Global News Post: USA

US: China's Currency 'Significantly Undervalued'

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The United States Treasury criticized China for "significantly" undervaluing its currency, but again refrained from labeling Beijing a currency manipulator.

In its twice-yearly report, the Treasury acknowledged that China's currency has appreciated. But it said the increase is too slow and has not gone far enough.

Beijing announced last month it would allow the value of the yuan to fluctuate more against the dollar -- a move welcomed by Washington.

However, the Treasury expressed concern about recent reports of Beijing's "heavy intervention" to keep the value of the currency low to gain trade advantages.

A weaker yuan makes Chinese goods cheaper for Americans and makes U.S. goods more expensive for Chinese, giving an advantage to Chinese exporters.

While the U.S. has consistently raised currency complains with China for years, it has not labeled China a currency manipulator since 1994.

The label could lead to trade sanctions and would provoke an angry response from Beijing.---VOA News</div>

US: China's Currency 'Significantly Undervalued'

The United States Treasury criticized China for "significantly" undervaluing its currency, but again refrained from labeling Beij...

Obama Nominates Burwell as New US Health Secretary

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By
VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">President
Barack Obama has nominated his budget director, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, to
succeed Kathleen Sebelius as Health and Human Services secretary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
move comes hours after Sebelius announced her resignation following her
oversight of the botched rollout of President Obama's signature health care
law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Her
resignation comes just a week after enrollment closed for the first year of
what is commonly known as Obamacare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
opening weeks of the enrollment period were marred by widespread website woes,
limiting access for millions of people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Republicans
called for Secretary Sebelius' resignation, but Obama publicly supported her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">However,
she was conspicuously absent last week when the president announced the
enrollment period was ultimately successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 
</span>It surpassed the 7 million figure the Obama administration had
predicted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sebelius,
who is 65, is a former governor of Kansas. She has served as head of Health and
Human Services for five years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Burwell's
nomination requires confirmation from the Senate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Obama Nominates Burwell as New US Health Secretary

By VOA News President Barack Obama has nominated his budget director, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, to succeed Kathleen Sebelius as Health ...

Putin Signs US Adoption Ban

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<st1:city w:st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MOSCOW</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (RIA Novosti) - President
Vladimir Putin signed into law on Friday a controversial bill that imposes a
ban on adoption of Russian children by Americans and other retaliatory measures
targeting the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Despite protests from liberal-minded
bloggers and civic groups, as well as some top officials in the Russian
government, the ban on American adoptions will come into force on January 1,
2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The ban is part of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Russia</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s tit-for-tat response to
the US Magnitsky Act, which was signed into law by US President Barack Obama
earlier this month. The act introduces sanctions against Russian officials
suspected of human rights abuses and is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a
whistleblowing lawyer who died in a Moscow pre-trial detention center in 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The adoption ban is the most debated aspect
of the proposed legislation, which also sets a visa ban on alleged <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> abusers of Russian citizens’ rights and
freezes any assets they may have in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Russia</st1:country-region>;
bans political non-governmental organizations that receive US funding and bars
US citizens from working for politically active NGOs in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Russia</st1:country-region></st1:place>. The legislation would also
bar Russian organizations from facilitating adoptions by US citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RIA
Novosti that the list of banned officials has been drafted already, but won’t
be published.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“I have not seen any reason why I should not
sign it, although I have to consider the final version and think everything
over,” Putin said Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Critics of the bill have insisted that the
measure is politically motivated and would strand tens of thousands of
children, especially those with disabilities, in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s dilapidated orphanage
system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Since 1999, families in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
have adopted more than 45,000 Russian children, including 962 last year,
according to the US State Department.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Russian officials blame US adoptive parents
for the deaths of at least 19 of these children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The law will come into force on January 1,
2013, halting the adoption of 46 Russian children by US families whose cases
are currently being processed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Putin Signs US Adoption Ban

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - President Vladimir Putin signed into law on Friday a controversial bill that imposes a ban on adoption of Russi...

Are Violent Games Linked to Violent Crimes?

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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By Suzanne Presto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="429" scrolling="no" src="http://www.voanews.com/flashembed.aspx?t=vid&id=1572874&w=640&h=429&skin=embeded" width="640"></iframe>

