Humanitarian groups urge greater action to help children in Mali
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dpa, Berlin
Regional News Live

June 19--NEW YORK -- A large-scale humanitarian action is required in Mali to help children traumatized by atrocities and abductions during the Malian conflict, according to a report released Wednesday by humanitarian organizations. The report found that an unspecified number of children were killed and maimed during hostilities and hundreds of them were abducted and recruited as child ...

Jun/19/2013 10:55 PM

Bibb takes command of 100th Air Refueling Wing from Kulas
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Stars and Stripes
Regional News Live

June 19--RAF MILDENHALL, England -- A two-year command marked by an increasing focus on Africa came to an end Wednesday when Col. Christopher Kulas relinquished control of the 100th Air Refueling Wing to Col. Kenneth Bibb Jr. Bibb becomes commander of the only refueling wing for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Africa Command. Activated at RAF Mildenhall in 1992, the wing has provided ...

Jun/19/2013 04:21 PM

LEAD: UN chief discusses North Korea with Chinese president Eds: Updates with Ban meets Xi
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dpa, Berlin
Regional News Live

June 19--BEIJING -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held talks Wednesday on North Korea, Syria, UN peacekeeping and other issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Ban praised China's support for UN peacekeeping missions and its "great contribution" to global peace, stability and sustainable development, the semi-official China News Service reported. "Facing a complicated, changing ...

Jun/19/2013 09:55 AM

Thai retailers deny dangerous chemicals in packed rice
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The Nation, Bangkok, Thailand / Asia News Network
Regional News Live

June 19--BANGKOK (The Nation/ANN) -- Major modern retailers yesterday rejected allegations circulating on social media that they are selling packed rice that has been stored for a long time and has been treated with substantial amounts of anti-fungal and anti-weevil chemicals, which can be dangerous to consumers. Their assurances of the quality of their rice products were backed up by the Thai ...

Jun/19/2013 02:52 AM

BRIEF: UN chief visits China, focus on North Korea
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dpa, Berlin
Regional News Live

June 19--BEIJING -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Chinese UN peacekeeping troops Wednesday ahead of talks with Chinese leaders expected to focus on North Korea, Syria and other international issues. "China provides more peacekeepers to the United Nations than all of the four other permanent members combined. I applaud this solidarity," Ban said in prepared remarks to Chinese ...

Jun/19/2013 02:20 AM

UN: Syria, Mali crises push global refugee count to 18-year high
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dpa, Berlin
Regional News Live

June 19--GENEVA -- The number of refugees around the world rose to a 18-year record of 45.2 million last year, fueled by conflicts in Syria, Mali and other mostly African hot spots, the UN refugee agency reported Wednesday in Geneva. Some 7.6 million people were forced to flee their homes last year, at a rate of one every 4 seconds, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ...

Jun/19/2013 12:01 AM

BRIEF: Speaker: Georgia ready to participate in EU mission in Mali
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Trend News Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan
Regional News Live

June 19--TBILISI, Georgia -- Georgia will not cease participation in the NATO mission in Afghanistan and is ready to take part in the EU mission in Mali, the chairman of the Georgian Parliament David Usupashvili said, speaking at the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs. The speaker also touched on the Russian-Georgian relations. According to him, concrete steps have been taken for ...

Jun/19/2013 12:01 AM

Mali signs peace deal with Tuareg rebels
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Los Angeles Times
Regional News Live

June 18--JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Mali's government reached a peace deal Tuesday with Tuareg fighters who rebelled last year and seized most of the country's north. But the deal does not resolve the West African nation's conflict with separate Islamic militias linked with Al Qaeda that are still plaguing the region. After taking control of the north, the Tuareg rebels of the National ...

Jun/18/2013 11:59 PM

2ND LEAD: Mali signs peace deal with Tuareg rebels Eds: Adds French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius
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dpa, Berlin
Regional News Live

June 18--ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland/bamako -- Mali's government on Tuesday signed a peace deal with the Tuareg rebels who control the northern town of Kidal, French President Francois Hollande confirmed at the close of a G8 summit in Northern Ireland. Hollande said the government and the...

Jun/18/2013 10:55 PM

BRIEF: EXTRA: Mali has signed peace deal with Tuareg rebels - Hollande
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dpa, Berlin
Regional News Live

June 18--ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland -- French President Francois Hollande announced Tuesday that the Malian government had signed a peace deal with the Tuareg rebels who control the northern town of Kidal. Speaking after the G8 summit in Northern Ireland, Hollande said the government and the rebels had signed an accord Tuesday allowing the country's July 28 presidential election "to be held ...

Jun/18/2013 04:43 PM