Showing Archived Posts

North Korea: Kim Jong Il’s Body On Permanent Display

Posted January 12th, 2012 at 2:20 am (UTC-5)
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North Korea says the body of its late leader Kim Jong Il will lie in state permanently at the same memorial palace where his father’s embalmed body is on display. The official Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that Mr. Kim’s body will be displayed at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Memorial Palace. The body of his father, […]

Tags: , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Japan Agrees to Cut Iranian Oil Imports

Posted January 12th, 2012 at 1:10 am (UTC-5)
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Japan has promised to reduce Iranian oil imports in support of U.S. sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran to end its controversial nuclear program. Finance Minister Jun Azumi said Thursday that Japan – which relies on Iran for 10 percent of its oil – will take “concrete steps” to cut the amount of oil it imports […]

Tags: , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Report: US Foreclosures Drop In 2011

Posted January 11th, 2012 at 11:30 pm (UTC-5)
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The battered U.S. housing market looked a little better in 2011, but that may change soon. A company that tracks foreclosures says owners of 1.8 million properties got notices they were in some stage of the foreclosure process in 2011. That is about one-third less than the number of properties facing foreclosure the prior year. […]

Tags: , Posted in Economy

Ahmadinejad Slams Capitalism in Cuba

Posted January 11th, 2012 at 8:50 pm (UTC-5)
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized capitalism as a “system in decay” in a speech in Cuba, his latest stop on a Latin American tour. Mr. Ahmadinejad said Wednesday capitalism is a “dead-end street” and said when capitalists “lack logic” they resort to using weapons to kill and destroy. He made the remarks during a speech […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in US

US Official Meets Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Leaders

Posted January 11th, 2012 at 8:05 pm (UTC-5)
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The number two diplomat in the U.S. State Department met with a leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Wednesday but was unable to see representatives from the more hard-line Al-Nur party. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Deputy Secretary of State William Burns met with Mohammed Mursi as part of a series of meetings with Egyptian […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

Scotland, Britain Clash Over Independence Vote

Posted January 11th, 2012 at 8:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Scottish leader Alex Salmond says the people of Scotland should set the terms of a referendum on independence from Britain, not the British government. The Scottish first minister said Wednesday his government is prepared to debate the issue, but will not be bullied by London. “We won’t be talked down to from Downing Street. The […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Europe

AU Wants to Expand Somalia Mission

Posted January 11th, 2012 at 7:50 pm (UTC-5)
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The African Union is asking the United Nations Security Council to approve expanding its mission in Somalia, saying the gains made against Islamic insurgents must be protected. AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane Lamamra, told the Council in New York Wednesday that for the first time in 20 years, Somalia’s transitional government controls nearly […]

Tags: , Posted in Africa

US to Investigate Video of Marines Urinating on Dead Taliban

Posted January 11th, 2012 at 7:40 pm (UTC-5)
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The U.S. military says it is investigating a video that appears to show four U.S. Marines urinating on the corpses of three Taliban fighters. In a statement issued Wednesday, the Pentagon said it had not yet verified the “origin or authenticity” of the video, which has been posted on several websites. However, the statement condemned […]

Tags: , , Posted in US

Czech Government to Compensate Churches for Confiscated Property

Posted January 11th, 2012 at 6:25 pm (UTC-5)
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The Czech Cabinet has approved a bill that will compensate churches for assets seized by the communist regime that ran the former Czechoslovakia for about 40 years after World War II. Prime Minister Petr Necas said the restitution measure was approved unanimously Wednesday. “It was approved unanimously by all present ministers. I consider the result, […]

Tags: , , Posted in Europe

Militants Kill 14 Pakistani Soldiers

Posted January 11th, 2012 at 6:15 pm (UTC-5)
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Pakistani officials say at least 14 paramilitary soldiers were killed late Wednesday when suspected Baluch separatists ambushed their vehicle in southwestern Baluchistan province. The officials said the incident took place in Turbat district near the Iranian border. Baluchistan is home to various militant groups, including pro-Taliban factions, as well as Baluch militants. The province has […]

Tags: , , , Posted in South Asia