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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As video game images become increasingly
more realistic and graphic, policy makers are debating if there is a link
between the violence depicted in those games and violence in real life.   <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A 20-year-old gunman's shooting spree at a
school in the northeastern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
  States</st1:place></st1:country-region> this month has reinvigorated
discussions about violence, prompting lawmakers to call for greater examination
of brutality in video games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But evidence does not suggest violence in
games causes violence in life, says Virginia Tech's James Ivory, a professor in
the university's department of communication who researches the effects of
video games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The agreement is pretty well universal
among social scientists that there is not a clearly established link between
actual violent crime and violent media usage," says Ivory.  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He adds that it is possible, though debated,
that exposure to violent video games could make a person think or respond more
aggressively in the short term, or, in Ivory's words, "might even make you
potentially more of a jerk to somebody." 
But, he emphasizes, temporary aggression and violent crime are worlds
apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Graphic games are popular.  Eight of the 20 best-selling video games in
2011 contained intense violence, language or sexual content deemed suitable
only for players 17 and older.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Criminal defense attorney Rene Sandler says
she has represented clients who played violent shooter games, gaining points
with each kill.   <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">    <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Violent video games are an enormous
problem in this country, and violent video games have been at the core of
violent behaviors after watching these video games or cumulatively playing
games," Sandler says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Video games differ from movies or other
media because game players are active participants, not passive viewers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"People have argued that violent video
games should influence you more because you're taking on the role of someone
violent," explains Ivory. 
"Conceptually that all makes sense, but empirically, there's not a
lot of evidence for stronger effects of games than television."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Players don't confuse games with reality, a
high school student and gamer told VOA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I'm not saying it's right, but it's
just virtual people," he said. 
"It's not real people.  It
doesn't have any intentions of killing anyone in the real world."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Wayne LaPierre, head of the National Rifle
Association, disagrees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"There exists in this country, sadly, a
callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells and sows violence
against its own people, through vicious, violent video games," LaPierre
told reporters this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He named the popular game 'Grand Theft Auto'
as an example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">One of the creators of 'Grand Theft Auto,'
Navid Khonsari, says he grew up playing video games in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>
and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
where video games were enjoyed by people of all ages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The discerning factor among the countries,
says Khonsari, "is that while video games have been readily available,
what has been limited is the accessibility to weapons."  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The focus on virtual violence might be
limiting substantive discussions about firearm regulations and mental health
treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"When we talk about violent video games
and actual violent crime, we're chasing something that hasn't really been
observed and we're not talking about other things that have been
observed," says Ivory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Despite the renewed focus on video game
violence, investigators of the most recent <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> school shooting have not said
whether the young gunman was a player of violent video games.    <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Interest in video games continues to grow
around the globe.  Analysts estimate
people spent about $70 billion worldwide on video games and components in
2012.  North America, Western Europe and
East Asia remain key markets, while gaming is on the rise in <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Russia</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on">Southeast
 Asia</st1:place>. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Are Violent Games Linked to Violent Crimes?

By Suzanne Presto As video game images become increasingly more realistic and graphic, policy makers are debating if there i...

Four Men Charged in US Terror Plot

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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 10pt;">Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #838383; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">CALIFORNIA
(RIA Novosti) - Four men from the western US state of California, including one
who served in the Air Force, have been charged in a terror plot the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says was designed to bomb US government
facilities overseas and kill Americans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A
federal complaint unsealed late Monday charges that the four men planned to
join al-Qaida and the Taliban in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and then engage in
“violent jihad,” according to FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
complaint says the plot began with 34-year-old Sohiel Omar Kabir, a naturalized
<st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> citizen who was born in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> and
served in the Air Force in 2000 and 2001, according to The Associated Press.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Authorities
claim he introduced two of the suspects, 23-year-old Ralph Deleon and
21-year-old Miguel Alejandro Santana Vidriales, to radical Islamist doctrine
after they converted to Islam in 2010, and they later recruited a fourth
suspect, 21-year-old Arifeen David Gojali.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
three recruits allegedly discussed their plans for jihad in online discussions
and Skype calls with Kabir in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>,
and on at least two occasions went to shooting ranges in <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state>
where one of the men reportedly told a confidential source he wanted to use C-4
explosives in a truck to blow up a <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> military base.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
FBI says the three men and the confidential source bought tickets and planned
to depart on the first leg of their journey on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">They
remain in custody in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>.
Kabir is being held in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
They each face up to 15 years in federal prison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>

Four Men Charged in US Terror Plot

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) © flickr.com/ popculturegeek.com CALIFORNIA (RIA Novosti) - Four men from the western US ...

Karzai Accuses US of Violating Detainee Pact

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Afghan
President Hamid Karzai is accusing the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> of violating an
agreement to transfer more than 3,000 prisoners at a controversial military
prison to the Afghan government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In
September, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> formally
handed over control of Bagram prison north of <st1:city w:st="on">Kabul</st1:city>
to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
At the time, Karzai hailed the transfer as a victory for his country's
sovereignty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But
during a meeting late Sunday in <st1:city w:st="on">Kabul</st1:city>, the
Afghan leader said he heard reports by the attorney general and military police
commander that "even prisoners who were presumed innocent by the court are
still being held" and that <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
forces continue to imprison people "against the provisions of the MoU
already signed."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
president's spokesman, Aimal Faizi, told reporters on Monday that <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> forces are
holding more than 70 prisoners at Bagram "despite court orders for their
release."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Karzai
called the "status quo a serious breach of the Memorandum of Understanding
signed between <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>
and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>."  In a statement issued by his office, Karzai
assigned the defense minister, attorney general, and commander of Bagram prison
"to take all required and urgent measures to ensure a full Afghanization
of the prison affairs and a complete transfer of its authority."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">There
was no immediate official comment from the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">U.S.</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> and Afghan officials last week began talks
on a bilateral security agreement that will determine how many American
military personnel will remain in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> after international
combat forces leave the country by the end of 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
negotiations, which are expected to take several months, are also expected to
focus on the sensitive issue of whether <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> troops can be prosecuted under
Afghan law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President
Karzai has long said that any remaining American military personnel should be
prosecuted in local courts.  <st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state> has stressed that any crimes committed should
be tried in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
  States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Failure
to strike a similar deal on immunity for <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
troops in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>
was a factor in ending the military presence in that country. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>

Karzai Accuses US of Violating Detainee Pact

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is accusing the United States of violating an agreement to transfer more than 3,000 prisoners at a controv...

