The American grenade that nearly killed 10-year-old Shah Mohammed landed on an unmarked firing range in a scrubby desert, in the shadow of the largest U.S. military base in the country. Like hundreds of other U.S. explosives fired here, it was supposed to detonate on impact. Like hundreds of others, it didn’t. Read full article > >

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For Afghans next to U.S. firing range, unexploded ammunition poses peril

The international community must “up its game” to secure a lasting political settlement for Afghanistan, the Labour leader Ed Miliband has said during a secret visit to the country

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Miliband fears for Afghan future

BEIRUT — Opposition groups on Saturday accused Syrian government forces of killing at least 90 people during an intense bombardment of the central village of Houla, amid what appeared to be an escalation in violence in several parts of the country. Read full article > >

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Bombardment of Syrian village leaves more than 90 dead, activists say

Cuba’s government is taking steps to address the country’s housing crisis, brought on by a struggling economy and years of storm damage and neglect.

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VIDEO: Cuba’s crumbling housing crisis

Country’s major banks are downgraded.

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Stocks Plunge on Spain Woes

LOMA LA LATA, Argentina — In a desert-like stretch of scrub grass and red buttes, oil companies are punching holes in the ground in search of what might be one of the biggest recent discoveries in the Americas: enough gas and oil to make a country known for beef and the tango an important energy player. Read full article > >

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Center of gravity in oil world shifts to Americas

BBC reporter Paul Wood has been inside the Syrian town of Rastan which has been under attack by the country’s military despite a UN brokered ceasefire.

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VIDEO: Battle in Syria despite ‘ceasefire’

BEIJING — Faced with political turmoil at the top, a slowing economy, and a young and wired population restless for change, China’s Communist rulers appear to have dusted off a time-tested tactic: blaming foreigners for the country’s problems. Read full article > >

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In China, foreigner-bashing brings backlash

Leaders of Somalia’s disparate factions agree a historic deal to elect a new president by 20 August to end the country’s two-decade political crisis.

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Somalia’s leaders agree deadline

Azerbaijan’s government has gone all out to prepare for the Eurovision song contest, and rights groups have seized the chance to spotlight the country’s record of abuses.

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With Eurovision Comes Scrutiny of Azerbaijan’s Rights Record

Egyptians are voting for the second day in the country’s first free presidential elections – 15 months after Hosni Mubarak was ousted.

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Egypt’s landmark election resumes

CBS can call itself the country’s most-watched network for the ninth time in the past 10 years. The network won the 2011-12 television season, which ended Wednesday, by averaging nearly 12 million viewers each week. That’s about 3 million more viewers than closest-competitor Fox, the largest margin of victory of any network in more than two decades. Read full article > >

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CBS wins network ratings-war again; reality-competition shows still dominate

Human rights campaigners in Azerbaijan have been using the run up to the Eurovision final to stage further protests against the country’s poor human rights record.

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VIDEO: Azerbaijan protests ahead of Eurovision

Abdelmonen Abol Fotoh, an independent moderate Islamist candidate for the Egyptian presidency, and one many tip to become the country's first freely elected leader, if he gets through this week's first round of voting, has been a busy man these last weeks.

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Religious pragmatist next Egypt leader?

CAIRO — Under a blistering sun, Egyptians flocked to polling stations around the country Wednesday morning to elect a new president, launching the country’s most consequential vote in modern history . “It’s the most beautiful day, Egyptians are voting,” said Haitham Abd el Zaher, 37, who brought his son Yousef, 10, to the polling station in the Agouza district of Cairo so the child could watch history unfold. “I want to show him the joy Egypt is experiencing.” Read full article > >

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Egyptians vote in historic presidential election with muted optimism