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US Solider Charged with 17 Counts of Murder in Afghan Massacre

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 11:00 pm (UTC-5)
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A U.S. Army soldier has been charged with 17 counts of murder in the massacre of Afghan civilians during a shooting spree in two villages in southern Kandahar province. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales was also charged with six counts of attempted murder for the March 11 rampage. Bales, an 11-year military veteran, is being held […]

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Malian Politicians Slam Military Takeover

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 8:05 pm (UTC-5)
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A group of prominent politicians in Mali have condemned the military takeover of President Amadou Toumani Toure’s government just five weeks before a presidential election in which he was not taking part. The politicians issued a statement Friday firmly condemning the coup as a “serious step backwards” for Mali. Presidential candidate Ibrahim Boubakar Keita was […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Africa

Obama Picks Korean-Born University President as World Bank Chief

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 7:30 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. President Barack Obama has nominated Jim Yong Kim, the Korean-born president of Dartmouth College, to head the World Bank. The 52-year-old Kim is a surprise selection by the U.S. to fill the top job at the international financial institution. Mr. Obama said Friday that Kim is well-qualified and a symbol of the diversity of […]

Tags: , , , , , Posted in Economy

EU Slaps Sanctions on Syrian First Lady, Assad Family and Inner Circle

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 5:55 pm (UTC-5)
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The European Union imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s British-born wife and several other members of his family and administration Friday. Meanwhile in Geneva, the United Nations Human Rights Council also toughened its stance on Syria with a sharp condemnation of Syria’s “escalating violence” and called for an extension […]

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Florida Shooting Renews Public Attention to ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 5:15 pm (UTC-5)
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The shooting death of an unarmed teenager in Florida has brought renewed public attention to the “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows a person to use deadly force in self-defense, instead of retreating from a confrontation. Florida is among 21 U.S. states that have such a law. The Florida measure, passed in 2005, allows the […]

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AU: Mali’s President Safe After Coup

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 3:45 pm (UTC-5)
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The African Union says Mali’s President Amadou Toumani Toure is safe, a day after renegade soldiers announced they had toppled his government. The head of the AU Commission, Jean Ping, told reporters Friday that the AU has received assurances Mr. Toure is at an undisclosed location near Bamako and is being protected by loyalists. The […]

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Obama Heading to South Korea for Nuclear Summit

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 3:25 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to leave Friday at midnight for the South Korean capital, Seoul, where he is attending a high-profile nuclear summit next week. More than 50 world leaders are gathering for the Nuclear Security Summit, including Chinese President Hu Jintao. The White House says Mr. Obama will hold bilateral meetings with […]

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EU Slaps New Sanctions on Belarus

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 3:00 pm (UTC-5)
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The European Union has imposed new sanctions on Belarus in an effort to persuade the authoritarian regime of President Alexander Lukashenko to free political prisoners. Foreign ministers of the 27-nation bloc agreed Friday to freeze the assets and extend an EU travel ban on 12 more Belarusian nationals. They also banned 29 Belarusian companies from […]

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US Soldier Charged with 17 Counts of Murder in Afghan Massacre

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 2:10 pm (UTC-5)
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A U.S. Army soldier has been charged with 17 counts of murder in the massacre of Afghan civilians during a shooting spree in two villages in southern Kandahar province. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales was also charged with six counts of attempted murder for the March 11 rampage. Bales, an 11-year military veteran, is being held […]

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The Korean DMZ: What Might Obama See?

Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
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The Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea is the most heavily-fortified border in the world. Barbed wire, watchtowers and land mines line the DMZ, while across the nearly 250 kilometer-long stretch of land, an estimated two million troops — one million on each side — stand ready to resume battle at anytime. The […]