For 13 chilling days in October 1962, it seemed that John F. Kennedy and Nikita S. Khrushchev might be playing out the opening scenes of World War III. The Cuban missile crisis was a uniquely compact moment of history. For the first time in the nuclear age, the two superpowers found themselves in a sort of moral road test of their apocalyptic powers.The crisis blew up suddenly. The U.S. discovered that the Soviet Union, despite repeated and solemn denials, was installing nuclear missiles in Cuba. An American ...

A former Australian foreign minister said Wednesday he was encouraged by exchanges "across the room" between Israeli and Iranian representatives during a meeting both attended last month.

He's gone from being a backup dancer to the biggest thing in Asian pop culture, an actor and singer who has sold millions of albums.

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most powerful platforms in the world. Winners get immediate global attention and the chance to meet and influence leaders and governments everywhere. Think of it as a megaphone through which worthy, but very often obscure, activists or politicians or environmentalists can shout their message to a gathered crowd. That's just one of the reasons the Nobel Committee's decision to award this year's Peace Prize to Barack Obama is such a ...

Nelson Mandela Foundation "We trust that this award will strengthen his commitment, as the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, to continue promoting peace and the eradication of poverty." Kofi Annan "It was an unexpected but inspired choice. In an increasingly challenging and volatile world, President Obama has given a sense of hope and optimism to millions around the world." Afghan President Hamid Karzai "We congratulate, wholeheartedly, President Obama on the award of this prestigious award. We recognize and ...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he is ready to work with U.S. President Barack Obama to overcome a recent low point in U.S.-Russian relations. The Russian leader, writing an op-ed in The Washington Post ahead of Thursday's G-20 summit in London, said he and Obama have exchanged letters this year that "showed mutual readiness to build mature bilateral relations in a pragmatic and business-like manner." Medvedev cited a number of possible areas of cooperation between the two countries, starting with ...