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Activist Accuses Chinese Police of Blocking Access to U.S. Diplomats

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
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The blind Chinese human rights activist at the center of a festering diplomatic standoff between Beijing and Washington said Thursday he believes Chinese authorities are blocking U.S. officials from contacting him in a Beijing hospital. Activist Chen Guangcheng made the accusation just hours after leaving the protection of the U.S. embassy to get medical treatment […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

US Jobless Benefit Claims Fall Sharply

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
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First-time claims for U.S. jobless benefits fell sharply last week, potentially easing worries about the labor market in the world’s largest economy. The government’s Labor Department reported Thursday that 365,000 newly unemployed workers sought unemployment compensation, down 27,000 from the week before. It was the biggest weekly drop in initial claims in nearly a year. […]

Tags: , Posted in Economy

West African Leaders Discuss Mali, Guinea-Bissau

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
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West African leaders are in closed-door session to discuss the political crises in Guinea-Bissau and Mali. Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gathered in Dakar Thursday for an extraordinary summit to talk about their next steps. Military juntas in both countries have refused to comply with demands from ECOWAS for a […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Africa

UN Chief: Arab Spring Helps Ease Controls on Journalists

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
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The United Nations and media rights groups marking World Press Freedom Day say the Arab Spring has loosened the control of some governments over journalists, but they also say many nations still repress the media. At a World Press Freedom Day event in New York, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the growth of new media […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Middle East

Karzai: “Difficult” US Security Talks Ahead

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai has praised a new strategic pact with the United States but warns of tough negotiations on a U.S. military presence in Afghanistan past 2014. Mr. Karzai said Thursday talks on a security arrangement past 2014 will be much more difficult than those held so far. He said any new round of […]

Tags: , , Posted in South Asia

At Least 34 Killed in Attack on Nigerian Cattle Market

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
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Gunmen opened fire on a cattle market in northern Nigeria late Wednesday, killing at least 34 people while burning it to the ground. The attack in the city of Potiskum left more than 20 people injured. Scores of livestock were also killed, stolen or maimed. Witnesses say the attack followed an earlier incident where the […]

Tags: , Posted in Africa

World Powers Urge Iran to Grant Access to Nuclear Sites

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 8:55 am (UTC-5)
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World powers – the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany – are pressuring Iran for “urgent” access to sites involving its controversial nuclear program. With talks between the two sides set for mid-month, the powers are seeking to assess the possible military capability of the sites. A joint statement issued by […]

Tags: , Posted in Middle East

Syrian Forces Raid University, 4 Killed

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
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Syrian activists say government forces have raided university residence halls and killed at least four people in Aleppo, as United Nations monitors continue their push to end violence that has increased during a deteriorating cease-fire. Rights groups and activists said Thursday that forces used tear gas and live ammunition in the overnight raids at Aleppo […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Middle East

UN, Media Groups Mark World Press Freedom Day

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 7:10 am (UTC-5)
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The U.N. and media rights groups marking World Press Freedom Day say the Arab Spring has eased the grip of some governments on journalism, but many nations still repress the media. In a joint statement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO leader Irina Bokova said changes in the Arab world have shown the “power for […]

Tags: , , , Posted in US

Bombs Targeting Anti-Taliban Leaders Kill 5 in NW Pakistan

Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
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Officials in northwestern Pakistan say two bomb blast targeting anti-Taliban tribal leaders have killed at least five people. The attacks happened minutes apart Thursday in Chamarkand, a town in the country’s tribal region near the Afghan border. Officials said the second blast came after security forces responded to the first explosion. No group immediately claimed […]

Tags: , Posted in South Asia