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First doses of H1N1 flu vaccine arrive

A national campaign to inoculate tens of millions of Americans against H1N1 influenza began Monday, with health care workers in Indiana and Tennessee targeted as the first recipients, federal health authorities said. Obama will be joined by, among others, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader John Boehner, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the heads of the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees in the House and Senate, the officials said

Sharp division inside White House on Afghanistan, analyst says

Deliberations over what to do in Afghanistan are taking place behind closed doors, but the divisions among some of President Obama’s trusted advisers are starting to emerge. Gen

Guantanamo prison not likely to close in January, officials say

The U.S.

UNICEF official ordered to leave Sri Lanka

The expulsion of a U.N. official from Sri Lanka is final and he has to leave the country by September 21, the government has told the agency

Four U.S. troops killed in Iraq roadside blasts

A spate of roadside bombings in Iraq killed four U.S. troops and a civilian Tuesday, authorities said

China to send ‘harmony makers’ to Urumqi

China is sending 7,000 officials to the western city of Urumqi after last week’s deadly protests over a strange series of syringe stabbings, state-run media reported. The officials, known as “harmony makers,” are meant to ease tensions after demonstrators, demanding better police protection, clashed with police for two days

Party chief dismissed over China unrest

The Communist Party chief in the restive Chinese city of Urumqi was dismissed from his job Saturday after deadly protests over a series of syringe stabbings, state-run media reported. The Xinhua news agency didn’t cite a reason for Li Zhi’s sacking

15 dead as Macedonian tour boat sinks

At least 15 people are dead after a tourist boat sunk in a lake in southwest Macedonia on Saturday morning, a government spokesman told CNN. The Xinhua news agency didn’t cite a reason for Li Zhi’s sacking.

Hispanic population boom fuels rising U.S. diversity

The nation is becoming even more diverse: More than one third of its population belongs to a minority group, and Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment. The U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday that the minority population reached an estimated 104.6 million — or 34 percent of the nation’s total population — on July 1, 2008, compared to 31 percent when the Census was taken in 2000

Afghanistan ‘rape’ law puts women’s rights front and center

"In Afghanistan, the sacrifice in the political game is women and children," female Afghan parliamentarian Fawzia Koofi said.