Justin Bieber Wins Top Prize at American Music Awards

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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">An
18-year-old has won the top prize at the American Music Awards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Canadian
Justin Bieber won artist of the year Sunday in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> at the 40th anniversary show,
beating out Rihanna, Maroon 5, Drake, and Katy Perry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
teenager said when he accepted his award that it was "hard growing up with
everyone watching me" and he thanked his mother for "always believing
in me."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Bieber
also won in the pop/rock album category for this album Believe, and he won the
pop/rock male artist award.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Canadian
Carly Rae Jepsen won favorite new artist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">New
mom Adele from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>
took the top prize in the adult contemporary category.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Taylor
Swift won her fifth consecutive award for favorite country female artist, while
Luke Bryan won the country male prize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Usher
kicked off the three-hour televised show on ABC with green laser lights beaming
onstage as he performed a medley of songs. 
Usher also took home the prize for best soul/R&B artist.  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">American
Music Award nominees are selected based on sales and airplay, and fans chose
the winners by voting online. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Justin Bieber Wins Top Prize at American Music Awards

An 18-year-old has won the top prize at the American Music Awards. Canadian Justin Bieber won artist of the year Sunday in Los An...

Obama's Next Campaign: More Taxes for Rich Americans

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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By
Kent Klein<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President
Barack Obama's re-election campaign may be over, but his economic campaign
continues.  The president is appealing to
business and labor leaders, lawmakers and the public to press Republicans in
Congress to go along with his plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
In his successful re-election campaign, Obama made relentless calls to middle
class Americans to support his program of higher taxes for the rich and
continued tax cuts for everyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Our
fight goes on because this nation cannot succeed without a growing and thriving
middle class," Obama said over and over again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Since
winning a second term on November 6, the president has been using a similar
strategy to push for increased taxes for high income Americans while preserving
the existing rate for the middle class. In a news conference this past
Wednesday, Obama mentioned the middle class 21 times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"We
should not hold the middle class hostage while we debate tax cuts for the
wealthy.  We should at least do what we
agree on, and that is to keep middle class taxes lower."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
president, along with the top Democrats and Republicans in Congress, have begun
negotiations, hoping to avert what is being called the "fiscal
cliff."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
Republican Speaker of the House, John Boehner, is holding firm in his demand
for an agreement to cut spending on some social programs, but says he is
willing to compromise on taxes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"To
show our seriousness, we have put revenue on the table, as long as it is
accompanied by significant spending cuts," Boehner said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">To
shrink the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
budget deficit, the White House wants an additional $1.6 trillion in revenues
over 10 years, about twice what the president sought in the previous
negotiations, in 2011. Under that agreement, deep government spending cuts would
take effect and tax breaks would expire January 1, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Stan
Collender works with clients in the financial industry at the Washington-based
public relations firm Qorvis Communications. He says Obama's re-election and
the urgency of the impending fiscal cliff give the president a political
advantage in the talks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The
tax increases will go into effect automatically, and the spending cuts will go
into effect automatically," Collender said. "These are things the
Republicans would like to stop, but the only way they can stop is by having
legislation that the president will sign."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Nonetheless,
the president is taking no chances. He has hosted meetings with numerous
influential Americans, seeking their support. The president is most interested
in gaining the backing of major corporate executives, many of whom are
Republicans, said Collender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The
president would love to get the business community to say to the Republicans,
'Look, we agree at this point that tax increases are needed.  Let’s stop messing around with this, because
you are going to hurt the economy, hurt our sales, hurt our stock prices,''' he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Obama
also met with labor leaders, such as AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, whose
support is more assured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"We’re
committed to making sure that the middle class and workers don’t end up paying
the tab for a party that we didn’t get to go to," Trumka said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In
addition, the president met with the leaders of civil rights organizations,
such as the National Urban League and the National Council of La Raza, rallying
their support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And
some of those who worked on the president's reelection campaign are now pressuring
lawmakers, mainly Republicans, to back the president's tax proposal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I
think we are all aware that we have some urgent business to do," said
Obama. Negotiations are set to resume the last week in November. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>

Obama's Next Campaign: More Taxes for Rich Americans

By Kent Klein President Barack Obama's re-election campaign may be over, but his economic campaign continues. The president ...

