Al-Qaida Chooses New Leader

Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Egyptian eye doctor who long served as Osama bin Laden's deputy, has been officially chosen as al-Qaida's new leader. Zawahiri was already the group's operational commander and main spokesman, and he was widely expected to succeed Osama bin Laden. Some al-Qaida members have complained that Zawahiri is uninspiring and divisive as a leader, and terrorism experts say he will need to demonstrate that he can direct the terror network as skillfully as bin Laden did.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/16/137231315/al-qaida-choooses-new-leader?ft=1&f=1004

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Living In The Century Of Disasters

Writing in Slate, Joel Achenbach says this will be the century of disasters — both natural and technological. In this segment, Achenbach describes what he calls "black swan" events (rare but unpredictable), and how our engineered society might make disasters seem more common.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/10/137107098/living-in-the-century-of-disasters?ft=1&f=1007

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Embattled Rep. Weiner Plans To Resign

Embattled Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner has told friends and House leaders that he plans to resign from Congress. The reports Thursday follow a sexting scandal in which Weiner sent lewd emails and tweets to several young women. NPR's David Welna talks to Steve Inskeep.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/16/137225025/embattled-rep-weiner-plans-to-resign?ft=1&f=1003

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Syrian Tactics Estrange Media Supporters In Lebanon

Lebanon's Al-Akhbar newspaper is known for being close to the Syrian government, but one of its editors now strains to believe the story told on state TV. Even Syria's closest allies in Lebanon are raising questions about a strategy that seems to fuel the protests with each passing week.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/16/137204902/syrian-tactics-estrange-media-supporters-in-lebanon?ft=1&f=1004

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Suspected U.S. Missile Strikes Kill 15 In Pakistan

Pakistani officials say U.S. missiles killed 15 suspected militants Wednesday on the Pakistan side of the Afghan border.

The first pair of missiles hit a vehicle and a compound near the main town in the South Waziristan tribal area. The officials say 10 people were killed in those strikes, included a prominent militant commander in the area.

Later, four missiles hit a vehicle in North Waziristan, killing another five people.

While the U.S. does not publicly discuss drone strikes in Pakistan, officials have said privately that they have killed several senior al-Qaida and Taliban commanders.

Ties between Washington and Islamabad have been strained since U.S. Navy SEALs killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in a raid on a compound inside Pakistan in early May. Since then, the frequency of U.S. drone strikes has picked up.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/15/137205402/suspected-u-s-missile-strikes-kill-15-in-pakistan?ft=1&f=1004

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Pakistan Reportedly Arrests Suspected CIA Informants

Robert Siegel talks to NPR's Rachel Martin about the arrest of five suspected informants by Pakistan — on accusations they helped the CIA monitor Osama bin Laden's hideaway in the weeks before he was shot dead in a U.S. raid.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/15/137205523/pakistan-reportedly-arrests-suspected-cia-informants?ft=1&f=1004

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In Asia, The Perils Of Aborting Girls And Keeping Boys

In her first book, author Mara Hvistendahl explores why parents in several Asian countries are choosing to have boys rather than girls as birth rates are dropping. The trend of sex-selective abortion is yielding broad impacts on the economy, culture and stability of those nations.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/15/137106354/in-asia-the-perils-of-aborting-girls-and-keeping-boys?ft=1&f=1007

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