US foils new Al-Qaeda ‘underwear’ plane bomb plot

The United States has foiled a plot by Al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen to blow up a US-bound passenger jet with a new take on the “underwear bomb” near the first anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death, officials said Monday.

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US foils new Al-Qaeda ‘underwear’ plane bomb plot


More doubts cast on European missile defense plan

The National Academy of Sciences is casting more doubt on whether the Obama administration’s European-based missile defense shield can protect the United States and recommends scrapping key parts of the system.

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More doubts cast on European missile defense plan

Murdoch’s media empire strikes back

LONDON (Reuters) – Rupert Murdoch on Thursday declared war against “enemies” who have accused his pay-TV operation of sabotaging its rivals, denouncing them as “toffs and right wingers” stuck in the last century. Reports by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Australian Financial Review newspaper this week said that News Corp’s pay-TV smartcard security unit, NDS, had promoted piracy attacks on rivals, including in the United States. …

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Murdoch’s media empire strikes back

US gives exemption on Iran sanctions to 11 nations

The United States is granting an exemption to 10 European Union countries and Japan from enforcing economic sanctions because the countries have significantly reduced their purchases of petroleum from Iran.

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US gives exemption on Iran sanctions to 11 nations

AP Exclusive: NKoreans skeptical of US nuke deal (AP)

AP – A nuclear deal with the United States may have raised hopes that tensions on the Korean peninsula could ease soon, but rare interviews Friday by The Associated Press with Pyongyang residents suggest deep cynicism of U.S. intentions.

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AP Exclusive: NKoreans skeptical of US nuke deal
(AP)

Portugal judge: US fugitive won’t be extradited (AP)

AP – Portugal won’t extradite American fugitive George Wright to the United States for crimes he committed there four decades ago, after the U.S. ran out of possibilities to appeal the decision to let him stay, a Portuguese court official said Wednesday.

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Portugal judge: US fugitive won’t be extradited
(AP)

U.S. closes embassy in Syria, vows further pressure (Reuters)

Reuters – The United States closed its embassy in Damascus on Monday and President Barack Obama vowed to ratchet up pressure on Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to step down, even as world powers remained divided over how to end the crisis.

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U.S. closes embassy in Syria, vows further pressure
(Reuters)

U.S. Justice Department indicts Swiss bank Wegelin (Reuters)

Reuters – The United States indicted Wegelin, the oldest Swiss private bank, on charges that it enabled wealthy Americans to evade taxes on at least $1.2 billion hidden in offshore bank accounts, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.

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U.S. Justice Department indicts Swiss bank Wegelin
(Reuters)

Syria forces retake Damascus suburbs; showdown at U.N. (Reuters)

Reuters – Syrian government forces reasserted control of Damascus suburbs on Tuesday after beating back rebels at the capital’s gates as diplomatic pressure mounted on President Bashar al-Assad at the United Nations.

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Syria forces retake Damascus suburbs; showdown at U.N.
(Reuters)

Many indifferent as Noriega returns to Panama cell (AP)

AP – Manuel Noriega is back in his Panamanian homeland after nearly 22 years, sitting in a prison cell in a country he ruled as a personal fiefdom until U.S. troops invaded and hauled him off to a Florida jail.

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Many indifferent as Noriega returns to Panama cell
(AP)