Obama Names Korean-American Banker for Key Post

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<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">WASHINGTON</span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (NNN-Yonhap) --
President Barack Obama has nominated Audrey Choi, a Korean-American investment
banker, as a member of the Community Development Advisory Board, the White
House said Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Choi, 44, was the only Korean-American member of
Obama's transition team to prepare for his presidency four years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Nominating her to the position on the board, which
advises on policies regarding the activities of the Community Development
Financial Institutions Fund, Obama cited she brings "a depth of experience
and tremendous dedication" to the new role.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The fund aims to promote access to capital and
local economic growth in urban and rural low-income communities across the
nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Choi, who grew up in <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>
and graduated from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Harvard</st1:placename>
 <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>, has served as
managing director and head of Morgan Stanley Global Sustainable Finance, since
2007.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">She is known for a successful career even from when
she was relatively young.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Choi worked in the Clinton administration in
various policy positions at the White House, the Department of Commerce, and
the Federal Communications Commission from 1996 to 2001, including chief of
staff for the Council of Economic Advisers from 1999-2001 and domestic policy
advisor to Vice President Al Gore for two years till 1999.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">She also worked as a correspondent for the Wall
Street Journal in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region>
from 1991-1995.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Her mother, Choi Sook-nyul, is also famous in Korea
for her novel "Year of Impossible Goodbyes" on Japan's atrocities
during its colonization of Korea from 1910-45.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">She authored it in response to a book by a
Japanese-American writer Yoko Kawashima Watkins that portrays the Japanese as
victims of the colonial rule. -- NNN-Yonhap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Obama Names Korean-American Banker for Key Post

WASHINGTON (NNN-Yonhap) -- President Barack Obama has nominated Audrey Choi, a Korean-American investment banker, as a member of the C...

Rights Issues High on Obama's Agenda in Asia

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">U.S.
President Barack Obama is aboard Air Force One on his way to Asia, where he
will visit <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Burma</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region></st1:place> on his first foreign trip
since being re-elected earlier this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
trip underscores Obama's increased focus on Asia as he tries to fulfill his
pledge to strengthen the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
economy during his second four-year term in office. The Obama administration
has said that American foreign policy and engagement will "pivot"
toward <st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place> in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">When
he arrives in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Burma</st1:country-region> Monday,
Obama will be the first <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
president to visit the country, which has emerged from decades of tight
military control. The Burmese government recently has yielded to international
pressure and begun making democratic reforms, but some human rights groups have
cautioned that it is not yet a fully free country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President
Obama is scheduled to meet with both Burmese President Thein Sein and Aung San
Suu Kyi, the nation's leading democracy activist, who has only been free since
2010, after nearly two decades of detention or house arrest. Suu Kyi won the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 but was only able to travel to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Norway</st1:place></st1:country-region> to
accept the award this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
U.S.-based rights group Human Rights Watch told VOA the president should have
waited to travel to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Burma</st1:place></st1:country-region>
until the country makes more progress in restoring basic freedoms. HRW says <st1:country-region w:st="on">Burma</st1:country-region> should have gone beyond a partial amnesty
and released all held as political prisoners, and also should have taken direct
action to stop violence directed at ethnic and religious minorities,
particularly in western <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Burma</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President
Obama begins his Asian tour in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:city>,
 <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place>, where
he is arriving late Sunday afternoon (local time). HRW says the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> leader also should bring up human rights with
this longtime <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
ally, due to concerns about free speech, military abuses against insurgents in
the south and inadequate protection of refugees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Obama
also will attend a meeting of regional ASEAN leaders in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
another destination where he is expected to raise concerns about long-standing
human rights problems. The president is expected to urge Cambodian Prime
Minister Hun Sen to hold free and fair elections and end land seizures. ---VOA
News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Rights Issues High on Obama's Agenda in Asia

U.S. President Barack Obama is aboard Air Force One on his way to Asia, where he will visit Thailand , Burma and Cambodia on his fi...

Petraeus Resigns as CIA Chief Over Extramarital Affair

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Retired
U.S. General David Petraeus, the man who was credited with helping to turn
around the war in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
has resigned as chief of the Central Intelligence Agency, citing an
extramarital affair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Petraeus
wrote in a letter to CIA staffers that he submitted his resignation in person
to President Barack Obama Thursday. Petraeus writes that he showed
"extremely poor judgment" and that such behavior is unacceptable in a
leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
former general says it has been the greatest of privileges to serve in the CIA,
and he thanked its workers for what he called their "extraordinary
service."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President
Obama says through Petraeus's lifetime of service in the military and as
American intelligence chief, he has made the country safer and stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">U.S.</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> media reports say the affair was uncovered
when the FBI began investigating journalist Paula Broadwell, who wrote a
Petraeus biography, for allegedly trying to gain access to classified
information and the general's email.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
reports say Broadwell had almost unlimited access to Petraeus in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.  But the FBI did not name Broadwell as the
woman with whom Petraeus was having an affair. 
The general also did not disclose any names.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Making of a Military Leader<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
60-year-old Petraeus joined the military right out of high school when he
entered the U.S. Military Academy at <st1:place w:st="on">West Point</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Petraeus
spent 37 years with the U.S. Army, becoming one of the world's best known
military leaders before retiring and taking over the CIA last year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
four-star general was the mastermind of the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
troop surge in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> under
former President George W. Bush and also led a similar surge in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As
the commander of <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and
coalition forces in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>
from February 2007 to September 2008, he is widely credited with turning around
the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>
conflict and pulling the country back from the brink of a full-fledged
sectarian war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
assumed command of <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and
NATO forces in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>
in July of 2010, after overseeing a wider region encompassing <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Yemen</st1:place></st1:country-region> for
nearly two years as the head of U.S. Central Command.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Appointing
Petraeus to the post of CIA director, President Obama called the paratrooper
one of the nation's "leading strategic thinkers" and one of the
"finest military officers of all time."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Education and Personal Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Petraeus
was born in the eastern state of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New
  York</st1:state></st1:place> on November 7, 1952. His mother was a librarian
and his father a Dutch sea captain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Petraeus
married his wife, Holly Knowlton, the daughter of an Army General, in 1974, two
months after graduating from <st1:place w:st="on">West Point</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">About
a decade later, he earned a Master's degree in public affairs from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Princeton</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> and later, a doctorate in
international relations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
and his wife have two children, a daughter and a son. Their son also joined the
Army and served in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
while Holly Petraeus has helped military families through her own work with the
Obama administration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">CIA Tenure<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Petraeus
kept a lower profile in his position as spy chief than he did in the military.
But his time at the CIA was tainted recently by questions over the killing of
U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other Americans at the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> consulate in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Benghazi</st1:place></st1:city> on September 11. Two of the
Americans killed were security officers working for the CIA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Petraeus
was scheduled to testify before lawmakers next week about the incident, which
has seen officials arguing over who was responsible for the security breakdown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ABC
News quotes an unnamed <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
official as saying Petraeus' decision to step down had "absolutely nothing
to do with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Benghazi</st1:city></st1:place>."
ABC says congressional hearings on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Benghazi</st1:city></st1:place>
incident will continue as planned with CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell
testifying in Petraeus' place as acting director. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Petraeus Resigns as CIA Chief Over Extramarital Affair

