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US Labor Market Advances, but Jobless Rate Is Higher

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 11:20 pm (UTC-5)
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The U.S. says its labor market improved in July, even as the national jobless rate edged higher. The government reported Friday that employers added 163,000 jobs last month, the most since February. But even as more unemployed workers found new jobs, the country’s unemployment rate increased to 8.3 percent in July, up from 8.2 percent […]

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North Korea Threatens Harder Line in Nuclear Talks

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 11:05 pm (UTC-5)
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A senior North Korean official says Pyongyang intends to harden its opposition to international pressure against its nuclear weapons program. Choi Sun Hee, a deputy director of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, sent a rare note by e-mail to VOA’s Korean Service Thursday, following three days of informal talks between North Korean diplomats and an unofficial […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in East Asia Pacific

Violence Rages in Syria as UN Passes Non-Binding Resolution

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 10:45 pm (UTC-5)
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Syrian security forces continued to clash with rebels Friday, while U.N. diplomats condemned the Syrian government and criticized the Security Council for their roles in the country’s 17-month uprising. Activists say Syrian troops stormed opposition strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus and shelled some neighborhoods in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s commercial hub. The […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

Sudan – S. Sudan Reach Oil Deal

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 9:50 pm (UTC-5)
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The African Union says Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to end a dispute about oil payments. AU mediator and former South African President Thabo Mbeki said Saturday the two parties have reached an agreement on all financial matters regarding oil. Mr. Mbeki did not provide details about when the production and export of southern […]

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Violence Rages in Syria as U.N. Passes Resolution

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 8:10 pm (UTC-5)
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Syrian security forces cracked down hard on rebels in Damascus and Aleppo on Friday, while U.N. diplomats condemned the Syrian government and criticized the Security Council for their roles in the country’s 17-month old uprising. Activists say Syrian troops stormed opposition strongholds in the suburbs of the capital and shelled some neighborhoods in the northern […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Middle East

Clinton to Urge Somali Leaders to Complete Transition

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 7:35 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is visiting Kenya Saturday to urge Somali leaders to complete a political transition to a new government on schedule. Clinton is to meet with the president of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. The transitional government is set to end August 20 when the United Nations […]

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Phelps Wins Record 21st Medal

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 6:55 pm (UTC-5)
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American swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, won his 21st medal at the London Games Friday, as the United States ruled the pool and excitement built toward a weekend of fierce track and field competition. Phelps closed his individual career by claiming the gold in the 100-meter butterfly, while 17-year-old Missy […]

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North Korea Threatens Harder Line in Nuclear Disarmament Talks

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 5:15 pm (UTC-5)
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In a rare direct message, a senior North Korean official has told VOA the Pyongyang government intends to harden its opposition to international pressure against its nuclear weapons program. Choi Sun-hee, a deputy director of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, sent a note by email to VOA’s Korean Service Thursday, following three days of informal talks […]

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Determined Gymnast Makes Olympic History

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 3:45 pm (UTC-5)
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Gymnast Gabby Douglas has always been determined. That determination pushed Douglas from her East Coast home in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to the Midwestern state of Iowa, and then to the London Olympics. The 16-year-old made history this week, becoming the first African American gold medalist in the individual all-around. Douglas’ tenacity helped convince her mother […]

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Indian Anti-Corruption Activist’s Supporters to Form Political Party

Posted August 3rd, 2012 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Supporters of Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare say they will form a political party in order to further their cause in parliament. The announcement came Friday as Hazare ended a six-day hunger strike in New Delhi to protest lawmakers’ failure to pass anti-graft legislation. He and his supporters have also called for an investigation into […]

Tags: , , Posted in South Asia