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US military raid in Somalia frees American, Dane
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — U.S. Navy SEALs parachuted into Somalia under cover of darkness early Wednesday and crept up to an outdoor camp where an American woman and Danish man were being held hostage. Soon, nine kidnappers were dead and both hostages were freed.
President Barack Obama authorized the mission by SEAL Team 6 two days earlier, deploying the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden last year. Minutes after the president gave his State of the Union address to Congress he was on the phone with the American's father to tell him his daughter was safe.
The Danish Refugee Council confirmed the two aid workers, American Jessica Buchanan and Poul Hagen Thisted, a Dane, were "on their way to be reunited with their families." Read more . . .
Ahmadinejad says Iran ready for nuclear talks
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI | Associated Press – 9 mins ago
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran is ready to revive talks with the world powers, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday, as toughening sanctions aim at forcing Tehran to sharply scale back its nuclear program. Even so, he insisted that the pressures will not force Iran to give up its demands, including to continue enriching uranium, that led to the collapse of dialogue last year.
The United States and its allies want Iran to halt making nuclear fuel, which they worry could eventually lead to weapons-grade material and the production of nuclear weapons. Read more . . .
News Briefs
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Africa
BOSASSO (IRIN) - In mid-November, Fadumo Abdullahi, 30, fled fighting in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, and is now living in a cramped, makeshift camp for the displaced on the outskirts of Bosasso, the commercial capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia. Read more . . .
Americas: Central
Today, Wednesday December 7th, 2011, was observed as International Civil Aviation Day. The event was three fold; an official ceremony at the ITVET building on Freetown Road in Belize City, a wreath laying ceremony/placement of new names of fallen pilots at the municipal airport in Belize City and an open day at the ITVET building.Read more . . .
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Americas: North
The mother and uncle of a young woman killed in India more than a decade ago are expected to make their first court appearance in Vancouver on Monday morning.
Jassi Sidhu, 25, of Maple Ridge was abducted, tortured and killed in Punjab 12 years ago, shortly after she married Mithu Sidhua, a poor rickshaw driver her family didn't approve of. Read more . . .
Asia
TAIPEI - Recurring reports that countries other than the United States are helping Taiwan build diesel-electric submarines domestically go back a decade. According to various articles, it's either the Western Europeans, Russians or Indians who are clandestinely concocting a submarine plan with the Taiwanese. Read more . . .
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Caribbean
The popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa have members of the Cuban blogosphere wondering: could Cuba become “the next Egypt”? Although reports and footage from Cairo inspired many posts devoted to this question, few bloggers were optimistic that a similar movement could take hold in Cuba today. Read more . . .
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Europe
LISBON, Portugal – Spain and Portugal have for decades lured poor immigrants from their former colonies. Now, in a historic role reversal, these one-time empire builders are seeing legions of frustrated young people head to old dominions in quest of a better life. Read more . . .
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Middle East
AMMAN (Reuters) – Syrian protesters chanted slogans calling for greater freedom at an independence day rally in the southern town of Suweida on Sunday, a witness said, a day after President Bashar al-Assad promised to lift emergency law. Read more . . .
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South America
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay - Uruguay has joined a string of South American nations in recognizing an independent Palestinian state. A Foreign Ministry statement says Uruguay has communicated its decision to the Palestinian Authority. Read more . . .
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