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US Urges Burma to End Hostilities

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 7:25 pm (UTC-5)
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The United States is urging Burma to cease hostilities in northern ethnic minority regions, as deadly clashes between government forces and rebels have forced many refugees to flee toward neighboring China. State Department spokeswoman Kelly McKellogg Thursday called on the Burmese authorities to start a dialogue toward reconciliation with opposition and ethnic minority groups. She […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Economy

Japan Refusing to Extend Kyoto Pact

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 6:25 pm (UTC-5)
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Japan is refusing to carry out its pledge to extend greenhouse gas emission cuts after the global treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol expires next year. Japanese delegates at U.N.-sponsored climate talks in Bonn, Germany say Japan will not promise more cuts unless a new broader agreement is put together. They say the 1997 treaty […]

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Boehner, Obama Dispute Libya Mission

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 5:50 pm (UTC-5)
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The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is trading sharp words with the White House about the legalities of the U.S. military action in Libya. Speaker John Boehner and other lawmakers, both Democrats and fellow Republicans, say the president is legally required to seek congressional approval for the mission in Libya, but the White […]

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EU to Increase Aid to Pakistan

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 5:50 pm (UTC-5)
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The European Union says it is ready to increase its assistance to Pakistan despite the country’s struggles with terrorism and the slow pace of political and economic reforms. European Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and German Development Minister Dirk Niebel arrived in Islamabad Thursday for a series of high-level meetings, including President Asif Ali Zardari and […]

Tags: , , , Posted in South Asia

Militants Launch More Attacks in Southern Yemen

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 5:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Armed militants have renewed attacks against government buildings near the southern Yemeni town of Houta, which they had assaulted on Wednesday. Residents said the attackers in Thursday’s raid briefly took over a security headquarters and council offices in Masameer, which is close to Houta, before retreating. Also Thursday, Yemen’s Defense Ministry said two people were […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

Suicide Blast Hits Nigeria Police Headquarters

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 5:20 pm (UTC-5)
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A suicide bombing outside Nigeria’s national police headquarters in Abuja has killed at least two people, including the bomber. The blast is believed to be the first suicide bombing in Nigeria. A spokesman for the Islamist radical group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the blast in an interview with VOA. The group is blamed for […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Africa

Associate of Ousted Egyptian President Arrested in Spain

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 5:15 pm (UTC-5)
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Egyptian officials say a close business associate of ousted President Hosni Mubarak has been arrested in Spain on charges of fraud. The state-run MENA news agency says Hussein Salem was detained on the Spanish island of Majorca on an arrest warrant issued by Interpol. The head of Egypt’s Interpol agency, Magde el-Shafie, told MENA that […]

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EU Official: Eurozone to Agree on $17 Billion for Greece

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 5:05 pm (UTC-5)
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European Union economic chief Olli Rehn says he is confident eurozone ministers will grant a $17 billion loan payment to Greece to prevent Athens from defaulting on its debt. Rehn spoke Thursday — another day of political and economic turmoil in Greece. Two ruling Socialist Party members of parliament quit to protest Prime Minister George […]

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Mixed Close for Major US Stocks

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 4:35 pm (UTC-5)
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The major U.S. stock indexes were mixed at the close of Thursday’s trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained a half-percent to end at 11,962. The S&P 500 Index rose two-tenths of a percent to close at 1,268. And the NASDAQ fell almost three-tenths of a percent to end at 2,624. European stock prices closed […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Economy

Obama Discusses Troop Drawdown with his Afghan Commander

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 4:30 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. President Barack Obama has met with his top Afghanistan commander to discuss plans for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops. White House spokesman Jay Carney said General David Petraeus met with the president Wednesday. Carney said they discussed a “broad array” of options for the drawdown of troops. He did not provide any new […]

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