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Refugee crises left unattended threaten stability around the world. And people forced from their homes by conflict are among the world's most vulnerable. But they are not forgotten. The US-based organization Refugees International is now the leading advocacy organization that lobbies for action from global leaders to resolve refugee crises. And every year, the organization honors individuals who have dedicated their efforts and time to help those in need.2
Dakar Fashion Week celebrates its 10th year with the biggest lineup yet. The organizers of the international event aim to reach the heights of fashion weeks in Paris and New York, while remaining distinctly African.3
About 20,000 people from more than 200 countries are expected in Washington for the 19th International AIDS Conference. It’s the first time the world’s largest AIDS-related gathering will be held in the U.S. in more than 20 years.4
Alzheimer's Researchers Switch Focus to Prevention Methods5
In the past year and a half, uprisings across the Arab world have toppled four men whose rule had lasted decades.6
Few people, we're sure, have ever seen carved eggshells. These have no relationship to eggs that are painted or decorated with gems or other jewels, like Faberge's famous eggs, which weren't even eggs. One artist in the Washington D.C. area is delicately sculpting on eggshells. Her eggshells are seen frequently in local art galleries. Our reporter spent time with Tina Kannapel and her cats - mostly NOT walking on eggshells.7
The near failure of talks in Moscow and the pending imposition of a full oil embargo by the European Union have deepened the dispute between Iran and the international community, and increased concerns about military action.8
In an effort to pull the United States out of the Great Depression of the 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt’s so-called “New Deal” administration created a bevy of government agencies designed to help Americans regain and maintain their economic footing.9
Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is urging business and political leaders to invest responsibly in her country. Addressing the World Economic Forum on East Asia, Aung San Suu Kyi said there is too much "reckless optimism" surrounding Burma’s reform efforts.10
In rural Maryland, an hour-and-a-half drive from Washington, Bill Mason is tilling his fields to plant organic maize and soybeans.11
From the store to the recycling bin and from the bin to just about anywhere you can imagine. Plastic bottles spend a lot of time on the road. And so does Arash Arabasadi, of ’s Persian News Network. Reporting now from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Arash continues his series: A Plastic Journey.12
The yearlong celebration of Queen Elizabeth's 60th year on the throne will culminate starting Saturday with four days of celebrations, including a concert, a parade and a 1,000-ship flotilla through London on the River Thames. This Diamond Jubilee, is only the second in Britain's long history.13
This weekend marks the culmination of year-long celebrations in Britain marking the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.14
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday shook hands with the former commander of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, or IRA, the group that waged war against British rule in Northern Ireland. An IRA bomb killed the Queen's cousin in 1979.15
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that causes chronic blockage of the airway. People with apnea experience interrupted breathing during sleep, and frequently also suffer from hypertension and heart disease. Those diagnosed with this disorder are frequently treated with a so-called C-PAP machine to help regulate their breathing during sleep. Researchers in Spain looked into whether the device also helped reduce patients' hypertension and cardiovascular issues.16
The U.S. National Park Service is about to convey landmark status upon a place on the California coast, not far from San Francisco’s famous Golden Gate Bridge.17
A recent U.S. State Department report says 27 million people worldwide are subject to forced labor and sexual slavery. A major effort is under way in California to fight the problem.18
Cambodians vote on June 3rd in local elections that are a preview of national parliament polls next year. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy is unable to campaign at home because of a conviction he says was politically motivated. But he is visiting countries in Europe, pressing his case for fair elections and human rights.19
Recent movie fairytales show young princesses as strong and emancipated. In the animated film Brave, Merida, a Scottish princess, defies tradition and rejects marriage, while two recent movie versions of Snow White present the fair maiden either as cunning or battle-ready. The question is whether the new image is satisfying young audiences.20
It’s going to be a busy day at Betsy Ross’s house in Philadelphia on Thursday. She won’t be there, since she died in 1836, but hundreds of tourists will be going through her house.21
Within the past 10 years, two serious pandemics have raised public health alarms around the world. The first was a respiratory infection known as SARS; the second, a virulent swine flu virus known as H1N1. Isolated cases of H1N1 continue to crop up. And as concerns grow about other potential threats, including the H5N1 or avian flu virus, international health officials are taking precautions to prevent any new pandemics.22
They are robots in the sky and some say they are revolutionizing the way the United States wages wars. Drones are playing a growing role in the U.S. military.23
Sprawling over 12 hectares and home to scavengers who both live and work on the site, the Dandora waste disposal dump on the outskirts of Nairobi is Kenya’s largest and one of the biggest in Africa.24