Retired U.S. General David Petraeus, the man who was credited with helping to turn around the war in Iraq , has resigned as chief of t...

US Explores Treaty to Nail Us Tax Defaulters in India

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<st1:state w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">WASHINGTON</span></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> (NNN-PTI) -- The <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> has said it is working on an inter-government
engagement with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>
and other countries to check non-compliance by American taxpayers using foreign
bank accounts in their jurisdictions.<br />
<br />
Through these engagements with more than 50 countries, the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> is looking to implement
information reporting and withholding tax provisions, commonly known as the
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).<br />
<br />
Enacted in 2010, FATCA aims at checking non-compliance by <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> taxpayers using foreign
accounts.<br />
<br />
t requires foreign financial institutions to report to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> tax department information about
accounts held by US taxpayers, or by foreign entities in which they hold a
substantial ownership interest.<br />
<br />
Concerns have been raised in the past by various foreign banks and other
financial institutions about the FATCA provisions, as it is feared that they
might lead to increased compliance costs and might infringe upon the local
financial secrecy laws of the jurisdictions concerned.<br />
<br />
An agreement with India will allow the US tax department to seek information
from the financial institutions operating in that country about their clients
who are liable to pay tax in the US.<br />
<br />
In a statement, the US Treasury Department said last night it has engaged with
more than 50 countries and jurisdictions around the world to improve
international tax compliance and to implement FATCA provisions.<br />
<br />
"The jurisdictions with which Treasury is working to explore options for
inter-governmental engagement include Bermuda, Brazil, the British Virgin
Islands, Chile, the Czech Republic, Gibraltar, India, Lebanon, Luxembourg,
Romania, Russia, Seychelles, Sint Maarten, Slovenia, and South Africa," it
said.<br />
<br />
The US Treasury has already concluded pacts with the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place>. The jurisdictions with which it
is in process of finalising an agreement or it hopes to conclude negotiations
by year-end include: <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Denmark</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Finland</st1:country-region>, <st1:city w:st="on">Guernsey</st1:city>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region>, Isle of Man, <st1:city w:st="on">Jersey</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>,
the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Netherlands</st1:country-region>, and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Norway</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<br />
<br />
"Jurisdictions with which Treasury is actively engaged in a dialogue
towards concluding an intergovernmental agreement include: Argentina, Australia,
Belgium, the Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Israel, Korea,
Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, the Slovak Republic, Singapore,
and Sweden," the Treasury said.<br />
<br />
Negotiations with many of these jurisdictions are expected to be concluded by
the year-end, it said.<br />
<br />
"By working cooperatively with foreign governments and financial
institutions, we are intensifying our ability to combat tax evasion while
minimizing burdens on financial institutions," Treasury Assistant
Secretary for Tax Policy Mark Mazur said. --NNN-PTI</span></div>

US Explores Treaty to Nail Us Tax Defaulters in India

WASHINGTON (NNN-PTI) -- The US has said it is working on an inter-government engagement with India and other countries to check non-c...

