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Syrian Activists Form Opposition Council

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 10:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Syrian opposition activists have announced the formation of a council to present a united front against President Bashar al-Assad as United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon called for international action against Syria’s bloody crackdown. Marking six months since the Syrian uprising began, opposition members gathered in Istanbul Thursday said the council includes 140 members, half living […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

US Supreme Court Grants Reprieve for Texas Death Row Inmate

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 9:25 pm (UTC-5)
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The United States Supreme Court has granted a last-minute reprieve to a Texas man who had been scheduled to be executed. The Supreme Court issued a stay of execution Thursday evening for Duane Buck. Buck’s lawyers argued the 48-year-old had been unfairly sentenced because a psychologist testified during the punishment hearing that black men are […]

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Amnesty Intl; Demands Freedom for 11 Eritrean Politicians, Jailed Since 2001

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 9:15 pm (UTC-5)
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The human rights group Amnesty International is demanding Eritrea release 11 political prisoners arrested a decade ago after calling for democratic reforms. Amnesty says the eleven, which include three former cabinet ministers, have spent the past ten years in prison without being charged and with no contact with the outside. It says being held incommunicado […]

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Cameron, Sarkozy Visit Libya as Forces Enter Sirte

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 9:11 pm (UTC-5)
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The leaders of Britain and France visited two of Libya’s newly freed cities Thursday, offering broad support for the country’s new rulers as provisional authority forces attempted their first significant assault on Moammar Gadhafi’s hometown. British Prime Minister David Cameron and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, were welcomed by jubilant crowds in the capital, Tripoli, […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

Clinton: Grounds for Optimism in Burma

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 8:25 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says there are grounds for optimism about Burma, where the new government is promising democratic reforms. Clinton met in San Francisco Thursday with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. She said Burmese leaders have made “welcome gestures,” including talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and allowing her to […]

Tags: , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Clinton: US Believes Iran Will Free Hikers

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 7:40 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States remains hopeful that Iran will, as a humanitarian gesture, release the two American hikers jailed in a Tehran prison. Secretary Clinton Thursday said the U.S. is not unduly concerned because Washington has received word through a number of public and private sources that the hikers […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Middle East

Azerbaijan Denies Links With Downed Drone

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 7:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Azerbaijan’s defense ministry has denied any connection with the unmanned aircraft reportedly downed in its breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenian media reported Wednesday that an Azerbaijani drone was shot down in the disputed territory on September 12. Images allegedly showing the downed wreckage of the spy plane were posted on the video-sharing website YouTube the same […]

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Burma May Face US Sanctions for Drug-Fighting ‘Failure’

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 7:32 pm (UTC-5)
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The United States says Burma may face sanctions for having “failed demonstrably” in its anti-drug efforts. In a memo to the State Department Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama said Burma was on a list of 22 countries deemed major drug traffickers or major drug producers. President Obama said Burma and two other countries — Venezuela […]

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UN Chief Concerned About Pakistan Floods

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 7:25 pm (UTC-5)
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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced concern about the ongoing flooding in Pakistan that has killed some 230 people and left more than 300,000 others homeless. In a statement Thursday, Mr. Ban said he was especially worried about the situation in southern Sindh province — where people are in urgent need of food, shelter, […]

Tags: , , Posted in South Asia

UN, Luxembourg Sign Deal to Help West Africans

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 6:55 pm (UTC-5)
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The United Nations’ World Food Program says millions in West Africa will benefit from what it calls a new life-saving partnership with Luxembourg. World Food Program chief Josette Sheeran said the deal she signed Thursday comes at a critical time with economic and weather shocks threatening food security for 1 billion people around the world. […]

Tags: , , Posted in Africa