Ecuador says it is giving serious consideration to giving Julian Assange political asylum, after the founder of the WikiLeaks website made the request at the country's embassy in London. British authorities say they will arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy.25
Egypt's economic stagnation was a key factor in the revolt against the old government. In one village, voters worried about their future are divided over which of the two presidential candidates could help them move forward.26
The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi will be Egypt's first freely elected president according to results announced Sunday.27
European Union sanctions on Iran’s oil industry go into full effect on Sunday, adding to the pressure on Iranian leaders to negotiate a settlement of the international concerns about their nuclear program.28
While members of the Ukrainian parliament are fighting over the status of the Russian language in Ukraine, English is becoming more popular in the country - without any government directive. Market forces - in which supply dictates demand - as well as the Euro 2012 football (soccer) championship, co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland, are having an impact on Ukrainians becoming trilingual.29
Much of President Barack Obama’s attention at next week’s Group of 20 economic summit in Mexico's Pacific resort of Los Cabos may be focused on trying to help Europe solve its money problems. Some analysts say Obama’s re-election may depend on it.30
Oil prices have shown a steady fall in the last few months, prompting fears that the Russian economy, which relies heavily on energy exports, could suffer. Meanwhile, new sources of oil are coming on line and helping to drive down the price at the pump.31
Because of the popularity of large home improvement stores in the United States, the neighborhood hardware store may one day be just a memory. But one family-owned hardware store near Washington is defying the odds and business is better than ever.32
One of the health issues shattering the lives of many women across Africa is obstetric fistula. But in northern Nigeria, a hospital operates and heals women, giving them a new start in life.33
Many new college graduates are having a hard time finding work because of the weak economy. But that's not a problem for students from The California Maritime Academy, the only school of its kind on the U.S. west coast. One of the cities the school's floating classroom visited during a two-month international training cruise.34
Egypt's minorities are looking with wariness at their choices in the second round of the nation's first post-Mubarak presidential election. Coptic Christians are one of those groups.35
The southeastern state of Florida is a land of sunshine, beaches, orange groves, alligators, and lots of retired people.36
The territorial tensions between the Philippines and China recently have affected trade and boosted nationalistic rhetoric. But, in Manila, residents of one of the world's oldest Chinatowns take a longer view. The vibrant community of Filipino-Chinese merchants has strong connections to both countries.37
For many U.S. veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the return home is more difficult than the time spent in combat, and suicide rates among service people are rising - exceeding those among the general U.S. population. With military personnel killing themselves at a rate of nearly one a day, the military leadership - and the soldiers’ relatives - are looking for answers.38
Humanitarian groups are calling on G20 leaders to take decisive action on economic growth, climate change and hunger when they meet in Los Cabos, Mexico next week.39
Federal law enforcement officials say criminal gangs are on the rise, with more than 33,000 now operating across the country and committing more than 50 percent of all violent crime. But in one community outside Washington, gang activity is down.40
Many international food vendors are trying to make an impact in the U.S. market. The National Association for Specialty Foods says the fastest emerging cuisine is Latin, followed by Indian and Eastern European. The recent Summer Fancy Food Show in Washington is the largest of its kind in North America.41
Top officials from 80 nations and a broad coalition of public and private health groups are calling for intensified global efforts to curb the number of children under five dying from preventable diseases. Public health officials say the ambitious new strategy aims to reduce child mortality from 7.6 million to one million annually within two decades.42
Greeks head to the polls again later this month to cast votes for a new government that could ultimately decide whether Greece remains in the eurozone. The parliamentary elections, the second in as many months, became necessary after the country's fractured political parties were unable to form a working coalition. European member states, once fearful of panicking financial markets, have begun making contingency plans for a possible Greek exit. But at what cost? Despite its small size, what happens in Greece could have an oversized impact on the global economy.43
THENS44
The Economic University of Athens is on the front line in the city’s immigration crisis. Immigrants and their student allies often clash with police and right-wing groups. A local resident supplied with a video shot in early May showing a clash with police.45
The final day of polling before the repeat election in Greece on June 17 showed the two main contenders neck and neck. The economic crisis has divided Greeks, who appear split on the causes and solutions to the country's financial meltdown. The political stalemate only appears to be entrenching these divisions.46
As fears grow in Greece that the country may be forced to leave the eurozone, those with savings are looking for a safe haven. Meanwhile foreign buyers are moving to snap up Greek bargains as house prices take a tumble. Henry Ridgwell reports from London.47