Secretary-General Ban congratulates US President Barack Obama on re-election

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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4rgm2kGgsY8kOph3QVYaavmBRKQrBA_Ed0ToaEkdENe6hFGGWeRxR8b4KUN4VOwM7caNDGe9q9jGWtSd-TmoNBnRWaBWIN0pWrkSKK1KnVtPkfG4TCxMo7xWFBf6SyVhUVANq9mYPiw/s1600/527645-ki-moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4rgm2kGgsY8kOph3QVYaavmBRKQrBA_Ed0ToaEkdENe6hFGGWeRxR8b4KUN4VOwM7caNDGe9q9jGWtSd-TmoNBnRWaBWIN0pWrkSKK1KnVtPkfG4TCxMo7xWFBf6SyVhUVANq9mYPiw/s640/527645-ki-moon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">US President Barack Obama at<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">UN Headquarters in September 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">UN Photo/Mark Garten</span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UN
News – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warmly congratulates
President Barack Obama on his re-election as President of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>, a spokesperson for
the world body's head said overnight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
Secretary-General looks forward to continuing to work with President Obama and
his administration in the spirit of the enduring partnership between the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and the United Nations,” Mr. Ban's spokesperson added in a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">According
to media reports, while some results have yet to be finalized, President Obama
defeated his opponent, Mitt Romney, with 303 Electoral College votes compared
to Mr. Romney's 206 Electoral College votes. Under the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> presidential voting system, a
candidate needs to secure at least 270 Electoral College votes to secure
victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Many
challenges lie ahead – from ending the bloodshed in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region>,
to getting the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place> peace process back
on track, to promoting sustainable development and tackling the challenges
posed by climate change,” the spokesperson noted. “All will require strong
multilateral cooperation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
Secretary-General and the United Nations will continue to count on the active
engagement of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
  States</st1:place></st1:country-region> on these and other crucial issues as
it strives to meet the hopes and expectations of people around the world,” he
added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Secretary-General Ban congratulates US President Barack Obama on re-election

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with US President Barack Obama at UN Headquarters in September 2012. UN Photo/Mark Garten U...

US Looks Forward to Further Opening of FDI in Insurance - Envoy

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">GURGAON
(<st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>) (NNN-Bernama) -- The
United States on Thursday said it is looking forward to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> opening
up its insurance sector further to foreign investors just as it has done in
case of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector, Press Trust of
India (PTI) reported.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"We
are looking at the expansion of FDI, particularly at expansion of FDI in
insurance," <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>
Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell was quoted as saying at the World Economic
Forum (WEF) on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>
here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">She
was responding to a query on the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>
expectations regarding <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
economic reforms going forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
bill to increase FDI cap in the insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per
cent has been pending in the 'Rajya Sabha', the upper house of the Parliament
of India, since 2008. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Last
month, the Cabinet had decided to move ahead with its proposal to hike foreign
investment ceiling in the sector.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In
September, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>
had relaxed FDI norms in retail sector, allowing foreign retailers to have up
to 51 per cent stake in the multi-brand segment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Foreign
carriers have also been allowed to invest up to 49 per cent in domestic
airlines. -- NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>

US Looks Forward to Further Opening of FDI in Insurance - Envoy

GURGAON ( India ) (NNN-Bernama) -- The United States on Thursday said it is looking forward to India opening up its insurance sector f...

Obama Defeats Romney

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By Kent Klein<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClAp-4uelFtWj6aiLazyrlXqabPOwa7lXkrEeriziDSIPIwRnVMbHqnafyWaLfpRMgWlL-iIjQFsUgiXsDThiwY02O-ldmu5d_JdpnToTso2-l0fGJpkdhScc4DJ_nZ4DYWthgTKZ5tk/s1600/A7EiDWcCYAAZT1D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClAp-4uelFtWj6aiLazyrlXqabPOwa7lXkrEeriziDSIPIwRnVMbHqnafyWaLfpRMgWlL-iIjQFsUgiXsDThiwY02O-ldmu5d_JdpnToTso2-l0fGJpkdhScc4DJ_nZ4DYWthgTKZ5tk/s1600/A7EiDWcCYAAZT1D.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">Photo © Four more years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;"><a href="http://pic.twitter.com/bAJE6Vom" target="_blank" title="Open this link in a new window"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">pic.twitter.com/bAJE6Vom</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Barack
Obama has won a second four-year term as president of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>.  The Democratic incumbent defeated Republican
Mitt Romney in Tuesday's <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
presidential election.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">America</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">'s first African-American president won more
than the 270 electoral votes he needed to secure four more years in the White
House.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">After
clinching the victory, Obama told a crowd of thousands of supporters in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> he is more determined
and more inspired than ever to tackle the country's challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"You
voted for action, not politics as usual," he said. "You elected us to
focus on your jobs, not ours.  And, in
the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and working
with the leaders of both parties to meet the challenges we can only solve
together."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="429" scrolling="no" src="http://www.voanews.com/flashembed.aspx?t=vid&id=1540956&w=640&h=429&skin=embeded" width="640"></iframe>

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The
president says he will work in his second term to reduce the </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';" w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> government's budget deficit, reform the tax
code, reform the nation's immigration system and reduce </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">'s
dependence on foreign oil.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Obama
congratulated his opponent on a hard-fought campaign and applauded Romney and
his family for their tradition of public service.  He says he will reach out to Republicans to
seek solutions to the country's problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"In
the weeks ahead I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to
talk about where we can work together to move this country forward," said
Obama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Former
Massachusetts Governor Romney, speaking to supporters in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city>, conceded the election a short time
earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I
have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory.  His supporters and his campaign also deserve
congratulations," said Romney. "I wish all of them well, but
particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Romney
says he and his running mate, Representative Paul Ryan, gave their all in the
campaign and he thanked their supporters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I
so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a
different direction.  But the nation
chose another leader and so Ann and I join with you to earnestly pray for him
and for this great nation," Romney said. "Thank you and God bless <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>.  You guys are the best.  Thank you so much."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Obama
won almost all of the so-called "swing states" that he and Romney
both needed for victory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">U.S.</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> presidential elections are not decided by
the popular vote, but by the Electoral College, in which each state's influence
on the outcome approximates its population.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Both
candidates made a final push for votes Tuesday, almost until the polls
closed.  Turnout was reported high in
many parts of the country, with some voters standing in line for hours, despite
a record amount of early voting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="429" scrolling="no" src="http://www.voanews.com/flashembed.aspx?t=vid&id=1540932&w=640&h=429&skin=embeded" width="640"></iframe>

