World

Offshore drilling badly tarnished by gulf oil leak

As oil seeps into the environmentally and economically critical Gulf of Mexico following an explosion on a rig there two weeks ago, some groups are saying this catastrophe should mark the end of offshore drilling for oil - and be a "clarion call" for moving away from fossil fuels.

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New UN sanctions would doom US-Iran ties: Ahmadinejad

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned that a new round of UN sanctions against Tehran would close the door on diplomatic engagement with the United States.

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British PM to take 'full responsibility' if election lost

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday he would take "full responsibility" if his party loses this week's general election, as ministers urged tactical voting to keep the Conservatives out.

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Media need sharper legal weapons

Newspapers threatened with lawsuits, journalists feeling lost as they seek redress in cases where the state is less than impartial in investigating the killings of journalists. Media is caught in attempts to use religion to curtail room for public debate.

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US, Iran clash at UN nuclear meet

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blasted the United States at a UN conference for threatening to use nuclear arms, triggering a sharp American response and a walkout by several delegations.

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Thai protesters mull PM offer of Nov elections

Thailand's Red Shirt protest movement was on Tuesday to consider Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's proposal to hold elections in mid November as a way of ending the country's political crisis.

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Swastika on British parliament targets far-right

Campaigners against the far-right in Britain Monday projected an image of a swastika on the side of parliament, amid fears extremists could be voted in at this week's general election

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Snooker star vows to fight match-fixing allegations

The world's number one snooker player John Higgins has said he faces "the biggest match of my life" after being suspended over claims he agreed to take a huge bribe in return for fixing games.

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Europe approves giant Greece bailout

European governments endorsed an unprecedented 110-billion-euro bailout to save Greece from bankruptcy and shore up the single currency after Athens agreed to draconian spending cuts.

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Watchdog names 40 'predators of the press'

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders named Monday the world's 40 worst "predators of the press" including politicians, religious leaders and militias to mark World Press Freedom Day.

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Thailand Civil War Danger Increases

Bangkok's crisis is threatening to blow into what every analyst now projects to be inevitable civil war. It is now plain to see that the anarchy is wreaking widespread havoc and widening out even to threaten public health.

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Security Council Faulted for Gender Hypocrisy

Ten years after a United Nations' Security Council resolution aimed at re-evaluating women's roles in UN-brokered peacekeeping efforts, women are still underrepresented in the peacekeeping process.

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Indigenous forum closes with hope, caution

Friday marked the last day of the two-week Ninth Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, with attendees expressing optimism but also concern about the ongoing encroachment of industrial and development projects into native lands.

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Thai hospital evacuated after protesters storm in

A major hospital in the Thai capital evacuated most of its patients Friday after anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters stormed inside in the mistaken belief that troops were hiding there.

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Belgium bans wearing of Islamic burqa in public

Belgian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to ban the wearing of the Islamic burqa in public, paving the way for the first clampdown of its kind in Europe.

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Britain's Brown fails in final TV election debate

PM Gordon Brown sought to overcome a major gaffe by trumpeting his economic record in a final TV election debate, but polls suggested he was soundly beaten by main rival David Cameron.

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Belgian lawmakers vote to ban wearing of burqa

Belgian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Thursday to ban the wearing of the Islamic burqa in public, paving the way for the first clampdown of its kind in Europe.

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NATO troops raid Afghan MP's home, kill relative

NATO troops raided the home of a prominent Afghan lawmaker, killing a relative, police and the MP said Thursday, as the French military admitted accidentally killing civilians.

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Philippines' Aquino set for landslide win: poll

The son of late Philippine democracy heroine Corazon Aquino appears headed for a landslide victory in next month's presidential election, a survey said Thursday.

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Britain's Labour in election tailspin after PM's gaffe

Britain's ruling Labour Party saw their election campaign thrown into disarray Thursday as Gordon Brown's criticism of an elderly widow as "bigoted" threatened to overshadow a crucial TV debate.

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Iraq election winner Allawi says new polls may be needed

Iraq's general election winner Iyad Allawi on Wednesday said new parliamentary polls run by international monitors might be needed to end concerted efforts from rivals who want to reverse his victory.

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Iraq election winner Allawi: New polls may be needed

Iraq's general election winner Iyad Allawi on Wednesday said new parliamentary polls run by international monitors might be needed to end concerted efforts from rivals who want to reverse his victory.

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Mandela to skip World Cup opening ceremony

Nelson Mandela plans to skip the opening ceremony of the football World Cup finals in South Africa in June and will watch the tournament from home, his grandson told AFP on Wednesday.

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Exploring US policy on Burma

INTERVIEW A look into the policy of ‘pragmatic engagement’ with the military junta.

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