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More than 50 Presumed Dead in Russia Oil Platform Accident

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
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At least four people are dead and 49 others missing and presumed dead after a Russian oil rig capsized and sank early Sunday in the frigid Sea of Okhotsk. The Russian Transportation Ministry said 14 crew were rescued by an icebreaker and a tug boat after the platform was smashed by a giant wave and […]

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Somali Journalist Shot and Killed

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 2:35 pm (UTC-5)
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A prominent journalist in Somalia has been shot and killed in the capital, Mogadishu. A spokesman for the east African country’s Horn Cable TV said Abdisalam Sheikh Hussein was shot in the head by a man wearing a Somali government uniform. A government spokesman is quoted as saying there will be an investigation into the […]

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Arab Officials: Syria’s Assad to Sign Peace Plan Soon

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
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Senior Arab officials say they expect Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to quickly sign an Arab League peace plan aimed at ending his deadly crackdown on a nine-month-long opposition uprising. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said Sunday he has information that Mr. Assad will sign the plan. Omani Foreign Minister Youssef bin Alawi […]

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Vaclav Havel Dies at Age 75

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 1:15 pm (UTC-5)
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Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who led the peaceful revolution that toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia, has died. He was 75. A spokeswoman said Mr. Havel died in his sleep early Sunday at his weekend house in the northern Czech Republic with his wife and a nun at his side. A […]

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More Protests in Russia over Alleged Election Fraud

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
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Public dissatisfaction over alleged fraud in Russia’s parliamentary elections brought out more street protests in both Moscow and St. Petersburg on Sunday. The protests against the ruling United Russia party of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were organized by the country’s Communist party, the runner-up in the December 4th polls. The thousands of protesters who turned […]

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US Troops Leave Iraq, Ending Almost 9 Years of War

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
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The last convoy of U.S. soldiers has left Iraq, ending an almost nine-year long U.S.-led war that ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and left Iraqis with a fragile democracy still facing insurgents and sectarian divisions. The final convoy of 100 U.S. military vehicles carrying about 500 troops crossed into Kuwait Sunday morning , leaving behind […]

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Vaclav Havel Dies at Age 75

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
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Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who led the peaceful revolution that toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia, has died. He was 75. A spokeswoman said Mr. Havel died in his sleep early Sunday at his weekend house in the northern Czech Republic with his wife and a nun at his side. A […]

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Vaclav Havel Dies at Age 75

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 8:55 am (UTC-5)
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Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who led the peaceful revolution that toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia, has died. He was 75. A spokeswoman said Mr. Havel died in his sleep early Sunday at his weekend house in the northern Czech Republic with his wife and a nun at his side. A […]

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Israel Prepares to Free 550 Palestinian Prisoners

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 8:25 am (UTC-5)
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Israel is set to release 550 Palestinian prisoners Sunday in the second stage of a deal with Hamas that brought home one Israeli soldier after five years of captivity in the Gaza Strip. A late evening release operation is planned. Israel released 477 Palestinians in October in exchange for Israeli army Sergeant Gilad Shalit in […]

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4 Dead, 49 Missing in Russia Oil Platform Accident

Posted December 18th, 2011 at 8:10 am (UTC-5)
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Russian officials say search and rescue efforts have been called off for the night, leaving 49 crew members still missing after an oil drilling rig with 67 crew on board capsized and sank in icy waters off the Far East island of Sakhalin. A regional emergency ministry spokesman told reporters that four crewmen were confirmed […]

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