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Although
the economy was the main issue of the campaign, Obama was the first president
in many decades to be re-elected while the nation was suffering from high
unemployment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Meanwhile,
Republicans retained control of the House of Representatives in Tuesday's
voting, but Democrats blocked the Republicans' effort to take control of the
Senate, where roughly one-third of the 100 seats were up for election.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Democrats
will replace Republican senators in <st1:state w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:state>
and <st1:state w:st="on">Indiana</st1:state>, an independent will succeed a
Republican in <st1:state w:st="on">Maine</st1:state>, and in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:state></st1:place>, a Democrat will take the place
of retiring independent Senator Joe Lieberman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Japanese-born
Democrat Mazie Hirono, who was elected in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hawaii</st1:place></st1:state>, will be the first Buddhist U.S.
Senator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And,
the Senate will have its first openly gay member, with the election of Democrat
Tammy Baldwin in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Wisconsin</st1:state></st1:place>.
---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Obama Defeats Romney

By Kent Klein Photo © Four more years pic.twitter.com/bAJE6Vom Barack Obama has won a second four-year term as president o...

Continuity the Key for World Leaders as Obama Returns

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MOSCOW</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (RIA Novosti) --- World leaders
congratulated US President Barack Obama on Wednesday on his return to the White
House for a second presidential term after an election victory that was far
from certain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Chinese
President Hu Jintao hailed the “hard work of the Chinese and American sides”
over Obama’s first term.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Maintaining
the healthy and stable development of China-US relations not only benefits the
people of the two countries and is in the common interests of the people of the
two countries, but also helps to maintain peace, stability and development in
the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole,” the Chinese leader said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Japanese
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, whose country is <st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state>’s
biggest ally in Asia told reporters that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tokyo</st1:city></st1:place>
“looks forward to continued cooperation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Western
leaders also welcomed Obama’s reelection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Warm
congratulations to my friend Barack Obama,” tweeted British Prime Minister
David Cameron. “Look forward to continuing to work together.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Australian
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said: “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> leadership remains vital to
meeting global challenges; international financial stability and global
economic growth, peace and security, and the impacts of our changing climate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the organization looked forward
to “continuing the close cooperation established with President Obama over
these last four years, to further strengthening our bilateral ties and to
jointly addressing global challenges, including in the fields of security and
economy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In
the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said “the strategic alliance
between <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> is
stronger than ever.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“I
will continue to work with President Obama in order to assure the interests
that are vital to the security of the citizens of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
head of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the military alliance expects
“continued cooperation with Barack Obama so NATO remains effective against new
threats.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But
congratulations from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Moscow</st1:city></st1:place>
were muted, with President Vladimir Putin preferring to wait and send a
telegram rather than call Obama in the hours after his election victory over
Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Putin’s spokesman said, however, that the
Kremlin was, “in general, extremely positive” about Obama’s election victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Continuity the Key for World Leaders as Obama Returns

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) --- World leaders congratulated US President Barack Obama on Wednesday on his return to the White House for a secon...

Indian PM Congratulates Obama

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h5 style="background: white; line-height: 15.3pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></h5>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.3pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 22.5pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">NEW DELHI  (NNN-UNI) -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
today congratulated Barack Obama on his re-election as the President of the
United States and said he looked forward to contnuing their ''rewarding
association'' to further build on the enduring partnership and advance peace
and stability, expand mutual shared values and accomplishments of the past four
years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.3pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 22.5pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">In his congratulatory message to
Mr Obama, the Prime Minister said he had no doubt that there was much more they
could do together to further strengthen the India-US economic opportunities,
harness the potential of science and technology, innovation and higher
education and empower the people to address global challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.3pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 22.5pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
He said he personally valued his friendship with the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> President.<br />
<br />
''I have personally valued our friendship and I look forward to continuing our
rewarding association in order to build further on the enduring foundations of
our shared values and the accomplishments of the past four years.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
''I have no doubt that there is much more we can do together to further
strengthen the India-US partnership and thereby advance peace and stability,
expand mutual economic opportunities, harness the potential of science and
technology, innovation and higher education and empower our people to address
global challenges,'' the Prime Minister said in his message. -- NNN-UNI<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Indian PM Congratulates Obama

NEW DELHI (NNN-UNI) -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today congratulated Barack Obama on his re-election as the President of the Unite...

Obama, Romney Tied Up in Chances to Win Election - Poll

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">WASHINGTON
(RIA Novosti) - With the US presidential election just around the corner, a CNN
survey shows that President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney
have almost equal chances to win the race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">According
to the poll, 49 percent of potential voters are ready to cast their votes for
either Obama or Romney. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
poll was conducted on November 2-4, just two days before the election and after
hurricane <st1:city w:st="on">Sandy</st1:city> devastated the eastern part of
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>
leaving at least 50 killed and causing damages worth some $20 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">According
to the poll, 68 percent of the surveyed approved how Obama handled the
situation during the storm, while 15 percent disapproved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">According
to another poll, conducted by NBC News/Wall Street Journal, Obama has the
support of 48 percent of likely voters and Romney enjoys the support of 47
percent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Obama, Romney Tied Up in Chances to Win Election - Poll

WASHINGTON (RIA Novosti) - With the US presidential election just around the corner, a CNN survey shows that President Barack Obama and...

