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Greek Lawmakers Deciding Whether to Accept New Austerity Pact

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
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Debt-ridden Greece is facing a final decision whether to adopt steep new austerity measures to ease its precarious financial state and avoid a default on its loans next month. Greek lawmakers representing socialist, conservative and far-right political parties met Wednesday to consider a 50-page plan negotiated with the country’s international creditors. It would cut Greece’s […]

Tags: , , Posted in Economy

Syrian Troops Pound Homs as Russia Warns Against Intervention

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
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Syrian troops are continuing their assault on the protest hub of Homs, reportedly killing dozens of civilians, as Russia said the world faces a growing “cult of violence” in international affairs and warned the West against outside intervention in Syria. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces used tanks, rockets and mortars […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

Maldives Protesters Clash with Police After Leader Ousted

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
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Supporters of the former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, clashed with police Wednesday, a day after an alleged coup forced his resignation. Mr. Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected president, told supporters Wednesday that he was forced from office in a coup and that the new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, his former second-in-command, should […]

Tags: , , , Posted in South Asia

India’s Most Populous State Votes in Key Election

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
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Millions of people are heading to the polls in India’s most populous state, in a month-long election that pits a powerful low caste leader against the ruling Congress Party with repercussions that could affect the entire country. Analysts expect the seven-stage election to be a major national test for the ruling party, which has been […]

Tags: , , Posted in South Asia

Ousted Maldives President Claims Threats Forced Resignation

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
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The ousted president of the Maldives says threats of violence forced him to resign and that new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, the former vice president, should immediately step down. Mohamed Nasheed told his supporters Wednesday that he was forced from office in a coup. He urged the country’s judiciary to investigate those responsible for his […]

Tags: , , , Posted in South Asia

Pakistan, NATO Hold Border Talks Following Deadly Attack

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 8:35 am (UTC-5)
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Pakistani military and NATO officials are holding talks on border security after last November’s cross-border coalition attack that killed 24 Pakistani troops. That attack brought relations between the United States and Pakistan to a new low and prompted Pakistan to block NATO supply routes into Afghanistan. The Pakistani army said Wednesday’s talks were taking place […]

Tags: , , Posted in South Asia

Report Says Somali Piracy Costs $7 Billion Per Year

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 8:15 am (UTC-5)
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A new report says Somali piracy cost the world economy nearly $7 billion last year, most of it spent to protect ships from hijackings. The report, from the U.S.-based One Earth Future foundation, said Somali pirates command an average ransom of $5 million per ship. But it says ransoms were only a small fraction of […]

Tags: , , Posted in Africa, Economy

Santorum Pulls Off Major Wins in Three Republican Nominating Contests

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 7:45 am (UTC-5)
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Rick Santorum’s campaign for the U.S. Republican Party’s presidential nomination received a major boost with victories in Tuesday’s nominating contests in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado. With most of the returns counted, the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania won the Minnesota caucuses with 45 percent of the vote. U.S. Representative Ron Paul came in second with […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in US

Chinese Politician Goes on Leave for ‘Stress’ Amid Speculation

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 7:15 am (UTC-5)
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A high-profile politician in southwest China is reported to have suddenly gone on leave, amid rampant speculation about a possible political scandal involving a rising star in the Communist leadership. The Chongqing city government said Wednesday that Wang Lijun was undergoing “vacation-style treatment” because of “long-term overwork, a high level of mental stress and physical […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

UN: Hunger Crisis Worsening in South Sudan

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
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The United Nations says ongoing conflict and a weak harvest in South Sudan have put millions of people on the brink of a severe hunger crisis. A joint report released Wednesday by the World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says the number of food-insecure people in South Sudan has risen […]

Tags: , , Posted in Africa