Daily International News
December 17, 2010
Northeast Asia
Koreas
As Richardson Visits, North Korea Assails South [NYT]
N Korea vows retaliation if S. Korea conducts live-fire drills near border [Yonhap]
JCS General: South Korea drill could cause ‘chain reaction’ [CNN]
Russia calls on South Korea to halt military drill [Reuters]
North Korea Breaks Into Twitter, Facebook, YouTube [The Atlantic]
IAEA awaiting deal to send nuclear inspectors back to N.Korea [Ria Novosti]
Japan
Japan Announces Defense Policy to Counter China [NYT]
China responds to Japan’s new defense guidelines, saying China poses no threat to anybody [Xinhua]
China
China Set to Lease North Korean Islands for free-trade zone [Jakarta Globe]
Family: China denies prison visits to Nobel winner [AP]
Dalai Lama said climate trumps Tibet politics [AP]
Vatican in new clash with China over church [AP]
China PM to bolster strong Pakistan ties after India [Reuters]
South/Central Asia
Kabul silent over Obama’s Afghan war review [Reuters]
India accused of widespread Kashmir torture – cables [Reuters]
Fourth drone strike in two days kills 24 in Pakistan [Reuters]
Kyrgyzstan sets up new coalition [BBC]
Middle East
Bomb hits US Embassy vehicle in Yemen [AP]
Iraq offers Iran anti-terror help [AFP]
‘Israeli spying devices’ found in Lebanon [BBC]
Africa
Sudan: UN Peacekeeping Chief Warns of Risks Ahead of Independence Vote in Southern Sudan [All Africa]
Ivory Coast: Gbagbo under pressure to stand down [BBC]
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe vows retaliation against West [AP]
Kenya’s water minister questioned over corruption [Reuters]
Europe
UK, German officials: No new holiday terror plot [AP]
Italy’s Berlusconi says will see out his term [Reuters]
Fierce fight in Ukraine parliament injures 6 [AP]
Dutch government to seek approval for new Afghan mission [AP]
European Report Cites Need to Regain Ground With U.S. [NYT]
EU leaders agree to more economic cooperation [AP]
Americas
Mexico summoning Interpol’s aid to catch outlaw lawmaker [WaPo]
US aid worker jailed in Haiti kidnapping case [AP]
Domestic
Local
DC metro anti-terrorism teams to begin random bag inspections to avert attacks [WaPo]
Congress
Reid Says Senate Vote on Russia Arms Treaty Expected Next Week [Bloomberg]
Senate plans vote this weekend on ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ [WaPo]
Rape Victims Ask, Military Won’t Tell on Assaults: Ann Woolner [Bloomberg]
Republicans Kill $1.2 Trillion ‘Omnibus’ U.S. Spending Measure [Bloomberg]
Obama to sign tax deal Friday afternoon [CNN]
Foreign Relations
Replacing Holbrooke not so easy [WaPo]
WikiLeaks: Julian Assange says he expects US to charge him with spying [Telegraph]
Blackwater: ‘US at fault’ for killings [Al Jazeera]
Other
Big Settlement With Madoff Investor Near [NYT]
California Adopts Cap And Trade [WSJ]
Mark Twain autobiography, embargoed for 100 years, a bestseller [NYT]
Politics - Pwn3D 