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China, Russia Launch Joint Naval Exercises

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 5:15 pm (UTC-5)
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China and Russia launched joint naval exercises Sunday in the Yellow Sea between the east coast of mainland China and the Korean peninsula. Chinese state media report that 16 Chinese surface vessels and two submarines, as well as four Russian warships, are taking part in the six days of drills scheduled from April 22 through […]

Tags: , , , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Afghanistan, US Finalize Strategic Partnership Agreement

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 4:55 pm (UTC-5)
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Afghanistan and the United States have finalized a strategic partnership agreement outlining their relationship following the 2014 withdrawal of Western combat troops from the country. A statement from Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s office says the draft agreement was initialed Sunday by Afghan National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker during a […]

Tags: , , , Posted in South Asia

Fighting in Syria Kills 17 as UN Monitors Visit 2 Towns

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 4:15 pm (UTC-5)
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Syrian activists say attacks by government and rebel forces have killed 16 people across the country as a small U.N. team visited more towns to monitor a 10-day old truce that has failed to end the year-long conflict. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says soldiers backed by tanks stormed the opposition hub of […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Middle East

Vettel Wins Bahrain’s Controverial Grand Prix Race

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 2:45 pm (UTC-5)
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Bahrain’s Formula One Grand Prix race finished Sunday without incident, despite a week of violent demonstrations leading up to the event. Two-time world champion Sebastian Vettel held off Kimi Raikkonen to claim his title in a race marked by tight security. Black smoke from burning tires still drifted over an area near the capital, Manama, […]

Tags: , , , , , Posted in Middle East

France Holds Round One of Presidential Election

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Official results from France’s presidential election show Socialist candidate Francois Hollande and incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy advancing to a second round of voting. Partial results from Sunday’s poll give Hollande 28.4 percent of the vote, with Sarkozy receiving 25.5 percent. In a surprising finish, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen was in a strong third place, […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Europe

Sudans Still Tense After South Withdrawal From Disputed Town

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 12:01 pm (UTC-5)
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The border region between the two Sudans remains volatile after the south’s withdrawal from the flashpoint town of Heglig, an oil-producing area claimed by both countries. There are reports Sunday that Sudan’s armed forces have continued air raids inside South Sudan, despite the south’s withdrawal from Heglig on Friday. The showdown over Heglig and its […]

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US Lawmaker Dismisses Iran’s Claims of Building Drone Copy

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 12:01 pm (UTC-5)
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The chairman of the U.S. Senate’s Homeland Security Committee is dismissing Iran’s claim that it has reverse-engineered a U.S. spy drone it captured last year. Lawmaker Joe Lieberman said Sunday on U.S. television that he considered the claims little more than “Iranian bluster.” Earlier Sunday, a senior Iranian commander declared Tehran had reverse-engineered the drone […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Middle East

France Holds Round One of Presidential Election

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 12:01 pm (UTC-5)
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Millions of French are voting in presidential elections, which are expected to see incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy lose his seat after just one term. Sunday’s vote will whittle down the field from 10 to two, with Mr. Sarkozy and his main opponent, Socialist Francois Hollande, expected to face each other in a head-to-head runoff May 6. […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Europe

Burmese Democracy Party to Skip Swearing In

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 12:01 pm (UTC-5)
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Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, set to be seated Monday for the first time in parliament, says it will not attend the swearing in because of a dispute over language in the oath of office. The Nobel laureate was one of 43 office seekers from her National League for Democracy party […]

Tags: , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Bahrain Tense Ahead of Grand Prix

Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Bahrain’s Formula One Grand Prix got underway Sunday, despite violent demonstrations denouncing the event as a lavish spectacle by a ruling family that crushed Arab Spring protests last year. Black smoke from burning tires drifted over an area near the capital, Manama, that saw mass demonstrations in the days before Sunday’s race. Security remains tight […]

Tags: , , , , , Posted in Middle East