China: Talks on defense

BEIJING — China and the United States discussed recent naval confrontations, including a collision between a Chinese submarine and a U.S. sonar device, during their first high-level military talks in 18 months, state media reported.

Senior defense officials meeting in Beijing are also expected to discuss North Korea, which counts China as its closest ally. Pyonyang has threatened war with the U.S. and its allies in response to new U.N. sanctions imposed over its recent nuclear test blast.

The naval incidents between China and U.S. vessels took up 45 minutes out of the three-hour opening session of the three-day talks on Tuesday, the China Daily newspaper reported.

Mexico: Climate meeting

MEXICO CITY — President Barack Obama's climate envoy dismissed recommendations that the United States and other developed countries reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases 40 percent by 2020.

"The 40 percent below 1990 (levels) is something which in our judgment is not necessary, and not feasible given where we're starting from, so it's not in the cards," Todd Stern said Tuesday at a conference on global warming.

Stern spoke at the end of the two-day meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, a gathering of 19 nations and the European Union that together produce 80 percent of the world's greenhouse gases. The group, called together by Obama, is trying to build a replacement climate change treaty for the expiring Kyoto Protocol.

Pakistan: Taliban infighting

PESHAWAR — The assassination of the leader of a renegade Pakistani Taliban faction by one of his own men Tuesday underscores a growing rift in the ranks of the militant group as it braces for an impending army assault in the volatile northwest.

Qari Zainuddin's killing sets back government hopes of exploiting these internal divisions in the South Waziristan tribal region, where the army has been pounding strongholds of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in apparent preparation for a major, U.S.-backed offensive.

Suspected U.S. missiles also hammered the same areas Tuesday, striking a purported Taliban training center and later a funeral procession for some of those killed in the first missile attack. Up to 40 people died — including Sangeen Khan, a top aide to Mehsud — and 60 more were wounded, said two intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because it would compromise their jobs.

Saudi Arabia: Girls' sports?