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Syria protest hubs hit as envoy arrives in Russia

Syria’s army resumed heavy shelling of the protest hubs of Homs and Hama on Saturday, monitors reported, as international envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Russia in the latest push for peace. Full story

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India says nuclear terrorism a ‘continuing concern’

India, which is rapidly expanding its atomic power programme, said Saturday that nuclear terrorism is a ‘continuing concern’ ahead of a summit on atomic safety to be held next week in Seoul. Full story

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US still fixated by nuclear terror

Visions of a mushroom cloud over a US city may have led America into a dubious war in Iraq, but the threat of nuclear terror has lost none of its power to fixate US leaders and shape foreign policy. Full story

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Pakistan clashes leave seven soldiers, 22 militants dead

At least seven soldiers and 22 militants died in clashes between Pakistani troops and militants in the restive northwestern tribal belt over the past 24 hours, officials said Saturday. Full story

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Taliban attack ‘kills three Pakistani soldiers’

At least three soldiers were killed after dozens of Taliban militants stormed a check post in Pakistan’s northwest tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said Saturday. Full story

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North Korea meetings set to boost young leader’s power

North Korea said on Saturday it will hold a special parliamentary session next month during which the reclusive country’s new young leader, Kim Jong-un, is expected to be given a top title aimed at consolidating his grip on power. Full story

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Romney looks to Louisiana to revive campaign

US Republicans hold a primary Saturday in the southern state of Louisiana, where underdog Rick Santorum is hoping for a big win and frontrunner Mitt Romney is struggling to stave off the challenge. Full story

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Thousands in Philadelphia protest at shooting

Thousands of people marched late Friday in Philadelphia to protest the shooting in Florida of an unarmed black teenager, joining a growing national storm over racism. Full story

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Palestinian PM says freed US aid to help ease crisis

The Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad, said on Saturday the release of $88.6 million in development funds by US lawmakers would help ease a fiscal crisis in the aid-dependant Palestinian economy. Full story

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Afghan roadside bombing kills five

At least five people including a former senator were killed on Saturday when a roadside bomb ripped through a pickup truck in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, an official said. Full story

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ISS crew takes shelter to avoid passing space junk

A piece of an old Russian satellite whizzed by the International Space Station on Saturday, forcing its six-member crew to take temporary shelter in two Soyuz escape capsules, officials said. Full story

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Egypt parliament elects panel for new constitution

Egypt’s Islamist-dominated parliament and senate began meeting on Saturday to elect a panel to draft a new constitution amid calls by liberal groups for protests against Islamist influence over the charter. Full story

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Australian govt suffers blow as Labor crushed in Queensland

Australia’s fragile ruling Labor coalition government suffered an embarrassing blow on Saturday when the party was crushed by the Liberal Nationals in Queensland elections. Full story

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22 policemen held after Iraq jailbreak

Iraq detained 22 policemen on Saturday after 19 inmates, including two men on death row, escaped from a prison in the northern city of Kirkuk a day earlier, the local police chief said. Full story

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Mali’s isolated junta clamps down in bid to assert control

Mali’s putschists, frozen out by the international community, sought to assert their tenuous hold on power Saturday amid rumours of a loyalist backlash against their two-day old junta. Full story

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Australia hit by biggest quake in 15 years

Australia has been hit by its biggest earthquake in 15 years, seismologists said Saturday, rattling a remote part of the desert with local Aboriginals reporting strong shaking but no major damage. Full story

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