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Howard LaFranchi

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Christian Science Monitor

UN chief calls Syrian violence 'horrific,' so why is a resolution so elusive?

By Howard LaFranchi | 06/15/11
That Western plans for a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning the violence in Syria would run into a brick wall of resistance from traditional naysayers China and Russia is not much of a surprise. But now emerging powers like Br
Christian Science Monitor

Iran accelerates uranium enrichment: Danger or bluff?

By Howard LaFranchi | 06/13/11
Iran’s announcement this week that it plans to speed up its enrichment of uranium – and to move part of its enrichment process from the desert to a more defensible mountain site – has spawned wide-ranging speculation on Tehran’s nuclear intention
Christian Science Monitor

Muhammad Ali joins U.S. Muslim appeal to Iran to release U.S. hikers

By Howard LaFranchi | 05/25/11
The families of two American hikers held in prison in Iran since July 2009 are turning to prominent American Muslims – including Muhammad Ali – to help convince the Iranian government to let their sons go. The mothers of Shane Bauer and Josh Fat
Christian Science Monitor

September deadlines loom for Israel as Peres and Obama meet

By Howard LaFranchi | 04/05/11
Israeli President Shimon Peres visits the White House Tuesday with two September deadlines bearing down on Israel – one from the Palestinians and one set by President Obama himself. When Mr.
Christian Science Monitor

Obama vows a lesser U.S. role in Libya, but new plan yet to be sealed

By Howard LaFranchi | 03/24/11
Determined to see Arab and Muslim countries involved in the oversight of continuing international military operations in Libya, the Obama administration has hammered out a plan with partners that puts NATO in the driver’s seat while enlarging the
Christian Science Monitor

Rebukes to Libya mount as UN kicks it off Human Rights Council

By Howard LaFranchi | 03/02/11
The United Nations General Assembly took the unusual step of castigating one of its own members Tuesday when it voted to kick Libya out of the UN’s Human Rights Council. The vote in the 192-member body was by consensus, so there was no tally.
Christian Science Monitor

With Hu, Obama more direct about US expectations of China

By Howard LaFranchi | 01/20/11
WASHINGTON — President Obama and China's President Hu Jintao stressed the importance of increased US-China cooperation, for their countries and for the world, at the two leaders’ lengthiest public appearance of Mr.
Christian Science Monitor

Cold war era fades further as Russia, NATO agree to 'reset' relations

By Howard LaFranchi | 11/22/10
In a speech last week to “young Atlanticists” - young people from Europe, the US, and Canada - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he realized that to them, talking about the cold war must be akin to discussing the Peloponnesian Wa
Christian Science Monitor

Top of agenda at Clinton-Netanyahu meeting: new rift over settlements

By Howard LaFranchi | 11/11/10
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is once again at odds with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and once again the issue is construction of Jewish settlements on Arab lands. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Christian Science Monitor

Top of the agenda at US-Pakistan meetings: mending relations

By Howard LaFranchi | 10/20/10
WASHINGTON — If Osama bin Laden is really living comfortably in a house in northwest Pakistan, can we finally get him? One might assume that the question would come up during this week’s three-day “strategic dialogue” between the United States and