatic initiative to end a conflict in Ukraine that has killed more than 5,000 people and driven Russia-West relations to new lows.

Ukrainian peace efforts stalled on Wednesday after pro-Russian insurgents called their own elections in defiance of a deal under which they and the Ukrainian army began withdrawing heavy weapons after five months of war.

Ukraine's new Western-backed leaders vowed on Wednesday to stick by their unilateral ceasefire and pursue peace talks despite the downing by pro-Russian militia of an army helicopter in the strife-torn separatist east.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Kabul on Saturday for talks with President Hamid Karzai as part of efforts to revive Afghanistan's peace process before NATO troops are withdrawn next year.

Pakistan on Saturday released its most senior Afghan Taliban detainee, Abdul Ghani Baradar, a senior official of the interior ministry told AFP, in a move Kabul hopes will encourage peace talks with the insurgents.

Pakistan will release former Afghan Taliban second-in-command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, as soon as this month to help advance peace efforts in neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistan's foreign policy chief said today.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said India and Pakistan can play a "crucial role" to bring peace to Afghanistan through their resumed bilateral dialogue process.

Taliban militants attacked key buildings near Afghanistan's presidential palace and the CIA headquarters in Kabul, a brazen assault that could derail attempts for peace talks to end 12 years of war.

A fresh effort to end Afghanistan's 12-year-old war was in limbo on Thursday after a diplomatic spat about the Taliban's new Qatar office delayed preliminary discussions between the United States and the Islamist insurgents.

After much talk about talking to the Taliban, it's now dateline Doha on Thursday when the US will begin face to face official dialogue with the Afghan militant group. But, how credible are the latest efforts to bring political peace to Afghanistan and what are the contours of the arrangement?

Kim Jong Un has been formally named head of state of North Korea and commander-in-chief of the military in a new constitution observers said was possibly aimed at preparing for a peace treaty with the United States.

The United States said Friday it has no intention of signing a nuclear weapons ban treaty backed by this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, while stressing its commitment to "creating the conditions for nuclear disarmament."

The United States said on Sunday it received a North Korean proposal to discuss a peace treaty for the Korean peninsula but rejected it when Pyongyang refused to consider reducing its nuclear arsenal.

The Afghan Taliban named Mullah Akhtar Mansour as their new chief today, a historic power transition that raises hopes a more moderate leadership will pave the way for peace talks despite divisions within insurgent ranks.

President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia must defend itself if threatened, as the US warned against a return to a "Cold War status" after Moscow announced plans to boost its nuclear arsenal.

The leaders of Germany and France are expected to take peace proposals to Moscow today on the second leg of a dramatic initiative to end a conflict in Ukraine that has killed more than 5,000 people and driven Russia-West relations to new lows.

Ukrainian peace efforts stalled on Wednesday after pro-Russian insurgents called their own elections in defiance of a deal under which they and the Ukrainian army began withdrawing heavy weapons after five months of war.

Ukraine's new Western-backed leaders vowed on Wednesday to stick by their unilateral ceasefire and pursue peace talks despite the downing by pro-Russian militia of an army helicopter in the strife-torn separatist east.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Kabul on Saturday for talks with President Hamid Karzai as part of efforts to revive Afghanistan's peace process before NATO troops are withdrawn next year.

Pakistan on Saturday released its most senior Afghan Taliban detainee, Abdul Ghani Baradar, a senior official of the interior ministry told AFP, in a move Kabul hopes will encourage peace talks with the insurgents.

Pakistan will release former Afghan Taliban second-in-command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, as soon as this month to help advance peace efforts in neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistan's foreign policy chief said today.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said India and Pakistan can play a "crucial role" to bring peace to Afghanistan through their resumed bilateral dialogue process.

Taliban militants attacked key buildings near Afghanistan's presidential palace and the CIA headquarters in Kabul, a brazen assault that could derail attempts for peace talks to end 12 years of war.

A fresh effort to end Afghanistan's 12-year-old war was in limbo on Thursday after a diplomatic spat about the Taliban's new Qatar office delayed preliminary discussions between the United States and the Islamist insurgents.

After much talk about talking to the Taliban, it's now dateline Doha on Thursday when the US will begin face to face official dialogue with the Afghan militant group. But, how credible are the latest efforts to bring political peace to Afghanistan and what are the contours of the arrangement?