News Updates For January 23, 2009

In this photo distributed by China's official Xinhua news agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, right, talks with Wang Jiarui, left, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department, in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, on Friday January 23, 2009. Kim Jong Il met Friday with the senior official from China in Pyongyang, Chinese state media reported, the first known meeting between the reclusive leader and a foreign dignitary since he reportedly fell ill last August. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Zhang Binyang)

Terrorism

Are there Islamic Terror cells in the U.S.?

A former Guantanamo prisoner is now the head of Al Qaeda in Yemen.

Comment: Is CIA Director nominee a hypocrite?

Asia

India completes crucial highway for Afghanistan.

Chinese officials meet Kim Jong-il in North Korea. The Korean leader wants a nuclear free zone.

The U.S. is talking tough with China on currency.

Censored U.N. aid agency is going back to North Korea.

Sri Lanka civilians are now getting caught in the crossfire. More news HERE, and more HERE.

Europe

Europeans in dilemma Over Guantanamo prison closing. Some more info here.

Britain is now officially in a recession. British PM never saw it coming.

Spain's jobless rate hits 13.9%.

Iceland's safety net is still there, but it's political scene is melting.

The Pope hits You Tube.

Ukraine wants to renegotiate the gas deal with Russia.

Middle East

A week after the ceasefire with Hamas, Israel's leaders are now popular but Benjamin Netanyahu is still in the lead.

According to the AP, Gaza is edging back to normalcy. Hamas agrees, they are back to targeting and killing Fatah members in Gaza

The Danger Room reports that Gaza's tunnels are now back in business. Story 1 and story 2.

The big fight in Gaza will be who controls reconstruction aid. The Europeans, not to be undone, are proposing solutions for peace in Gaza.

A Gaza Post-Mortem .... a commentary.

Mass executions are back in Iran.

Latin America

Mexican Drug Traffickers Now ‘Greatest Organized Crime Threat’ to U.S.
A Tale of 2 cities. One in Mexico, the other in the U.S.

Churches oppose the President in Bolivia referendum.

Castro does not think he will be around in 4 years.


The Fidel brothers are trying to dance with Obama.

Africa

2,755 have died from Cholera in Zimbabwe. Cholera is now moving into the countryside.

Congo rebel arrested by his former financer.

With Ethiopian pullout, Islamists rise again in Somalia.

Somali pirates may soon face trials outside homeland.