Show of Shows: Pageant of American Democracy Hits Feverish Climax

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By
Christopher Boian  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">WASHINGTON
(RIA Novosti) – Magnanimous and archaic, visionary and impure, enthralling in
its promise but noisy, bewildering and illusory in its delivery: The chaotic
pageant that is American democracy hits its fevered climax Tuesday with
selection of a leader who can plausibly claim to have obtained the consent of
the governed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
current occupant of the White House, President Barack Obama of the Democratic
Party, hopes he will be given another four-year term to “finish what we
started” in 2008. His main rival, Republican Party nominee Mitt Romney, says
Obama has made a colossal mess at home and around the world that only a new
leader – such as him – knows how to clean up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">There
are four other candidates on the ballot in most states too – Jill Stein of the
Green Party, Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party, Virgil Goode of the
Constitution Party and Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But
apart from Stein, who has been arrested twice in recent weeks – once in a
protest at her exclusion from a presidential debate in New York and again at a
protest in Texas over controversial plans to build a new oil pipeline – these
challengers have received next to zero national media attention and are
generally considered to have no chance of winning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">On
Tuesday, tens of millions of voters in the 50 <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>
states and the country’s capital, the <st1:state w:st="on">District of Columbia</st1:state>,
will make their way to thousands of polling places across the country to push
computer buttons or mark paper ballots and express their will of who they would
like to see designated the official leader of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">At
the same time, a little more than half of the approximately 207 million
eligible <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>
voters will make choices on numerous other ballot questions ranging from
electing legislators and judges to deciding if marijuana and same-sex marriage
should be legal and if rich corporations should be permitted to spend unlimited
amounts of their money to support particular candidates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
undertaking appears enormous and the stakes are, in theory at least, high, not
just for Americans. At issue are questions of public policy, governance and
personality, but also of national character, morality, societal values and even
basic dilemmas of the human condition today that will color future discussion
within the United States but also far beyond US shores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
real question is not whether the selection of a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> leader today and the host of
other issues Americans will confront on Tuesday are important, but rather: Is
the bewildering, wooly American electoral process truly what it purports to be
-- government of the people, by the people and for the people?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Champions
of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>
political system that will reach another apogee on Tuesday argue that, at the
very least, it offers wide and fertile ground for the unrestricted public
airing of all manner of ideas. Critics however assert that it does nothing of
the kind and, in fact, even actively discourages truly free thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Essentially,
the election is a method of marginalizing the population,” Noam Chomsky, the
political activist, writer and linguistics professor at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology noted for his outspoken liberal views, wrote of the US
political system ahead of the 2004 US presidential election that pitted
Republican incumbent George W. Bush against his Democratic adversary, John
Kerry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“A
huge propaganda campaign is mounted to get people to focus on these
personalized quadrennial extravaganzas and to think, ‘that’s politics’. But it
isn’t. It’s only a small part of politics,” Chomsky wrote in an article
published in the Dubai-based Khaleej Times daily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Other
critics point to features of the US presidential election system such as the
preponderant role of private finance, supervision of the voting process by
partisan officials, inadequate public campaign funding and the electoral
college voting system as just a few of the elements that conspire to keep the
people at as far a distance as possible from genuine political participation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
political class fears a truly engaged citizenry,” political commentator Steven
Rosenfeld wrote last month in an article published on the salon.com and
alternet.org websites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Anyone
who has looked at how elections are run outside the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> knows how backward key pillars
of our election system are. … Too much of the process doesn’t measure up to
21st-century standards.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Even
the live, nationally-televised, one-on-one debates between those determined to
be the “main” candidates – Obama and Romney had three in the past month – often
held up as proof of transparency in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> political process, are, critics
charge, really little more than a superficial side-show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“It
is not really a debate but a glorified press conference,” commented one blogger
on the Open Salon platform. “Journalists hurl softball questions at the
candidates giving each the opportunity to regurgitate their perfectly rehearsed
sound bites.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
staunchest defenders of American democracy admit that the process does not
always protect the interests of all voters. But they argue that, despite a
litany of flaws ranging from wildly skewed voter registration lists in some
parts of the country to documented, serious problems in actually counting
votes; it remains the closest thing to allowing people to choose their leaders
themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
process that will crescendo on Tuesday is vulnerable to cheating and
oppression, riven with flaws and injustices, complicated, often opaque and
confusing for many. But, its proponents say, it works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Obama
and Romney are presenting clear and contrasting visions of the future. That
debate may get raucous, even shrill and angry. Nonetheless, on Nov. 7, one
candidate will concede and the other will govern,” said Terrence Casey,
political science professor at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Indiana</st1:state></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“This
is the essence of politics — free men and women collectively resolving our
great questions through deliberation and debate. It is how divided societies
like ours rule themselves without undue violence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Show of Shows: Pageant of American Democracy Hits Feverish Climax

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