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Singer Whitney Houston Memorialized at Pre-Grammy Awards Gala

Posted February 12th, 2012 at 6:30 am (UTC-5)
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The music industry has celebrated the life of Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Whitney Houston at the Los Angeles hotel where she was found dead hours earlier. Houston’s mentor, producer and longtime friend, Clive Davis, memorialized her Saturday night at his pre-Grammy Gala, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. A somber Davis said, “Simply put, Whitney […]

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Maldives’ New President Expands Cabinet

Posted February 12th, 2012 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
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Maldives’ new president has expanded his Cabinet. President Mohammed Waheed Hassan swore in six new ministers and an attorney general, drawn from different political parties, Sunday in the capital, Male. The new appointees are heading up the ministries of economic development, education, health, tourism, transportation and the combined youth and sports bureau. Ousted President Mohamed […]

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Arab Foreign Ministers Discuss Plan to End Syria Crisis

Posted February 12th, 2012 at 5:30 am (UTC-5)
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Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo on Sunday to discuss the idea of a joint Arab-United Nations monitoring mission for Syria. The ministers are expected to consider proposals for a new Arab observer mission, to replace one suspended last month after a surge in violence in Syria. Gulf states also withdrew their observers to protest […]

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Malaysia Deports Saudi Journalist Accused of Insulting Muhammad

Posted February 12th, 2012 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
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Malaysian authorities say they have deported a Saudi journalist who is wanted in his home country for posting Twitter remarks deemed as insulting to the Prophet Muhammad. Police said 23-year-old columnist Hamza Kashgari was handed over to Saudi officials and flown back Sunday morning. Kashgari was detained in Malaysia Thursday after fleeing Saudi Arabia. Some […]

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Al-Qaida Leader Voices Support for Syrian Uprising

Posted February 12th, 2012 at 4:15 am (UTC-5)
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Al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has voiced support for the Syrian uprising against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. In a video posted on an Islamist website, Zawahiri urged Muslims in Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon to back the Syrian rebels. He also called on Syrians not to rely on the West or Arab governments. Zawahiri […]

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Singer Whitney Houston’s Death Sparks Many Tributes

Posted February 12th, 2012 at 3:55 am (UTC-5)
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Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Whitney Houston died Saturday at the age of 48 in a Los Angeles hotel room, setting off an avalanche of tributes. The Associated Press quotes Houston’s ex-husband, singer Bobby Brown, as saying before a performance in Mississippi Saturday, “I would like to say, I love you Whitney. The hardest thing […]

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Japan Emperor to Undergo Heart Bypass Surgery

Posted February 12th, 2012 at 3:30 am (UTC-5)
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Japanese officials say Emperor Akihito will undergo heart bypass surgery this week after an examination found a heart problem had worsened. The Imperial Household Agency said Sunday that the 78-year-old emperor had a catheter angiogram at the University of Tokyo Hospital on Saturday. The test showed that blood vessels had narrowed, and he was scheduled […]

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Turkmenistan Holds Presidential Election

Posted February 12th, 2012 at 12:40 am (UTC-5)
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Voters in Turkmenistan headed to the polls Sunday in an election that is expected to re-elect President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. The 54-year-old is president, prime minister, commander of the armed forces and head of the only political party in the former Soviet republic, which borders Iran and Afghanistan. Analysts say Mr. Berdymukhamedov is most likely assured […]

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Nelson Mandela’s Image to appear on South African Bank Notes

Posted February 12th, 2012 at 12:35 am (UTC-5)
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South Africa has unveiled new bank notes that will bear the image of former president Nelson Mandela. President Jacob Zuma made the announcement Saturday during a 22nd anniversary observance of the release of Mr. Mandela after nearly three decades in prison for his activism against apartheid. The five new notes honor Mr. Mandela as South […]

Tags: , Posted in Africa