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By Kevin Flower, CNN May 31, 2012 -- Updated 1019 GMT (1819 HKT) Jerusalem (CNN) -- In what has been described as a humanitarian gesture, the Israeli government on Thursday began handing over the remains of 91 Palestinians killed in attacks against Israeli targets over the last four decades. The remains, which had been interred in numbered graves by Israel, began arriving in the West Bank and Gaza early Thursday morning, reported WAFA, the Palestinian Authority-controlled news agency. - ivan allbiz

By Graham Smith, Special to CNN May 31, 2012 -- Updated 1127 GMT (1927 HKT) Editor's note: Graham Smith has been chief executive since 2005 of Republic, which campaigns for a democratic alternative to the monarchy. Previously he was involved in political campaigning, community activism and the corporate sector. London (CNN) -- With all the fuss in the media at the moment about Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee anyone could be forgiven for thinking that the British are united in their... - ivan allbiz

By Amir Ahmed, CNN May 31, 2012 -- Updated 1159 GMT (1959 HKT) (CNN) -- Gunmen kidnapped two American tourists Thursday in Egypt's Sinai region and demanded the release of a man arrested a day earlier for drug possession, authorities said. The tourists, both 31, were in a car headed to a hotel from the town of Dahab when they were stopped, the state-run Ahram newspaper said. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo said it is aware of the kidnapping. - ivan allbiz

By Fareed Zakaria A bold proposal recently caught my eye: One of Moscow's top academics says Russia should build a new capital city. This city would be far, far away from Moscow, 4,000 miles to be exact — in Vladivostok. Why? Well, the person who proposed the idea, Sergei Karaganov of Moscow's Higher School of Economics, wrote in a state-run newspaper that a capital in the far east would make Russia part of what he calls "the rising world" — closer to dynamic Asian economies and further away... - ivan allbiz

By Karla Cripps 29 May, 2012 The biggest complaint among air travelers used to concern legroom. As in, there was never enough of it. Passengers cried out for more space to stretch out and recline further. In response, airlines reconfigured their planes to offer options like premium economy, allowing travelers to pay extra for added legroom without having to upgrade to business or first class. Now, it appears the focus has switched from length to width. - ivan allbiz

By Tim Lister, CNN May 29, 2012 -- Updated 2113 GMT (0513 HKT) (CNN) -- On February 5, 1994, shoppers were crowded into the main market square in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. At the time, the city was under siege by Bosnian Serb forces. Just before noon, a single 120mm artillery shell landed in the square. Sixty-eight people were killed; more than 200 wounded. Some victims were literally torn apart. - ivan allbiz

From Masoud Popalzai, CNN May 29, 2012 -- Updated 1453 GMT (2253 HKT) Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A hospital in northern Afghanistan admitted 160 schoolgirls Tuesday after they were poisoned, a Takhar province police official said. Their classrooms might have been sprayed with a toxic material before the girls entered, police spokesman Khalilullah Aseer said. He blamed the Taliban. The incident, the second in a week's time, was reported at the Aahan Dara Girls School in Taluqan, the provincial... - ivan allbiz

By Kerin Hope May 28, 2012 -- Updated 0137 GMT (0937 HKT) Athens (Financial Times) -- Greece's public finances could collapse as early as next month, leaving salaries and pensions unpaid unless a stable government emerges from the June 17 election, according to Lucas Papademos, the technocrat prime minister who left office after this month's inconclusive vote. Mr Papademos warned that conditions were deteriorating faster than expected with cash flow likely to turn negative in early June amid a... - ivan allbiz

By the CNN Wire Staff May 28, 2012 -- Updated 0038 GMT (0838 HKT) (CNN) -- The Golden Gate Bridge got its chance to shine Sunday, with people around the Bay Area flocking to the iconic span to celebrate its 75th birthday. Festivities that began in the morning and continued into the evening along San Francisco's northern waterfront within sight of the two legendary orange towers included musical and dance performances on stages in Crissy Field and Marina Green plus a historic watercraft parade. - ivan allbiz

By Paula Hancocks, CNN May 28, 2012 -- Updated 0358 GMT (1158 HKT) Seoul (CNN) -- Watching the public execution of his mother and older brother, Shin Dong-Hyuk thought the punishment was just. They had planned to escape the North Korean labor camp they were being held in until Shin overheard them and reported them to the prison guards. Just 14-years old, Shin says he felt no guilt in condemning them to death. - ivan allbiz