International health experts say the global campaign to eradicate polio has reached a critical stage, with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria the only countries where the crippling and potentially deadly virus is still prevalent.48
Tuesday is International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The theme is: Rehabilitation works and is a torture survivor’s right. June 26th is the 25th anniversary of the U.N. Convention against Torture.49
The upcoming Olympics in London are an expensive operation. The British government’s budget for Olympic construction and operations is officially listed as $15 billion, although some estimates put it much higher. The organizing committee has a separate budget of about $3 billion which will be covered by revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships and other private sources.50
Hispanics represent the fastest-growing minority in the United States and an increasingly important segment of the voting population, especially in so-called swing states like Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada, where they could play a decisive role in the U.S. presidential election in November. Recent opinion surveys show Hispanics favoring President Obama two-to-one over the presumptive Republican nominee, Mitt Romney.51
They’re called HIV “superinfections” and a study indicates they’re much more common than first thought. Researchers say this raises concerns about possible resistance to treatment and may require new approaches to AIDS vaccine research.52
It’s June, it’s either warm or downright hot in the American Midwest, and in case you haven’t noticed, Christmas is about six months away.53
Popular western movies like Kung Fu Panda are presenting a challenge for Chinese animators, who have yet to produce a hit among international audiences.54
Pop rock band Hot Chelle Rae started in 2005 when Ryan Follese and Nash Overstreet decided to form a band together. Both had grown up in musical families since Ryan's father Keith Follese and Nash's father Paul Overstreet were both successful country music songwriters in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2011 Hot Chelle Rae gained fame with their hit song "Tonight Tonight" off their debut CD Lovesick Electric.55
The U.N. says nearly a billion people go to bed hungry every night. At the same time, hundreds of millions of others are obese. An activist and author says solving those twin crises depends on knowing who’s wielding the power over food and marketing.56
It is human nature to identify with others who look and act like us, and share our values. The political process in the United States - and nearly everywhere else on Earth - taps into that self-identification as a means of motivating voters.57
Millions of illegal immigrants have been drawn to the United States by employers looking for cheap labor. Those who came with their parents as young children grow up culturally indistinguishable from their American-born peers. But they are bluntly reminded of their status as undocumented outsiders when they apply for college financial assistance. A group of such students is trying to remedy the situation in New York State.58
One hundred years ago, Morgan Pharmacy opened its doors in Washington. Despite economic ups and downs, the small, family-owned pharmacy has thrived. But how is it staying in business today with a larger drugstore just down the street?59
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says they do not exist. And in Iran, merely trying to be themselves is a crime that brings shame on their families. But now, Iranian homosexuals are starting to speak out about what it means to be gay and about the lengths to which they have gone to escape persecution.60
The U.S. unemployment rate remains high, at 8.2 percent, and in some parts of the country, the jobless numbers are even worse. The unemployment rate in California is nearly 11 percent, and the rate in some cities is much higher. In one hard-hit section of Los Angeles, many are seeking work, and a few are finding it.61
An estimated 2.6 million Kenyans are infected with jiggers, a flea-like parasite that burrows under the skin. Left untreated, jiggers can lead to all kinds of secondary infections, loss of mobility and even death. Some 1.5 million children cannot go to school because of the scourge. A Kenyan organization has assisted in research for the world's first jiggers drug and has been holding medical clinics to help those suffering from the condition, which is linked to poverty and poor hygiene.62
Some of Kenya’s finest runners battled for a spot on the National Olympic team Saturday at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium. Thousands of spectators, Kenyan and foreign, came for a preview of the games that begin next month in London.63
At the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries, the prolific American inventor and businessman Thomas Alva Edison developed devices that changed industry, communication, and everyday life - from a practical electric light bulb to the motion-picture camera.64
Swaziland is one of the poorest countries in the world. But a new local industry - based on the marula tree - is helping the rural poor earn some income.65
As Greece approaches five years of recession, the number of its citizens unable to provide food for themselves is increasing. Soup kitchens in Athens used to be the preserve of undocumented immigrants and the homeless, but now more people from the general population use them too.66
Islamist politician Mohamed Morsi will be sworn in Saturday as Egypt's president - the result of a democratic election after a popular uprising toppled long time ruler Hosni Mubarak last year.67
A mounting death toll in Syria is prompting calls for stronger international action to oust President Bashar al-Assad. While the Obama administration is backing diplomacy, sanctions, and non-lethal aid to promote change, a U.S. lawmaker is demanding stronger measures.68
