Daily International News
January 19, 2011
Hu-Obama Summit
Op-ed: Mr. Obama, speak up for human rights in China [WaPo]
Obama pressured to speak out on China human rights [Reuters]
Clinton: Building trust with Beijing a must for US [AP]
The Weekly Standard: Liu Matters, Hu Doesn’t [NPR]
President Obama to Announce Jointly Funded Center for Nuclear Security in China [ABC]
Ballmer, Blankfein Invited by Obama to Hu Discussion on Business in China [Bloomberg]
Northeast Asia
Top Pentagon Asia official, Gregson, to step down [FP]
China
Report: China largely restores aircraft carrier [AP]
China’s Internet population rises to 457 million [AP]
Chinese Firm to Invest in North Korea [WSJ]
Chinese consumer price inflation ‘down to 4.6%’ [BBC]
Koreas
N. Korea working on uranium enrichment ‘since 1990s’ [AFP]
South Korea seeks longer-range missiles – report [Reuters] and Korea, U.S. negotiate revision of pact on missiles [JoongAng]
Kim and Jong-un get beefed up security [JoongAng]
Defector Offers Insights into N.Korean Arms Buildup [Chosun]
Japan
Japan wants China leadership on North Korea [Reuters]
Sugiyama, Japan’s point man on N.Korea to visit China [Straits Times via AFP]
Donations pour into Okinawa city after gov’t withdraws funds tied to hosting U.S. base [Mainichi]
Sting meets dolphin advocate, hopes for debate [AP]
Southeast Asia
Group says survey confirms Myanmar rights abuses [AP] – a link to the report is here
South/Central Asia
Judges seek delay in opening Afghan parliament [AP]
Bomb blast kills 20 Afghan civilians in southeast [Reuters]
Afghan journalist attacked with acid [AP]
Scandal-hit India PM skirts major cabinet changes [Reuters]
Middle East
Hariri tribunal: Saudi Arabia quits Lebanon mediation [BBC]
Powers to press defiant Iran in nuclear row [Reuters]
Insurgents Renew Attacks on Iraqi Security Troops [NYT]
Lebanon Shows Shift of Influence in Mideast [NYT]
Africa
Arab League chief says Tunisia is dire warning [AP]
Tunisia probes foreign assets of deposed leader [AP]
AU’s Odinga says Ivory Coast mediation fails [Reuters]
DR Congo army commander ‘led mass rape’ in Fizi [BBC]
Europe
Former Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks goes on trial [Reuters]
New UK law means queen’s secrets to stay that way [AP]
UK unemployment total rises further [BBC]
Ministers seek to answer critics as NHS bill published [BBC]
Euro MPs adopt cross-border healthcare law [BBC]
Germany approves anti-dioxin action plan [Reuters]
Americas
Haiti election officials downplay OAS conclusion [AP]
From 01/18 Bolivia launches coca leaf diplomatic offensive [BBC]
Deal ends Chile Magallanes gas protest [BBC]
Domestic
SOTU: State of the Seating Chart [WaPo]
Lieberman Is Said to Decide Against Seeking Re-Election to Senate in 2012 [Bloomberg]
Sen. Kent Conrad retirement boosts GOP Senate hopes [Politico]
House Republicans Move to Dismantle Obama’s Health-Care Law [Bloomberg]
Issa Said to Consider Focusing First Hearing on TARP Inspector’s Report [Bloomberg]
FBI: Bomb found on MLK march route [MSNBC]
Parenting by Gays More Common in the South, Census Shows [NYT]
Goldman Sachs profits down by half on weak debt trading [BBC]
Apple makes record profits of $6bn in last three months [BBC]