As US looks for exit in Afghanistan, China digs in WASHINGTON — At a former al-Qaida stronghold southeast of the Afghan capital, a state-owned Chinese company is at work on a $3 billion mine project to tap one of the world’s largest unexploited copper reserves, a potential financial boon for an impoverished country mired in war. The
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Chinese company’s contract to mine Afghanistan’s rich copper deposits criticized as a bad deal
more images more images Third party challenges in NJ, NY are warning sign NEW YORK — Third party candidates could upend two major races in elections Tuesday, and the success of those candidacies is a warning shot fired at both major parties by voters angry at government and disillusioned by politics as usual. In the New Jersey governor’s race,
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Third party challenges in NJ, NY seen as a warning sign for both parties in 2010 and beyond
Boehner: GOP offering the right health care ideas WASHINGTON — Republicans have the answers to lower health costs and expanded coverage, not the Democrats hold power in Washington and are creating more problems as they “recklessly pursue” a government takeover of the health care system, a GOP leader said. The top House Republican, Rep. John Boehner of
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GOP leader says Republicans have answers to lower health costs, more insurance coverage
Muslim leaders gather for Detroit imam’s funeral DETROIT — Muslim leaders are preparing for the funeral of a Detroit imam who was fatally shot by federal agents after authorities say he resisted arrest and fired his weapon. The service for Luqman Ameen Abdullah was set for Saturday morning at the Muslim Center in Detroit. Imam Abdullah El-Amin of
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Muslim leaders gather Saturday in Detroit to mourn imam who was killed in shootout with FBI
Madonna leaves Malawi after week’s charity tour LILONGWE, Malawi — Madonna has left Malawi after a nearly weeklong visit with her family, airport and charity officials said Saturday. Officials said Madonna flew out of the southern African country on Friday. The 51-year-old celebrity arrived in the impoverished country on Sunday accompanied by her four children — daughters
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Madonna leaves Malawi, ending week of orphanage visits, charity groundbreakings
Zimbabwe: Mugabe takes sharp dig at Tsvangirai HARARE, Zimbabwe — President Robert Mugabe took a sharp dig at his estranged governing partner Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday, but said they were still allies in Zimbabwe’s troubled coalition. Speaking Saturday at the state funeral of a former guerrilla leader who fought for independence from Britain in 1980,
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Zimbabwe: Pres. Mugabe takes sharp dig at Tsvangirai, but says they’re still partners
Some passengers faint on Newark to London flight LONDON — Six people fainted on board a British Airways flight from Newark Liberty Airport to London’s Heathrow Saturday, prompting emergency crews to check the plane for hazardous materials. Police said nothing suspicious was found on board after the jet was searched by emergency teams in protective gear
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At least 6 passengers faint on Newark to London flight, but no hazards founds on board
Somali pirates: Western boats ‘loot’ Somali fish MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali pirates who are demanding $7 million in ransom for a British sailing couple say boats from other countries are “looting” Somalia’s fish-rich waters. Ahmed Gadaf, who says he’s a spokesman for the pirates, says Western fishing vessels “harass” local fishermen and destroy their nets.
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Pirates demanding $7M for UK couple, say Western forces ‘loot’ natural fishing resources
more images more images NEW DELHI – Reacting sharply to Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s comment that the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) till recently considered Maoists as “comrades in arms”, the Left party’s head Saturday said he “has chosen to ignore the history of the Maoist movement”. “Far from being the CPI-M’s ‘comrades in arms’, the Maoists have
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Maoists have ‘always been hostile to CPI-M’: Karat
Kidnappers demand $2 million for Irish hostage MANILA, Philippines — Captors of a 79-year old Irish missionary kidnapped in the southern Philippines have released a video in which the priest says his abductors are demanding $2 million to release him. The video was obtained by government negotiators and broadcast on GMA television network in Manila Saturday.
