-
North Korea
Washington quietly offers Pyongyang aid in return for an end to its nuclear weapons program and asks for a show of good faith. North Korea responds by claiming that the U.S. maintains nuclear weapons in South Korea.
-
Sudan
Kofi Annan issues blunt warning to Bashir and al-Turabi for the continuing crisis in Darfur. U.S. special envoy Andrew Natsios heads to Khartoum with Jan 1 ultimatum that Sudan must accept a UN peacekeeping force. Situation dire and “collapsing,” according to local NGO reports.
-
Saudi Arabia
Fire fight breaks out as gunmen attempt to infiltrate Ruwais prison in Jeddah, leaving two policemen dead. An unknown number of al Qaeda operatives are reported to be held at the location. Riyadh claims that it arrested 136 militants last week that were preparing for attacks.
-
Lebanon
Syrian-backed Fatah Al-Islam implicated in plan to assassinate 36 pro-democracy politicians as the political crisis in Beirut enters its 8th consecutive day of anti-Saniora demonstrations. Hezbollah leader Nasrallah vows to bring the PM’s government down amidst rising Sunni-Shi’a sectarian tension.
-
Philippines
Planning for next week’s annual ASEAN Summit in Cebu rocked with terror warnings. British FO issues urgent travel warning for Cebu, Mindanao and Sulu, warning that intelligence suggests terror attacks are “in the final stages.” The U.S., Australia and Japan followed with warnings. Manila deploying 5,500 personnel including marines, police commandos and specialised units to Cebu. The Summit begins Monday.
-
Jordan
Jordan: 4 Sentenced to Death for Attack on US Ship
-
Sri Lanka alleges three deaths in LTTE firing at school
-
Former head of British army says there is a resource shortfall in Iraq and Afghanistan
-
Palestinian Territories
Palestinian president Abbas weighs options for confronting Hamas
-
Palestinian Territories
UN seeks $454 million in emergency funds for Palestinians
-
Philippines
Britain, Australia warn of possible attacks during ASEAN summit
-
Iraq
The Iraq Study Group report has been met with praise and criticism. Bush has rejected key plans in the ISG report. In Iraq, 23 people were killed today, and 35 bodies were found by Iraqi police near and in Baghdad. The Iraqi Army and Coalition forces captured three suspected insurgents in Baqubah.
-
Lebanon
Lebanon feels heat of Sunni-Shiite friction
-
Somalia
The United Nations endorsed an African peacekeeping force in Somalia. The ICU opposes the move, saying it would, “contribute to further instability.” Eritrea denies having troops in Somalia. The ICU has announced that residents of a southern Somalia town who do not pray five times a day will be beheaded.
-
Israel
Olmert rejects link between Israel-Palestinian conflict and Iraq
-
United Kingdom
UK ‘under threat from resurgent al Qaeda™
-
Fallujah Today, and on Route Mobile
Patroling one of the two main arteries through the Fallujah region The city of Fallujah and its surrounding environs has both a symbolic and strategic importance to the security of Iraq. Fallujah is the city where al Qaeda fought the U.S. forces toe-to-toe and lost. Fallujah is a rallying call to al Qaeda. The city also serves as the gateway to Baghdad, the end of the line of al Qaeda’s Syrian ratlines which are used to run foreign fighters, money and weapons into the capital.
-
Iraq
U.S. appears to be closing in on Abu Ayyub al-Masri, successor to Zarqawi as chief of al Qaeda in Iraq, as his second-in-command, Abu Taha, is killed. News broken by Iraqi National Security Advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie early today. Taha can now be added to the list of top al Qaeda leaders killed or captured in Iraq in recent weeks.
-
Indonesia gives Bali bombers last chance for appeal
-
Indonesia
Polygamy debate rekindled after Indonesia’s version of an Islamic Dr. Phil, hokey TV host Aa Gym, takes on a second wife. Meanwhile Golkar party’s religious affairs committee chief, Yahya Zaini, caught on cellphone video in a romp with a famous singer.
-
Kabila inaugurated as DRC president
-
Iraq
The Iraq Survey Group report released today, urging combat troops out of Iraq by 2008, and bilateral negotiations with Iran and Syria. Bush pledges to act.
-
Philippine Forces Score Victory Against RSM
The Philippines has scored a major victory in the second front of the long war with the capture of Feliciano de los Reyes, aka Ustadz Abubakar, a key member of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) in Lamitan on Basilan island. De los Reyes is believed to be singing to the authorities and has revealed in detail, according to local press reports, RSM’s ties with al Qaeda’s Philippines syndicate Abu Sayyaf.
-
ASEAN Summit to Tackle Tough Issues, From Terrorism to North Korea
-
Political parties clash in Bangladesh; one killed
-
Yemen Frees Two Australian al Qaeda Suspects
-
Turkey
Ankara now believes that when it arrested Tunisian Malek Charahili in September, suspected of smuggling al Qaeda terrorists into Iraq, they also nabbed the head of al Qaeda’s Turkey operations. Charahili succeeded Luai Sakka, a Syrian who was in the final phase of planned suicide attacks on Israeli cruise ships in port in Turkey and subsequently arrested.
-
Islamist-Organized Rally Against Ethiopia and US Draft Resolution Occurs in Mogadishu
-
Egypt hunting 4 Palestinians in Sinai over plan to target Israelis
-
Negroponte: US should take Osama alive