(CNN) -- In the last decade of the 20th century, the Turkish lira fell in value 1,000 times against the U.S. dollar, meaning that tourists returning to that country after several years found that any old money they still possessed since their last visit had become almost worthless. Now as fears grow about whether Greece will stay in the euro, and the possible domino effect this could cause, many prospective holidaymakers appear to be having second thoughts about visiting that country and other... - ivan allbiz

(CNN) -- Syrian security forces opened fire on anti-government demonstrators in Aleppo and other cities Friday, an opposition group said. Shots rang out as forces attempted to break up a demonstration that began after dawn prayers in the mixed, upper-middle-class city of Aleppo, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, an opposition network that counts casualties and organizes anti-government protests. - ivan allbiz

By Diana Magnay, CNN May 7, 2012 -- Updated 1142 GMT (1942 HKT) Berlin (CNN) -- There has been a great deal of austerity-bashing -- that is to say Germany-bashing -- this French election season. Buoyed by his success in the first round, Socialist candidate Francois Hollande declared last Thursday: "It is not for Germany to decide for the rest of Europe." Vowing to reset Europe on a growth path, he said, "we're not just any country, we can change the situation. - ivan allbiz

By Peter Wilkinson, CNN May 6, 2012 -- Updated 2141 GMT (0541 HKT) (CNN) -- Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday conceded defeat in his bid for re-election as French president, accepting the blame for the result. "I carry the entire responsibility for this defeat, and I'm going to say why. I fought for the values of responsibility, and I'm not a man who does not accept his responsibilities," Sarkozy said from his Paris campaign headquarters, as members of the crowd shouted, "No!" "I'm ready to become a... - ivan allbiz

By the CNN Wire Staff May 17, 2012 -- Updated 0151 GMT (0951 HKT) Paris (CNN) -- New French President Francois Hollande has chosen mostly moderates for his Cabinet, indicating an effort to build a broad coalition in the country. The Socialist leader selected moderates to serve as ministers of labor, economy, foreign affairs, defense and other posts. The Cabinet, announced Wednesday, also includes several leftists and at least one minister who comes from the Socialist Party's right wing. - ivan allbiz

By the CNN Wire Staff May 17, 2012 -- Updated 0506 GMT (1306 HKT) (CNN) -- A confidential U.N. report reveals Iran is exporting arms to the Syrian government in violation of a ban on weapons sales, the same day President Bashar al-Assad blamed the violence in his country on the work of foreign-backed fighters. The draft report describes three seizures of Iranian weapons shipments, including two bound for Syria, within the last year, a Western diplomat told CNN on Wednesday on condition of... - ivan allbiz

By the CNN Wire Staff May 10, 2012 -- Updated 0735 GMT (1535 HKT) (CNN) -- Two strong explosions rocked the Syrian capital Thursday, state television reported, leaving bloody streets littered with debris as thick black smoke drifted into the sky. The number of casualties was unclear, but dozens were dead or injured, according to Syrian state television. The blasts occurred in Qazzaz neighborhood and destroyed the nation's intelligence agency, the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights... - ivan allbiz

By Charles Kaiser, Special to CNN May 10, 2012 -- Updated 0454 GMT (1254 HKT) Editor's note: Charles Kaiser is the author of "The Gay Metropolis" and "1968 in America," a former reporter for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and a former press critic for Newsweek. (CNN) -- President Barack Obama's blockbuster announcement that he is in favor of full marriage equality is the most courageous thing he has done since he entered the White House three and a half years ago. - ivan allbiz

By Laura Smith-Spark, CNN May 10, 2012 -- Updated 0035 GMT (0835 HKT) (CNN) -- Seven and a half years ago, scenes of jubilant crowds celebrating the outcome of Ukraine's Orange Revolution -- a new presidential vote after a rigged election was annulled -- filled TV screens around the world. Now the country is back in the headlines, thanks to the controversial detention of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a heroine of the revolution, and threats to boycott next month's Euro 2012 soccer... - ivan allbiz

By Max Foster, CNN Royal Correspondent April 27, 2012 -- Updated 1408 GMT (2208 HKT) The Royals: Kate, Duchess of Cambridge will air on CNN International on May 4 at 11.30 am ET, May 5 at 9am and 4.30pm ET, May 6 at 5.30pm and 11.30pm ET, May 7 at 3.30 am ET, May 8 at 5.30 am and 12.30pm ET and May 9 at 12.30 am ET. London (CNN) -- The Duchess of Cambridge has successfully graduated as a "fully fledged member" of Britain's monarchy after fulfilling all her objectives one year on from her... - ivan allbiz

