Search results for

North and South Korean officials meet in Seoul for talks on economic cooperation, but discussions are overshadowed by concerns about North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy John Bolton says he expects the U.N. to begin discussions on the standoff by week's end. NPR's Eric Weiner reports.

Secretary of State Colin Powell tells the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the Iraqi weapons matter will be brought to conclusion "within weeks, one way or another." Meantime, there's skeptical reaction from France and many Muslim countries to Powell's U.N. presentation on Iraq Wednesday. Hear reports from NPR's Michele Kelemen, NPR's Nick Spicer and Khaled Al-Maeena, editor-in-chief of Arab News.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell implores the international community to meet its responsibility to disarm Iraq, saying the burden is on Saddam Hussein to avoid war by accounting for "missing" biological and chemical agents. And he says at least a dozen nations would support a U.S.-led attack on Iraq. A report from U.N. arms inspectors is due Monday. NPR News reports.

Most U.N. Security Council members respond to chief arms inspector Hans Blix's report on arms inspections in Iraq by saying inspectors need more time. But U.S Secretary of State Colin Powell says time is running out and that "one must never rule out the use of force." NPR's Michele Kelemen and Anne Garrels report.

Prime Minister Tony Blair wins a plea to Britain's Parliament to support a British attack on Iraq without U.N. authorization. Blair didn't need Parliament's consent to send troops into battle, but it's the biggest political gamble of his career. Opposition is strong in his own party and across Britain. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports.

The United States and France join China, Russia, Japan and a score of other nations to confront the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. They are at a conference in Paris to support a new peace force in the war-torn Sudanese region. The conference comes after Sudan agreed to let U.N. peacekeepers into the country.

As the U.S., Britain and Spain abandon efforts to win U.N. approval for a new resolution on Iraq, President Bush prepares to address the nation at 8 p.m. ET. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says Bush will issue an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein, that the Iraqi leader leave the country or face war. Meanwhile, all U.S. non-essential personnel are ordered to leave Israel, Syria and Kuwait. Hear NPR News.

As the U.S., Britain and Spain abandon efforts to win U.N. approval for a new resolution on Iraq, President Bush prepares to address the nation at 8 p.m. ET. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says Bush will issue an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein, that the Iraqi leader leave the country or face war. And Secretary of State Powell says the "time for diplomacy has passed." Hear NPR's Vicky O'Hara and Michele Kelemen.

The U.S. administrator for Iraq says it could take up to 15 months for a full transfer of power to an Iraqi goverment. Paul Bremer's remarks conflict with the wishes of Iraq's leading Shia cleric, who wants U.N. officials to establish a deadline for general elections. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and NPR's Deborah Amos.

Lawmakers question the Bush administration's $87 billion request for Iraq and Afghanistan, but GOP leaders say they expect congressional approval. U.S. officials say the funds will boost the estimated federal deficit to more than $525 billion. And Secretary of State Powell prepares for a Saturday meeting with the permanent U.N. Security Council members. Hear NPR's David Welna, NPR's John Ydstie and NPR's Vicky O'Hara.