• JULY 4, 2009
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Marines take the fight to the Taliban

Top story: Around 4,000 U.S. marines pushed into the Taliban-controlled Helmand River valley in eastern Afghanistan in the biggest offensive since President Barack Obama ordered 21,000 additional troops to the country. The mission is supported by British troops stationed in Helmand, and the Pakistani military, which has set up along the border to block Taliban fighters from escaping into Pakistan. 

A Marine commander described the mission as different from previous offensives in terms of the "massive size of the force introduced, the speed at which it will insert, and the fact that where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces.”

Reported casualties on both sides are minor so far, but a senior Taliban commander told Reuters that "Thousands of Taliban mujahideen are ready to fight against U.S. troops in the operation in Helmand province."

It has also been revealed that a U.S. soldier was taken prisoner by the Taliban in Eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday. 

Must read: Declassified records from Saddam Hussein's interrogation by the FBI indicate that the former Iraqi leader's WMD bluff was aimed primarily at Iran. 



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Asia

  • North Korea test-fired two short range missiles. 
  • Islamist rebels in Southern Philippines say they have killed more than 500 government troops in the last 10 months.
  • In a landmark ruling, an Indian court overturned the country's ban on gay sex.

Middle East

  • Iranian opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mohammad Khatami issued statements condemning the government's post-election crackdown and calling the Islamic regime illegitimate. 
  • Several Iraqi insurgent groups issued statements calling on Iraqis to continue the fight against U.S. troops after this week's withdrawal from major cities. 
  • Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing war crimes during its recent war in Gaza. 

Americas

  • Honduras's interim government is refusing to cave to international pressure to reinstate ousted president Manuel Zelaya, and has accused the former president of allowing drugs to be shipped through the country. 
  • The U.S. ambassador to Venezuela has returned to Caracas, nine months after he was expelled. 
  • Argentina has sworn in a new health minister as it continues to battle a swine flu outbreak. 

Europe

  • The European Union is considering withdrawing its diplomats from Tehran. 
  • Russian president Dmitry Medvedev vlogged a message to the United States ahead of his meeting with President Obama next week, calling for better relations. 
  • Albania's ruling Democratic Party is claiming victory in last weekend's election, but the opposition is disputing the result. 

Africa

  • At the African Union summit in Tripoli, Union President Muammar al-Qaddafi is pushing for more continent-wide integration while richer nations like Nigeria and South Africa are expressing concerns over losing sovereignty. 
  • Nine people convicted of genocide in Rwanda have been transferred to Benin to serve out their sentences. 
  • Internationally mediated talks to resolve Madagascar's political crisis will resume this month. 

Getty Images

Top Stories

THE LATEST GLOBAL HEADLINES, CHOSEN BY FP

  • 1. Obama Disses Putin: Former Russian President Is So “Old Cold War” and “Outdated”

  • 2. Work Cut Out: U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Face Resistance, Anger from Locals

  • 3. Chavez Loves a Good Crisis: Honduras Sets the Publicity Stage

  • 4. It’s OK to Be Gay: Dehli Court Rules Homosexual Acts No Longer Criminal

  • Photos via Getty Images


 

BBC World News

  • Welcome again

    Statue of Liberty's crown reopens to visitors

    July 4, 2009 4:56 EST
  • Chechen police die in Ingushetia

    Nine Chechen police are killed in Russia's volatile republic of Ingushetia in one of the deadliest attacks in recent...

    July 4, 2009 3:39 EST
  • Nose job

    Kiev questions future of damaged Lenin statue

    July 4, 2009 3:34 EST
  • Another surprise

    Profile of Alaska's maverick governor Sarah Palin

    July 4, 2009 3:15 EST
 

The Wires

  • Bangladesh floods maroon thousands, landslides kill 6

    DHAKA (Reuters) - Torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods killing six people and stranding half a...

    July 4, 2009 5:16 EST
  • Suicide bomber attacks foreign base in Afghan east

    KABUL (Reuters) - One U.S. soldier and an Afghan were killed when a suicide bomber tried to attack a base in southeast...

    July 4, 2009 5:04 EST
  • Suicide bomber attacks foreign base in Afghan east

    KABUL (Reuters) - One U.S. soldier and an Afghan were killed when a suicide bomber tried to attack a base in southeast...

    July 4, 2009 5:04 EST
  • Heavy rain in southern China forces 150,000 to flee

    BEIJING (Reuters) - Torrential rain battering southern China has forced more than 150,000 people from their homes,...

    July 4, 2009 4:45 EST
 

Washington Post World

  • North Korea Launches 5 Missiles Off Its East Coast

    July 4, 2009 3:10 EST
  • N. Korea Fires Two more Missiles

    July 4, 2009 12:00 EST
  • Honduras Rejects Appeal to Restore Ousted President

    July 4, 2009 12:00 EST
  • U.S. Could End Engagement in Iraq if Violence Erupts, Biden Warns

    July 4, 2009 12:00 EST
  • France Hopes to Jump-Start Its Arms Sales With New Iraqi Government

    July 4, 2009 12:00 EST
  • Latest U.S. Strike in Pakistan May Signal More Coordination Between Nations

    July 4, 2009 12:00 EST
 

Financial Times

  • North Korea test-fires missiles

    July 3, 2009 10:05 EST
  • Palin to resign as Alaska governor

    July 3, 2009 3:57 EST
  • Burmese elite enjoy times of plenty

    July 3, 2009 2:45 EST
  • Hondurans fear crisis will turn 'ugly'

    July 3, 2009 2:31 EST
  • Heat rises as Russia awaits Obama

    July 3, 2009 1:58 EST
  • Merkel coalition leaves record legacy

    July 3, 2009 1:34 EST
  • Borissov set to win Bulgaria poll

    July 3, 2009 12:21 EST
  • UK ready to co-fund GM Europe spin-off

    July 3, 2009 9:16 EST
  • BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images
  • JOE RAEDLE/Getty Images
  • FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
  • PETER MACDIARMID/Getty Images

« previous | next »

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