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Japan, North Korea Meet for First Time in 4 Years

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
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Japan and North Korea have held their first talks in four years, in an effort to overcome decades of tension and mistrust. Officials from the two countries met Wednesday at the Japanese embassy in Beijing. The two sides do not have formal diplomatic relations. The Japanese news agency Kyodo reports the talks focused mainly on […]

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

Ryan Takes Center Stage at Republican Convention as VP Nominee

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. Representative Paul Ryan is set to accept the Republican Party’s nomination as its vice presidential candidate on Wednesday night at the party’s national convention in Tampa, Florida, continuing his rise as a national political figure. The 42-year-old lawmaker from Wisconsin has energized conservative activists ever since he was named as the running mate of […]

Tags: , , , Posted in US

Pirated Tanker Found off Nigeria Coast, 24-Member Crew Reported Safe

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
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An oil tanker hijacked in the Gulf of Guinea has been spotted off the coast of Nigeria and the 24 Russian crew members on board are believed to be safe. The vessel’s Greek-based operator, Golden Energy Management, said Wednesday that pirates still have control of the tanker. The hijackers seized the Greek-owned Energy Centurion off […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Africa

Japan, North Korea Meet for First Time in 4 Years

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
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Japan and North Korea have held their first talks in four years, in an effort to overcome decades of tension and mistrust. Officials from the two countries met Wednesday at the Japanese embassy in Beijing. The two sides do not have formal diplomatic relations. The Japanese news agency Kyodo reports the talks primarily focused on […]

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

Afghan President Removes Intelligence Chief

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai has removed the head of the country’s intelligence agency, in the latest shake-up to his Cabinet. Mr. Karzai on Wednesday thanked Rahmatullah Nabil, the director general of the National Security Directorate, for his two-year service. He said Nabil would soon take over as an ambassador to a foreign country. The president’s […]

Tags: , , , Posted in South Asia

Hurricane Isaac Hits US Coast, Louisiana

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
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Hurricane Isaac is dumping heavy rains and battering the northern U.S. Gulf Coast with strong winds as it slowly crawls ashore and heads toward New Orleans, seven years to the day that Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the center of the storm will remain over the state of Louisiana […]

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Militants Attack Pakistani Army Post, Kill 8 Soldiers

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 9:25 am (UTC-5)
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Militants have attacked an army post in northwest Pakistan, killing eight soldiers. Security officials say 10 militants were killed in the ensuing fighting in the South Waziristan tribal agency near the Afghan border. At least six soldiers were wounded in the attack, which came after the military launched an operation to clear the area of […]

Tags: , , , Posted in South Asia

Pressure Mounts on Gambia to Stop Executions

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
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Gambia is coming under more pressure to halt all executions, as fears rise the government could kill dozens of prisoners in coming weeks. Rights group Amnesty International says Gambian President Yahya Jammeh must retract a threat to execute all death row inmates in his country, and place an immediate moratorium on further executions. Late Tuesday, […]

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Security Scare Involving Plane Landing at Amsterdam Airport

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
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The Dutch military police say security forces surrounded a plane after it landed at Amsterdam’s international airport Wednesday, but the airline involved said reports of a highjacking were false. Western news agencies quoted an official from the Spanish airline Vueling as saying the security scare came after a “miscommunication” between the pilot and the control […]

Tags: , Posted in Europe

Ukraine High Court Denies Tymoshenko Appeal

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 8:35 am (UTC-5)
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Ukraine’s high court has rejected former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s appeal against her conviction on charges of abuse of office. A judge said Wednesday the court could not approve the appeal. Ms. Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year sentence. Some supporters of Ms. Tymoshenko in the courtroom yelled “shame!” upon hearing the verdict. The European Union […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Europe