Obama to discuss plan for closing Guantanamo Bay prison

President Obama will address the future of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Thursday morning in a speech at Georgetown University. In a speech that is being billed as a major address, Obama is also slated to discuss issues of state secrets, transparency and protecting national security, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said

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Obama says U.S. must get in front on green energy

President Obama said Wednesday the United States must take the lead on energy, citing the "enormous job creation potential that exists." Obama’s remarks came at the end of his first quarterly meeting with the Economic Recovery Advisory Board, which was created in February to provide the administration with independent, nonpartisan advice on how to promote economic growth and stability. The focus of Wednesday’s meeting, which was streamed live on the White House Web site, was job creation and green energy. Obama told the board members he’s seen “some return to normalcy” in parts of the financial markets.

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Suspect in ship hijacking charged with piracy

A Somali suspect in the hijacking of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama last month has been indicted on 10 counts including piracy, hostage-taking and firearms charges, officials said Tuesday. Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse faces life in prison if convicted of eight of the 10 counts, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said.

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U.N. demands full access to Sri Lanka refugees

The United Nations is demanding full access to refugee camps that are home to an estimated quarter of a million people fleeing war in Sri Lanka, the United Nations Children’s Fund said Tuesday. “People are arriving into camps sick, malnourished and some with untended wounds of war,” UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman said in a written statement.

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U.S.: Afghan militants using white phosphorus

Militants continue to use a material not designed for use as a weapon against people to strike international forces in Afghanistan, the U.S.-coalition said Tuesday. White phosphorus, a smoke-producing agent commonly used to hide military operations, can cause severe burns.

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