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Kidnappers release video, demand $2 million for Irish priest hostage in southern Philippines
GOP urges simpler, less expensive health care plan WASHINGTON — Republicans say the Democrats’ proposal to overhaul health care is far too complicated, intrusive and expensive and are urging several steps they claim would bring down costs while not greatly expanding government involvement. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, outlined a health care alternative in the GOP’s
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GOP urges less expensive health care plan, claims Democrats’ plan too complicated and costly
more images more images more images more images more images more images Obama highlights fresh signs of economic growth WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Saturday that reports the economy is growing again and that more than 1 million jobs were saved or created by his stimulus plan show “we are moving in the right direction.” But he tempered his upbeat message with
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Obama highlights signs of economic growth, 1 million jobs created or saved under stimulus plan
Cheney to FBI: No idea who leaked Plame’s identity WASHINGTON — Citing faulty memory, former Vice President Dick Cheney told federal investigators in a 2004 interview he had no idea who revealed to reporters that Valerie Plame, the wife of a Bush administration critic, worked for the CIA. Cheney’s chief of staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, was
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Cheney told FBI he had no idea who leaked the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame
more images more images Clinton faces herculean challenge to renew talks JERUSALEM — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s long-shot attempt to resuscitate a moribund Mideast peace push is coming up against a firm Palestinian decision not to sit down with Israel, unless it freezes settlement construction on lands the Palestinians seek for a future state. Israel has
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Clinton faces herculean challenge in bid to renew Israeli-Palestinian talks
Companies to pay $17M in San Diego wildfires case SAN DIEGO — San Diego Gas & Electric and Cox Communications have agreed to pay $17 million to settle claims by state investigators that poor maintenance led to three huge Southern California wildfires in 2007. The settlement, announced Friday, comes more than a year after investigators with California’s
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San Diego power company, Cox Communications settle 2007 wildfire case for $17 million
more images more images Pact to restore ousted Honduran leader in Congress TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduran legislators now have the final say over a U.S.-brokered agreement that could return deposed President Manuel Zelaya to power, and diplomats urged them not to delay. All sides in the 4-month-old dispute spawned by Zelaya’s military-backed ouster on June 28 declared the negotiated
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US-brokered pact to restore ousted Honduran leader now in the hands of a willing Congress
more images more images Pakistan pledges to eliminate militants ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s offensive in tribal regions that shelter Taliban fighters will continue until all the country’s militants are wiped out, top officials insisted, an apparent reaction to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s warning that al-Qaida also need to be targeted. President Asif Ali Zardari, speaking to members
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Pakistan president says fight against militants won’t end until all are eliminated
Congratulating Reverend Martin Junge on his election as General Secretary of influential Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Hindus hope that he would promote interfaith dialogue in the world. Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, hoped that LWF under Junge would work for promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperating in common causes such
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Hindus urge newly elected head of Lutheran World Federation to promote interfaith dialogue
WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during her three-day visit to Pakistan, left no stone unturned in making the hosts realise the severity of the threat to its existence that the extremists pose. Experts believe that Clinton’s tough talk and her blunt remarks over Islamabad’s unprofessional attitude over tackling the impending threat has given
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Clinton’s blunt remarks gave Pak leadership much-needed dose of reality: Experts
more images more images more images more images Sources: Abdullah to pull out of Afghan runoff KABUL — Afghan presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah plans to boycott next week’s runoff against incumbent Hamid Karzai following a breakdown in talks on how to fix the country’s electoral crisis, two people familiar with the discussions said.
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AP sources: Afghan presidential challenger plans to boycott runoff after talks break down
more images more images Pakistan: Militant fight won’t end in Waziristan ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s president says the offensive in tribal regions that shelter Taliban fighters will press on until all the country’s militants are wiped out, an apparent reaction to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s warning that al-Qaida also needs to be targeted. President Asif Ali Zardari,
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Pakistan president insists fight against militants won’t end with South Waziristan offensive
APNewsBreak: Philly transit talks to continue PHILADELPHIA — A union representing more than 5,000 transit workers is extending the deadline for a strike that could disrupt bus and subway services during the World Series games in Philadelphia. The union had threatened to go on strike as early as 12:01 a.m. Saturday if talks with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation
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APNewsBreak: Union extends deadline for Philly transit strike hours before World Series game
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi supports US policy of engagement YANGON, Myanmar — Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is aware of an upcoming visit by two American officials and supports the new U.S. policy of engaging with Myanmar’s military rulers, her lawyer said Saturday. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and a deputy will be in Myanmar,
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Myanmar opposition leader Suu Kyi supports new US policy of engagement with junta
more images more images Celebs, lobbyists among White House guests WASHINGTON — Celebrities Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney and Denzel Washington and heavyweights from the financial services and high-tech industries were among those landing visits with President Barack Obama or others at the White House during Obama’s first months in office. The White House late Friday afternoon released a partial
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Winfrey, Clooney, Gates among visitors to Obama White House
Obama administration seeks to block wiretap suit WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is invoking the state secrets privilege to stop a lawsuit over Bush-era wiretapping — the first time the Obama administration has done so under its new policy on such cases. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the decision in a California lawsuit challenging the warrantless wiretapping
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Obama administration invokes state secrets privilege to block lawsuit over warrantless wiretap
Source: Abdullah may pull out of Afghan runoff UNITED NATIONS — Talks between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah have broken down, and Abdullah may pull out of next week’s presidential runoff, according to a person with knowledge of the talks. An announcement could come as early as Saturday or, possibly, Sunday, the person said.
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Western source says Karzai challenger likely to pull out of Afghan presidential runoff
New papers detail FBI, CIA wrangle over detainees WASHINGTON — Newly released documents show the FBI interviewed a naked, chained terror suspect back in 2002 as the bureau struggled with the CIA over how to treat high-value prisoners. Details of the interrogation were contained in documents released late Friday as part of a Freedom of Information Act
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Newly released papers show FBI, CIA at odds over harsh terror interrogations
Judge orders 3 to trial in Anna Nicole drug case LOS ANGELES — Three key players in the troubled world of Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith were ordered Friday to stand trial after a hearing that plumbed the drug-fueled depths of her final years and the alleged roles of her boyfriend and two doctors in feeding
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Judge orders trial for Smith’s boyfriend, 2 doctors accused of illegally providing her drugs
more images more images Obama gets fresh sense of state of armed services WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama grappled Friday with the costs and consequences of a long-term commitment to Afghanistan, but reached no decisions about troop levels, a top aide said, as military advisers briefed the president on an armed services already taxed by challenges around the
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Nearing the end of Afghan war review, Obama reviews options with military chiefs, talks troops
Madoff: SEC never thought it was a Ponzi scheme WASHINGTON — Bernard Madoff was apparently convinced that it never even occurred to Securities and Exchange Commission staff he was running a Ponzi scheme, despite the agency’s numerous probes of his business. A document released Friday details a prison interview conducted in June by the SEC inspector general
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Madoff convinced SEC investigators never thought he was running a Ponzi scheme, document shows