US - KENNEDY SUCCESSOR: In a stunning upset, Republican Scott Brown has won a special election in (the northeastern state of)
Massachusetts to fill the U.S. Senate seat held for nearly a
half-century by the late Democratic Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy.
Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley, the state's attorney general, in Tuesday's election by a margin of 52 to 47 percent.
Speaking to a crowd of jubilant supporters, Brown said the independent
voice of Massachusetts has spoken. He acknowledged the late Senator
Kennedy and pledged to be a worthy successor.
HAITI - EARTHQUAKE: A strong earthquake has once again struck Haiti, shaking buildings and
causing panic, eight days after a 7.0 magnitude quake left much of the
nation in ruins.
The U.S. Geological survey said latest quake had a magnitude of 6.1 and
was centered 59 kilometers from the devastated capital Port-au-Prince.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from Wednesday's
quake, which comes as an international aid effort is underway to help
those affected by last week's powerful earthquake.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has announced the U.S. is sending
more ships to Haiti to help with earthquake recovery, including one
vessel designed to clear debris that is blocking the main port in the
capital.
KOREAS - TENSIONS: The head of South Korea's military says his country should launch a
pre-emptive strike against North Korea if there is a clear indication
the regime is preparing to a launch a nuclear attack.
Defense Minster Kim Tae-young made the remarks Wednesday at a seminar
in Seoul, days after Pyongyang threatened to cut off all dialogue with
its democratic rival.
The regime was angered over an alleged contingency plan crafted by Seoul if the communist government falls.
Kim made similar remarks in 2008 when he served as chairman of South
Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
MALAYSIA - RELIGION: Authorities in Malaysia have arrested eight people in connection with
the firebombing of a Christian church earlier this month, one of a
series of attacks sparked by a controversial court decision over use of
the word "Allah."
The eight suspects are being held for the attack that destroyed the
entire ground floor of the Metro Tabernacle Church in suburban Kuala
Lumpur.
Police say all eight suspects were Malays in their early-to-late 20s.
They were arrested when one of them sought treatment for burn injuries.
VIETNAM - DISSIDENTS: Four Vietnamese democracy activists are on trial Wednesday for
promoting a multi-party state, an act which amounts to treason in the
communist-run country.
The four are charged under Vietnam's severe Article 79 law with taking
part in "activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration."
The quartet are accused of collaborating with exiled Vietnamese
pro-democracy groups.
Three of the four face the death penalty if convicted, including Le
Cong Dinh, a human rights lawyer who studied in the United States at
Tulane University (in the southern city/state of New Orleans,
Louisiana).
US - INDIA: U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says terrorist groups working
together in South Asia benefit from each other's success and pose a
security threat to the entire region.
Speaking Wednesday in India following a meeting with the country's minister of defense (,A.K. Antony),
Secretary Gates said when one terrorist group in South Asia succeeds in
carrying out an attack, all of the groups gain in capability and
reputation.
The defense secretary said al-Qaida intends to further destabilize the
region and could provoke a new war between India and Pakistan.
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