Daily International News 02.23.11

Daily International News
February 23, 2011

‘Jasmine Revolutions’ – North Africa
Libya: Ex-official kidnapped; interior minister said he resigned [CNN]
Libya crew abort bombing mission on Benghazi: report [Reuters]
Sarkozy becomes first to urge sanctions against Libya [FT]
Report: Ex-minister says Gadhafi ordered Lockerbie [AP] Original article – “Khadaffi gav order om Lockerbie-attentatet” [Expressen]
Italian Energy Company Suspends Gas Pipeline to Libya [NYT]
Background: Economist’s Mapping the Arab World
From 02/22 Algeria’s state of emergency to be lifted ‘imminently’ [BBC]
Banks Scrutinize Tunisian Ben Ali Regimes’ Assets [WSJ]
Egypt’s cabinet, under attack, meets for first time [Reuters]
Middle East
Saudi king announces new benefits [Al Jazeera]
Bahrain releases prisoners as king leaves country on trip [CNN]
First Protester Deaths at Yemen Rally [WSJ]

Northeast Asia
China/HK
Four face execution for killings in China’s Xinjiang [BBC]
China detains citizens who spread call to protest [AP]
‘Poisoned’ Chinese workers turn to Apple for help [BBC]
Hong Kong grows at 6.8% in 2010 helped by Chinese money [BBC]
Koreas
N. Korea accuses S. Korea of provoking Nov. attack on border island [Yonhap]
SKorea, China worry over NKorea’s nuclear program [AP]
Japan
Pakistani president asks Kan for same nuke cooperation deal given India [Mainichi]
Pressure on Japan PM grows as MP leaves govt post [Reuters]

South/Central/SE Asia/Pacific
US talks with Myanmar’s Suu Kyi about aid [AP]
New Zealand police warn of rising death toll [FT]
Thousands protest against high food prices in Delhi [BBC]

Middle East
Israel to Europe: Iran ships augur nuclear spread [Reuters]
Israeli tanks strike Gaza after mortar attack [AP]

Africa
Gbagbo loyalists killed in Ivory Coast ambush [Reuters]
Coptic Christian priest killed in southern Egypt [AP]

Europe
Greeks return to the streets to protest austerity cuts [Deutsche Welle]
From 02/22 Thachi re-elected Kosovo PM despite organ controversy’ [BBC]
London Mayor Boris Johnson accused of ‘barefaced lies’ over police numbers [Guardian]

Americas
More than 11,000 migrants kidnapped in Mexico [AP]
Mexico economic growth hits 10-year high [BBC]
Brazil sues ex-president, ex-minister over letters [CNN]

Domestic
Obama Said Likely to Name NSC’s Shapiro as Ambassador to Israel [Bloomberg]
Thousands March on State Capitols as Union Fight Spreads [NYT]
From 02/22 Rahm Emanuel elected Chicago mayor, avoids April runoff with majority of vote [WaPo]
U.S. big surfing contest wipes out, no waves [Reuters]
Christine O’Donnell ponders ‘Dancing With the Stars’ gig [WaPo]