Egypt's former president, Hosni Mubarak, has been found guilty for his role in the killings of protesters during the uprising that forced his downfall. Mubarak's much-hated interior minister was also found guilty, but other top security officials were acquitted.69
A maize disease is sweeping through Kenya’s small farming communities and, in the South Rift Valley, there are few who haven’t been affected.70
The U.S. space agency launched a telescope into space Wednesday that is designed to seek out and study black holes, those still-mysterious celestial bodies that scientists believe lie at the heart of every massive galaxy, including our own Milky Way.71
The National Mall in Washington hosts Independence Day celebrations every July 4th. Thousands of Americans watch a fireworks show, listen to concerts and take in the sights. But this year, some of the Mall will be inaccessible to visitors.72
UNICEF is launching a major global health campaign to tackle the two leading killers of children under the age of five. The agency's new report says finding more effective ways to prevent and treat pneumonia and diarrhea can significantly reduce childhood mortality worldwide.73
A treasured relic of the U.S. space program, the Enterprise space shuttle, has arrived at its new home in New York City.74
Sectarian violence in Nigeria's volatile Middle Belt region has killed hundreds in recent years, and many fear that attacks by Islamic extremists in the north could ignite lingering tensions. However, Muslim and Christian religious leaders in the northern city of Kaduna are coming together to head off violence.75
Ningxia is a small region with big ambitions. A swath of land outside the capital Yinchuan is being cleared for a new central business district, which locals say is aimed at attracting thousands of Arab Muslims to live and work.76
Europe’s financial crisis took center stage on Monday as the Group of 20 economic summit began in Mexico. President Barack Obama and other G20 leaders continued to urge European nations to move forward with a growth plan.77
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is weighing in on the U.S. political debate over whether the wealthy should be taxed at an even higher rate than they are now. In its latest report on the U.S. economy, the organization, which represents 34 of the world's biggest economies, says the U.S. recovery is gaining traction but that the country faces steep challenges due to rising income inequality between rich and poor.78
Office Cubicle Dwellers Build 'Walls' for Privacy79
Countries around the world are holding Olympic team trials this month to select the athletes who will wear the national colors at the 2012 Summer Games in London. In Jamaica, Friday night, the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, attempts to qualify for his second Olympics. In the USA this week, one of the biggest stars of the Beijing Games, swimmer Michael Phelps, is competing against a host of rising challengers. In Canada and the U.S., Olympic trials for track and field are also underway. That qualifying action could determine whether the London Games feature a love story.80
As London prepares to host the 2012 Olympic Games, Athens' experience eight years ago could offer some sobering lessons. Many of the facilities now lie overgrown and empty. Many Greeks - and even the head of the International Olympic Committee - say hosting the 2004 Olympics contributed to the country's debt crisis.81
The Paralympic Games will be staged in London less than three weeks after the 2012 Summer Olympics end.82
Many small, family-owned businesses in the United States are struggling to survive because, along with the sluggish economy, they face stiff competition from well-known chain stores and restaurants.83
Daniel Schearf84
One of California's oldest missions wants to bring back a piece of its living history: cliff swallows. The tiny, migratory birds used flock by the hundreds to nest at Mission San Juan Capistrano, and were a major seasonal attraction for visitors.85
The conservation group American Rivers says the Potomac River that runs through Washington is the most endangered river this year in the United States. The organization says that pollution in the Potomac is decreasing water quality, threatening marine life and will become worse if Congress rolls back national clean water protections.86
Responding to pressure from environmental groups and the requirements of regulators, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a scientific advisory panel have held public hearings on the risks of atrazine, an agricultural pesticide. It's the most commonly used farm chemical in the U.S. and 90 other countries. Atrazine has been banned by the European Union since 2004, and some studies suggest it may be harmful to human health and the environment.87
The United Nations says at least 10,000 Syrians are dead and 1 million are in need of assistance in a conflict that appears to be spiraling towards civil war. The escalating violence is prompting some to call for Western military intervention, as diplomatic efforts appear to be stalled.88
Libya’s first election in more than 40 years is scheduled in two weeks. But, some worry that the country's instability may mar the election or dim the hopes from last year’s successful revolution.89
Rodney King, whose beating by police sparked some of the worst urban unrest in U.S. history, died Sunday in an apparent drowning at his home near Los Angeles.90
An Asian invader is threatening to take over the waters outside Washington, D.C. The snakehead, an invasive species of fish, arrived about a decade ago, and its numbers have been growing ever since. Now, wildlife officials are taking an unusual step to blunt the invasion and protect native species. They are encouraging fishermen to fish the snakeheads to extinction.91
After the promise of round one of Egypt's first post-revolution presidential election, a bitter debate has arisen among many voters over the relative merits - and demerits - of the final two candidates.92
