Chinese nationals missing after attack in Sudan

Sunday, January 29, 2012

BEIJING – More than 20 Chinese nationals are missing after militants attacked their remote worksite in a volatile region of Sudan, the Foreign Ministry and embassy said Sunday. The Foreign Ministry said the militants attacked Saturday and Sudanese forces launched a rescue mission Sunday in coordination...

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Spanair shutdown sparks disruptions

Sunday, January 29, 2012

MADRID – Thousands of passengers faced travel disruptions across Spain Saturday after domestic carrier Spanair canceled all of its flights late Friday night and prepared to file for bankruptcy protection. The collapse of the Barcelona carrier took place shortly after Qatar Airways walked away from...

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Iran says oil could reach $120 to $150 per barrel

Sunday, January 29, 2012

TEHRAN, Iran – The head of Iran's state oil company said Sunday that the price of crude will reach $120 to $150 per barrel, as officials in Tehran prepare to discuss a ban on crude sales to European Union countries in retaliation for an EU embargo. Head of the National Iranian Oil Company Ahmad Qalehbani...

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Syrian military launches offensive in clashes with army defectors

Sunday, January 29, 2012

BEIRUT – The Syrian military launched an offensive to regain control of suburbs on the eastern edge of Damascus Sunday, storming neighborhoods and clashing with groups of army defectors in fierce fighting that sent residents fleeing and killed at least...

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Iran issues warning as UN nuclear team arrives

Sunday, January 29, 2012

TEHRAN, Iran – A U.N. nuclear team arrived in Tehran early Sunday for a mission expected to focus on Iran's alleged attempt to develop nuclear weapons. The U.N. nuclear agency delegation includes two senior weapons experts -- Jacques Baute of France and...

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Palestinian leader blames Israel for failure of latest talks

Sunday, January 29, 2012

RAMALLAH, West Bank – The Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Sunday blamed each other for the impasse in newly launched peace efforts, raising doubts about whether the dialogue would continue just weeks after it began. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas...

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British police arrest 5 in London tabloid bribery probe

Sunday, January 29, 2012

LONDON – British authorities investigating potential cases of bribery of police arrested four current and former employees of News Corp.'s tabloid the Sun, the company said, deepening the media firm's problems in a scandal involving illicit reporting tactics. The focus on Sun employees expands a police...

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Japan, Russia to boost economic and security ties

Sunday, January 29, 2012

TOKYO – The foreign ministers of Japan and Russia agreed Saturday to strengthen economic and security cooperation but made no progress on resolving a long-standing territorial dispute that has kept the two nations from concluding a peace treaty. Foreign...

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US official's son detained in Egypt says he could face 5 years in jail

Sunday, January 29, 2012

CAIRO – Sam LaHood, son of the U.S. Transportation Secretary and one of several Americans barred from leaving Egypt last weekend, said Friday he could be facing five years in jail. LaHood, the director of the Egyptian program for the International Republican...

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Corruption seen as a top problem for Russia at World Economic Forum

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Russia is hugely represented here at the World Economic Forum. Bill Browder of Hermitage Capital takes issue with that. "There are so many examples of high level government crime in Russia that it's almost ridiculous that Russia is allowed to come here as a country displaying its wares. It's like inviting...

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Saudi women reportedly to be allowed in soccer stadium

Sunday, January 29, 2012

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A government-run Saudi Arabian newspaper reports that for the first time in the conservative Muslim country, women will be allowed to attend soccer matches in one of the country's stadiums. Al-Sharq newspaper on Saturday quoted unnamed...

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Costa Concordia fuel removal stalled due to rough seas

Sunday, January 29, 2012

GIGLIO, Italy – Rough seas off Italy's Tuscan coast have forced a delay in the start of the operation to pump out half a million gallons of fuel from the grounded cruise liner Costa Concordia. The choppy waters also partially dislodged a barge owned by...

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UN nuclear officials want Iranian cooperation

Sunday, January 29, 2012

VIENNA -- The head of a U.N. nuclear team traveling to Iran on Saturday urged the country to work with his mission on probing Tehran's alleged attempts to develop an atomic arms program, adding such cooperation is long overdue. The unusually blunt comments...

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Six Costa Concordia passengers reportedly sue for $460 million

Sunday, January 29, 2012

MIAMI – Six passengers on the stricken Costa Concordia cruise ship filed a complaint against Carnival Cruise Lines, the parent company of ship owner Costa Cruises, demanding $460 million in compensation, the ANSA news agency reported Saturday. The lawyer acting for the six passengers, Marc Bern, said...

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Amid violence, Arab League halts observer mission in Syria

Sunday, January 29, 2012

BEIRUT – The Arab League halted its observer mission to Syria on Saturday, sharply criticizing the regime of President Bashar Assad for escalating violence in recent days that has killed at least 80 people across the country. The rising bloodshed has added...

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Search for bodies in Rio collapse continues

Sunday, January 29, 2012

SAO PAULO -- Firefighters have raised the death toll from the collapse of three buildings in Rio de Janeiro earlier this week to at least 16 people and say hopes of finding anyone alive beneath the rubble are slim. A Rio de Janeiro fire department official...

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Yemen: 5 killed in clashes with Al Qaeda militants

Sunday, January 29, 2012

SANAA, Yemen -- Yemeni security officials say fighting between government troops and Al Qaeda linked militants in the country's south has killed at least five people. The army has been trying for months to dislodge the militants from the towns and territory they seized last spring in Abyan province,...

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