Chinese envoy urges calm after submarine intrusion

TOKYO -- Japan and China should try to resolve their differences calmly, China's ambassador to Japan said Saturday, a day after Tokyo filed a protest with Beijing over the intrusion of a Chinese nuclear submarine. Japanese officials protested to the Chinese Embassy on Friday after Tokyo determined that the submarine belonged to China. China has yet to respond.

Namibia's founding father to step down after election

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- After a 23-year war of independence and three terms as president, Sam Nujoma of Namibia is ready to step down, bringing an end to an era marked by fiery rhetoric as well as pragmatism and stability. The 75-year-old Nujoma is the father of his southwest African nation and the only leader its 1.8 million people have ever known. But after presidential elections Monday and Tuesday, Nujoma will prepare to hand over power, presumably to Hifikepunye Pohamba, his hand-picked successor.

N. Korea says end to nuclear dispute possible

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea said Saturday that it was "quite possible" to settle the international standoff over its nuclear weapons program if the United States allows for the existence of the communist regime. "If the U.S. drops its hostile policy aimed at 'bringing down the system' in the [North] and opts for co-existing with the latter, in practice, it will be quite possible to settle the issue," a Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the North's official news agency, KCNA.

-- From wire reports