The U.S. space agency NASA has ambitious plans for exploring Mars with the robotic rover called Curiosity, scheduled to land on the red planet in August. But NASA's long-range plan to send a human crew there by 2030 is under fire from critics, who include some former NASA astronauts and managers. The critics doubt such a mission will ever come about and some also question whether it should.93
Preparations are under way to mark the 100th anniversary of Igor Stravinsky’s momentous ballet score, "The Rite of Spring.94
Educating their children is important to most parents, including families uprooted by conflict.95
Arms control advocates are demanding a new treaty on the global arms trade when governments meet next month in New York for the U.N. Diplomatic Conference. The conflict in Syria has focused new attention on the arms trade issue.96
The conflict in Syria continues to displace thousands of people each week. As many as 100,000 have fled to neighboring countries. About 25,000 of that number are in Lebanon, where local residents struggle to help them survive.97
A British medical journal reports that the number of cancer cases could rise by 75 percent by the year 2030 - and most are expected in developing countries.98
More than 60,000 refugees have fled Mali's troubled north to Burkina Faso, where nearly three million people are already facing dangerous food shortages after poor rains and a failed harvest this year. The compound crises are straining relief efforts for the refugees, as well as local communities.99
A United Nations report says the world faces irreversible change to life support functions if humanity does not change its ways. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) issued the report ahead the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development, set for Brazil at the end of June.100
The young man said the bombers [Russian-supplied Antonovs] targeted schools and villages indiscriminately. “When they saw buildings, they bombed them,” he told the NGO Save the Children.101
The head of America’s biggest bank has apologized for risky dealings that incurred a $2 billion loss - an unwelcome echo of the 2008 financial crisis that plunged the United States into the deepest recession of the post-World War II era. JP Morgan Chase executive Jamie Dimon faced questioning from U.S. senators.102
The American-based charity The World is Just a Book Away is making a difference in Indonesia by building libraries for children and their families. The founder of the non-profit organization, business professor James Owens, wants to share his love of reading with communities in the developing world.103
The United States qualified three men to run the marathon at the London Olympics on August 12, the final day of competition. Joining Ryan Hall, a 2008 Olympian, are two runners who took their first steps in Africa: Somalia-born Abdi Abdirahman and Eritrea-born Meb Keflezighi.104
WASHINGTON - Sunday, June 17, marks the 40th anniversary of the most consequential political scandal in U.S. history, the Watergate scandal. What began as a bungled break-in at Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington D.C. eventually led to Richard Nixon’s resignation as president and continues to resonate today as a cautionary tale of political ambition, money and the abuse of power.105
Maya Moore has reason to be confident. In her first season as a professional last year, the 1.83 meter tall forward helped her team, the Minnesota Lynx, win its first WNBA championship. She then joined Ros Casares in Spain, winning both the Spanish title and Euroleague title.106
American-style football can be a violent sport. But the recent suicides of several former professional players who'd struggled with depression and dementia have renewed concerns about the brain injuries players suffer from repeated concussions. A majority of the pros in the National Football League start learning the game as young boys in youth football leagues. Now, officials with one organization, Pop Warner football, have announced major rule changes designed to better protect young players from head trauma.107
Americans love lists - of the top 50 colleges, the top 10 recording artists, the top 100 movies of the millennium, and on and on. These lists sell a lot of magazines, because there’s always room for disagreement about the rankings that some expert or editor has put together.108
Walking Program Pairs Patients with Doctors109
Wisconsin’s Republican Governor, Scott Walker, survived a recall election Tuesday in a vote that political analysts believe could have an impact on this year’s U.S. presidential race.110
The World Bank is urging developing countries to brace for the possibility of more economic turmoil in Europe. In its Global Economic Prospects Report, the bank advises emerging market economies to strengthen fiscal positions and develop medium-term strategies to protect their economies.111
World Leaders Gather in Mexico for G20 Summit112
May 31 marked the 25th anniversary of World No Tobacco Day, a day set aside by the World Health Organization (WHO) to draw global attention to the devastating health results that come from using tobacco products. On earlier anniversaries, public health officials couldn't tell if the program was effective in encouraging people to stop smoking, but that's changed.113
The upcoming runoff presidential election in Egypt has raised fears of a radical shift in foreign policy, should Islamist candidate Mohamed Morsi win. But, some see few changes on the immediate horizon.114
On a Sunday afternoon, there was a steady stream of visitors to a house in Alexandria, Virginia, where John Saul signed copies of his first published book, "Candle in the Window.115
On July 4, Americans celebrate Independence Day with parades, fireworks and, in some communities, concerts of patriotic music. About 95 kilometers north of the nation's capital, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will perform outdoors, under the stars.