From John King, CNN Chief National Correspondent April 28, 2012 -- Updated 0232 GMT (1032 HKT) Washington (CNN) -- The Secret Service agent at the center of the Colombia prostitution scandal has been identified as Arthur Huntington, sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN on Friday. According to the sources, Huntington was the agent in a seventh-floor hotel room in Cartagena who had a dispute over pay with an escort. - ivan allbiz

By Hilary Whiteman, CNN April 28, 2012 -- Updated 0433 GMT (1233 HKT) Hong Kong (CNN) -- Ramesh Makwana knew the risks to his health by working in an agate factory, but at $4 a day the rewards were too great. Now, after 14 years of breathing in the fine dust created by grinding and polishing the gemstone, Makwana has silicosis, a respiratory disease that swells the lungs. "He's thankful to the stone because it helped him survive for so long. - ivan allbiz

From Steven Jiang, CNN April 28, 2012 -- Updated 0546 GMT (1346 HKT) Beijing (CNN) -- A prominent Chinese human rights activist has called for an investigation into what he describes as corrupt and cruel officials who he says "violently assaulted" him and his family before he escaped from house arrest and fled to Beijing. Chen Guangcheng addressed the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, in a video posted on YouTube on Friday, detailing the abuses he said he and his family had suffered at the hands of... - ivan allbiz

By Bryony Jones, CNN April 4, 2012 -- Updated 1608 GMT (0008 HKT) London (CNN) -- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attract crowds of cameramen and hoards of press photographers everywhere they go -- even when they aren't really there. Wax models of William and Kate went on display at Madame Tussauds in London Wednesday, and were immediately swamped by onlookers keen to get close to the "royal couple. - ivan allbiz

By Max Foster, CNN Royal Correspondent April 26, 2012 -- Updated 2059 GMT (0459 HKT) The Royals: Kate, Duchess of Cambridge will air on CNN International on May 4 at 11.30 am ET, May 5 at 9am and 4.30pm ET, May 6 at 5.30pm and 11.30pm ET, May 7 at 3.30 am ET, May 8 at 5.30 am and 12.30pm ET and May 9 at 12.30 am ET. London (CNN) -- The Duchess of Cambridge has successfully graduated as a "fully fledged member" of Britain's monarchy after fulfilling all her objectives one year on from her... - ivan allbiz

By Max Foster, CNN Royal Correspondent April 26, 2012 -- Updated 2101 GMT (0501 HKT) London (CNN) -- The Duchess of Cambridge is one of the world's biggest, if not the biggest, stars right now. Twelve months on from her marriage to Prince William, she is credited with reinvigorating the British monarchy and arguably helping secure its future. It may look like Catherine, or Kate as she is popularly known, has breezed through her first year of official engagements, but the apparent ease belies a... - ivan allbiz

By the CNN Wire Staff April 27, 2012 -- Updated 0618 GMT (1418 HKT) (CNN) -- Fourteen members of Osama bin Laden's family were deported to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan Friday, less than a week ahead of the first anniversary of his death at the hands of U.S. commandos. Among those aboard the private plane that left at 2 a.m. local time were bin Laden's three widows and two daughters, said Aamir Khalil, a family attorney. - ivan allbiz

By the CNN Wire Staff April 26, 2012 -- Updated 0428 GMT (1228 HKT) (CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday that he is returning home after cancer treatment in Cuba. "Already on the plane! All of us very happy because we are heading back to our beloved Venezuela!" Chavez wrote on his official Twitter account. Chavez is battling cancer and was in Cuba to undergo treatment. He has been to Havana several times in recent weeks and months to see doctors. - ivan allbiz

By the CNN Wire Staff April 26, 2012 -- Updated 0126 GMT (0926 HKT) (CNN) -- The United Nations high commissioner for human rights expressed concern Wednesday about restrictions on nongovernmental organizations around the world, saying the rules threaten human rights. Commissioner Navi Pillay said existing or proposed laws and regulations in eight countries threaten to shut down NGOs. In one of those countries, Zimbabwe, provincial authorities already ordered the work of 29 groups be suspended. - ivan allbiz

From Michael Teng, CNN April 26, 2012 -- Updated 0210 GMT (1010 HKT) New York (CNN) -- The sister and mother of Adis Medunjanin, accused in a suspected plot to bomb New York's subways, testified at his trial Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court. Alisa Medunjanin, a 30-year-old nurse, gave a tearful account of how she, her brother and their parents were awakened in the middle of the night by more than a dozen FBI agents who stormed into the family's Queens, New York, apartment during a September... - ivan allbiz