POLAND MISSILES: The United States and Poland have sealed an agreement today (Wednesday) to place elements of a U.S. missile shield in Poland.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Polish Foreign Minister
Radek Sikorski signed the document in Warsaw, a day after Poland's
cabinet formally approved it. Under the deal, 10 U.S. interceptor
missiles will be placed within Polish borders.
U.S. officials say the missile defense shield -- which also includes
radar based in the Czech Republic -- is to protect Europe from a
possible attack by rogue states. Russian officials have said they believe the system is aimed at Russia.
GEORGIA UN:Russia has rejected a new United Nations Security Council draft
resolution demanding an immediate troop withdrawal from Georgia in
compliance with a cease-fire.
The French draft demands Russian troops pull back to positions they
held before fighting broke out in Georgia on August seventh. It also
demands Georgian forces return to their bases.
Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said during Tuesday's
emergency session that he cannot back a resolution that does not
include all six points of the cease-fire.
ALGERIA BOMBINGS: Algerian state radio says twin car bombings have killed at least 11
people and wounded at least 31 in the eastern town of Bouira.
The report said today's (Wednesday's) explosions happened
near a passenger bus at a hotel, and at the city's military
headquarters, around 130 kilometers east of Algiers. No one immediately
claimed responsibility for the blasts, which came a day after a suicide
car bombing killed 43 people in the northern town of Issers.
It was one of the deadliest attacks in recent years in Algeria, and was
widely condemned by the international community including the United
States.
AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan's leader says violence has risen in the country because the
government and its allies have failed to pay enough attention to
terrorists and their resources.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said today (Wednesday) there has not been enough of a focus on terrorist facilities, sanctuaries or financial networks.
He spoke with reporters after meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The French leader traveled to Kabul for a brief visit today after 10 paratroopers died battling Taliban insurgents Monday.
OLYMPIC WRAP: A total of 11 gold medals will be awarded today (Wednesday) at the Beijing Olympics, with track and field and wrestling highlighting the action. In the first medal event of the day, Russia's Larisa Ilchenko won the gold in the women's 10-kilometer marathon swim at Shunyi-Rowing Canoe Park. Ilchenko stayed behind two British swimmers for most of the race before passing them and sprinting to a first-place finish in a time of one hour, 59 minutes and 27 and seven-tenths seconds. The 16th-place finisher, South Africa's Natalie du Toit, had her left leg amputated after a motorcycle accident in 2001. She removed her prosthetic leg before the race.
