Anchorage Daily News

Highlights of Obama's trip to Asia

A day-by-day look at President Barack Obama's trip to Asia:

Obama confronts an Asia reshaped by China's rise

Days after coming to power in September, Japan's new prime minister broached forming a new East Asian trading bloc with rival China - one that would exclude the United States.

Iranian lawmaker warns Russia over missile delay

A senior Iranian lawmaker warned Russia that its delay in delivering an anti-aircraft missile defense system to Tehran could harm relations between the two countries, state television reported Sunday.

Pope Benedict honors Paul VI in Italian birthplace

Pope Benedict XVI made a one-day pilgrimage Sunday to northern Italy to pay tribute to Paul VI, his predecessor who made him a cardinal.

Berlin guard: Opening wall `terrible' but right

Harald Jaeger was a loyal East German border guard - respected and trusted to command a crossing point to the west on Berlin's Bornholmer Strasse.

Queen leads Britain's ceremony for war dead

Queen Elizabeth II led Britain's annual ceremony for the country's war dead Sunday, honoring them with a moment of silence as the military reported the 200th British soldier killed in combat in Afghanistan.

Homeland chief warns against anti-Muslim backlash

U.S. Homeland Security officials are working with groups around United States to head off any possible anti-Muslim backlash following the shootings at Fort Hood in Texas, the agency's chief said Sunday.

Timeline of events leading to communism's collapse

Key dates in the collapse of communism across Eastern Europe in 1989:

Germany celebrates memory of Berlin Wall falling

Twenty years ago Monday, they danced atop the Berlin Wall, feet thudding on the cold concrete, arms raised in victory, hands clasped in friendship and giddy hope.

Chinese premier pledges funds, aid to Africa

China's premier on Sunday pledged $10 billion in low interest loans to African nations over the next three years and said Beijing would cancel the government debts of some of the poorest of those countries, as the Asian powerhouse looked to deflect criticism that its investments in the continent were motivated purely by greed.

British soldier killed in southern Afghanistan

Britain's Defense Ministry says a British soldier has been killed in southern Afghanistan.

Pakistan suicide bombing kills anti-Taliban mayor

A suicide bomber blew himself up Sunday in a crowded market in northwestern Pakistan, killing an anti-Taliban mayor who had formed a militia to fight the militants and 11 other people, officials said.

China sends panda expert to Taiwan to aid breeding

Nothing like a little time apart to rekindle the affections that could lead to a baby panda.

Dalai Lama visits town near Tibet, angering China

The Dalai Lama brushed off Chinese protests and traveled Sunday to a remote Himalayan town near the Tibetan border to lead five days of prayers and teaching sessions for Buddhist pilgrims.

Japanese FM says no base deal during Obama visit

Japan's foreign minister said Sunday that no deal on relocating U.S. troops on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa can be expected during President Barack Obama's visit this week, saying the issue needs more time to resolve.

Mexican army makes large opium seizure

The Mexican army said Saturday it has seized a shipment of almost a quarter-ton of opium in the country's northern mountains, one of the largest such seizures made in Mexico.

Saudis take mountain from Yemen rebels

Saudi Arabian forces have taken control of a mountain straddling the border with Yemen and cleared it of Shiite rebels, in five days of fighting that saw three soldiers killed and 15 wounded, the assistant defense minister said on Sunday.

TAM: Jet forced to return to JFK

TAM Airlines says one of its jets took off from New York's JFK airport but was forced to return 20 minutes into the flight because of a mechanical problem.

Ida becomes hurricane a 2nd time off Mexico coast

Ida grew into a hurricane for a second time as it roared over the Caribbean on a path that could take it between Mexico's resort-studded Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba before heading for the southern United States.

Peres calls on Palestinian leader not to quit

Israel's president on Saturday called on Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to rescind his decision to stand down, invoking the memory of Yitzhak Rabin at a public commemoration for the assassinated Israeli premier.

Bruni-Sarkozy tells of 8 years in psychoanalysis

During her years as a top model, French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy gave psychoanalysis nary a thought.