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Britain’s Foreign Secretary Makes Historic Visit to Burma

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 10:05 pm (UTC-5)
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British Foreign Secretary William Hague says he will press Burma to release its political prisoners during his first official visit to the southeast Asian country. Hague’s historic visit to Burma begins in the capital, Naypyidaw, where he will meet president Thein Sein. He is then scheduled to travel to Rangoon to meet with opposition leader […]

Tags: , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Philippines Landslide Kills 25, 100 Missing

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 9:45 pm (UTC-5)
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Philippines officials say a landslide in a gold mining community on the southern island of Mindanao has killed at least 25 people and left more than 100 others buried under tons of rocks and mud. Officials say the disaster struck before dawn Thursday near the town of Pantukan. Philippine soldiers are helping dig through the […]

LA Arson Suspect Charged, on Suicide Watch

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 6:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Authorities say a German suspect is on suicide watch after he was charged with multiple counts of arson in connection with more than 50 deliberately set fires in Los Angeles. Harry Burkhart was arrested Monday. He is accused of going on a four-day arson rampage that investigators say caused about $3 million in damage. He […]

Tags: , Posted in US

Russian Dissident Udaltsov Released

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 6:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Russian protest leader Sergei Udaltsov was freed from jail in Moscow Wednesday, one month after he was arrested for organizing anti-government demonstrations. Udaltsov emerged to a snowy Moscow night and cheers from supporters gathered to greet him. He said the anti-government protesters will continue their activities with peaceful a march in Moscow on February 4. […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Europe

Syrian Activists: Damascus Misleading Arab League Observers

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 6:15 pm (UTC-5)
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Opposition groups have accused the Syrian government of misleading Arab League peace monitors by taking them to loyalist areas, changing street signs to confuse them and sending supporters into rebellious neighborhoods to give false testimony. Activists in the cities of Idlib in the north, central Homs and Daraa in the south Wednesday said the army […]

Tags: Posted in Middle East

US Defense Cuts May Force Pentagon Strategy Shift

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 6:05 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to make a rare appearance at the Pentagon Thursday to join his defense secretary and his joint chiefs of staff in unveiling a new defense strategy in line with billions of dollars in budget cuts. The new plan is expected to end a decades-old strategy of maintaining a force […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in US

Auto Sales Rise

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 5:25 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S.-based automakers say their sales rose sharply in 2011 as consumers gained confidence, interest rates remained low, and consumers replaced aging vehicles they held onto during the recession. General Motors says its sales rose 13 percent, as customers bought 2.5 million of its vehicles. Rival Ford posted an 11 percent gain, and sold just over […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Economy

Obama Defies Republican Opposition, Names Consumer Watchdog

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 5:10 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. President Barack Obama angered Republicans Wednesday during a campaign stop in Ohio by using a recess appointment to name a new consumer watchdog official. President Obama said both Democrats and Republicans know Richard Cordray is qualified, but that Republicans held the nomination “hostage” because they disagree with the creation of the new Consumer Financial […]

Tags: , , , Posted in US

Infection Outbreak Hits Flooded Philippine Regions

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 4:55 pm (UTC-5)
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Philippine officials say an outbreak of a deadly water-borne disease has claimed at least four lives in the flood-stricken southern region. Health officials said Tuesday that 128 cases of leptospirosis have been confirmed and that further 200 people are suspected of being infected. The disease is caused by a deadly bacteria from flood waters. The […]

Afghan Leader Agrees to Taliban Talks and Office in Qatar

Posted January 4th, 2012 at 4:45 pm (UTC-5)
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday welcomed negotiations between the Afghan Taliban and the United States, as well as the Islamist insurgent group’s plans to open an office in the Gulf state of Qatar. Mr. Karzai issued a statement saying he agrees with negotiations between the Taliban and the U.S. that would lead to the […]

Tags: , , , Posted in South Asia