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Reports: N. Korea Developing Attack Drones using US Technology

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 10:40 pm (UTC-5)
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South Korean media report that North Korea is developing unmanned attack aircraft using American technology imported from the Middle East. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency says the drones are based on MQM-107D Streaker target drones and are believed to have come to Pyongyang through Syria. The Streakers can fly at 920 kilometers per hour and […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

US Diplomats to Visit South Asia

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 8:20 pm (UTC-5)
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The U.S. State Department says it is sending two senior diplomats to South Asia later this month to consult with government and civil society leaders on issues that include education and human trafficking, as well as accountability and reconciliation processes. Officials announced the plans for Maria Otero and Robert Blake in a press release Monday. […]

Tags: , , Posted in South Asia

US Closes Syria Embassy as Assad Forces Step Up Homs Assault

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 8:05 pm (UTC-5)
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The United States has closed its embassy in Syria and pulled all remaining diplomats out of the country, as Syrian government forces intensified a rocket and mortar assault on the opposition protest hub of Homs. The State Department says Ambassador Robert Ford and other diplomatic staff left Damascus for the Jordanian capital, Amman, on Monday, […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Middle East

Chicago Cabbie Pleads Guilty in Terrorism Case

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 6:45 pm (UTC-5)
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A Pakistani-born cab driver in Chicago, Illinois has pleaded guilty to sending money to an ally of al-Qaida. Raja Lahrasib Khan, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1988, admitted in court Monday to one count of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group. Prosecutors say that in November 2009, Khan wired $950 […]

Tags: , , , Posted in US

Northern Nigerian City Witness to Another Attack

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 6:10 pm (UTC-5)
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Violence returned to northern Nigeria on Monday when gunmen believed to members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect attacked a police station in Kano. A local police chief confirmed the attack but provided no further details. Another attack took place Monday in Maiduguri, east of Kano, where a market was hit. There were no reported […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Africa

Greece Minister: Government Jobs Cuts Planned as International Debt Pressure Intensifies

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 5:45 pm (UTC-5)
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A Greek minister says the debt-ridden country has agreed to cut 15,000 jobs from its government workforce, amid growing international pressure to impose more unpopular austerity measures. Public Sector Reform Minister Dimitris Reppas announced the job cuts Monday, but did not provide details. State jobs had so far been protected during the crisis, and unions, […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Economy

Northern Nigerian City Witness to Another Attack

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 5:35 pm (UTC-5)
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Violence returned to northern Nigeria on Monday when gunmen believed to members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect attacked a police station in Kano. A local police chief confirmed the attack but provided no further details. Another attack took place Monday in Maiduguri, east of Kano, where a market was hit. There were no reported […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Africa

British Minister Restate London’s Commitment to a Peaceful Somalia

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 4:00 pm (UTC-5)
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A senior British diplomat has reiterated Britain’s commitment to Somalia’s transitional government and to bringing an end to the African country’s decades of instability. Henry Bellingham, the British Minister for African Affairs, told VOA’s Somali Service the time is right for the international community to join in the effort to bring peace and stability to […]

Tags: , Posted in Africa

Pakistan Factory Collapse Kills 11

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 4:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Rescue workers in the northeastern Pakistani city of Lahore struggled into the night to reach dozens of people still trapped in the ruins of a factory that collapsed early Monday following an explosion, killing at least 11 people and injuring scores of others. Police said they believe the three-story factory, which produced veterinary medicines, came […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in South Asia

US Gives Vietnam Help in Testing TB

Posted February 6th, 2012 at 3:55 pm (UTC-5)
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The United States has given Vietnam new equipment to help speed up the diagnosis of a drug resistant strain of tuberculosis. The U.S. Agency for International Development says it delivered the first two of 17 planned laboratory devices to test for the disease Monday. It says the machines allow for technicians to diagnose multi-drug resistant […]

Tags: , Posted in East Asia Pacific