INDONESIA - SECURITY: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has confirmed that a
leading Southeast Asian militant, wanted for the 2002 Bali bombings,
was killed during a raid on the main island of Java Tuesday.
Mr. Yudhoyono made the announcement Wednesday in a speech before Australian lawmakers in the capital Canberra.
Dulmatin, a high-ranking member of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist
group, is believed to have planned the 2002 bombings on the Indonesian
resort island of Bali that killed 202 people, many of them Australian
tourists.
BURMA ELECTION: Burma's opposition National League for Democracy party may be forced to
expel its detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, due to new election laws
issued by the country's ruling military junta.
The new Political Parties Registration Act, published Tuesday in
state-sanctioned newspapers, says anyone convicted of a crime cannot be
a member of a political party. Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted last
August of violating the terms of her house arrest when she gave shelter
to an American man who swam to her home uninvited.
TIBET: The Dalai Lama says China's actions in Tibet are intended to "deliberately annihilate Buddhism."
The spiritual leader leveled the accusations Wednesday in a speech in
Dharmsala, India, the seat of his government in exile, marking the 51st
anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.
The Dalai Lama says Beijing is conducting "various political campaigns"
in Tibet, and subjecting Buddhist monks and nuns in prison-like
conditions.
The exiled spiritual leader also expressed frustration with China over
his attempts to negotiate greater autonomy for Tibet.
PAKISTAN: Pakistani police say militants have attacked the office of a U.S.-based Christian aid group in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, killing five people. Police say the assailants threw grenades and opened fire at a World Vision office in Mansehra district Wednesday. World Vision identified those killed as Pakistani employees of the agency. Police say two women were among the dead. Officials say police exchanged fire with the attackers, who later fled the scene. A World Vision employee told the French news agency he was inside the building when he saw 15 militants storm into it and shoot his colleagues.
AFGHANISTAN - IRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in Afghanistan for talks with Afghan leaders on developing relations between the two neighbors. Mr. Ahmadinejad arrived in Kabul Wednesday, just as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was ending a tour of Afghanistan. The Iranian president later met with his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai. Details of their talks were not immediately available. Gates had expressed concern about the Iranian leader's visit while touring an Afghan army training center outside the Afghan capital.
ISRAEL - PALESTINIANS: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has joined U.S. Vice President Joe
Biden in condemning an Israeli plan to build new housing in disputed
East Jerusalem.
The plan approved Tuesday by Israel's interior ministry calls for 1,600
new apartments in Ramat Shlomo, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community
built on land the Palestinians want for a future capital.
Mr. Ban's office issued a statement reiterating that settlements are
"illegal under international law" as well as "contrary to Israel's
obligations under the 2003" road map peace plan.
US - JIHAD: U.S. officials have indicted an American woman suspected of recruiting
Muslims on the Internet to carry out "violent jihad," or holy war, in
South Asia and Europe.
The Justice Department announced Tuesday the indictment of Colleen
LaRose, also known as "Jihad Jane," in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
She is charged with conspiring to give material support to terrorists,
conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, and other offenses.
LaRose, who is 46 years old, is believed to have converted to Islam. She has been in federal custody since October.
US - HAITI: U.S. President Barack Obama and Haitian President Rene Preval are
scheduled to meet at the White House Wednesday, to discuss U.S. and
international support for earthquake recovery and reconstruction in
Haiti.
Mr. Preval may also meet with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill after his
discussions with Mr. Obama, as key members of Congress urge an
expansion of U.S. trade benefits to help Haiti rebuild its clothing
sector.
After meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on Tuesday,
Mr. Preval said it would be a major historical mistake to rebuild
Haiti's capital to the way it was before January's earthquake.
Listen to our World News for details.
