Former Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke (right) will come to Collegiate School February 28 to speak as our Adams Lecturer. Mini-biography follows; leave questions that you want to be addressed as responses to this message.

Kosovo declared its independence, which the US and other EU states respect, while Russia and Serbia do not.

Full Articles at: New York Times -- Kosovo Recognized by Some; Financial Times -- EU Struggles for Unity over Kosovo

Pakistanis earlier voted opverwhelmingly to overthrow current President Pervez Musharraf. Nearly all of the leading figures of Musharraf's party have been voted out of office.

Full Article at: New York Times -- Pakistanis Deal Severe Defeat to Mussharaf

 One of Kenya's more conciliatory politicians has just  been killed in what looks like a deliberate hit.  Unfortunately, this has great potential to worsen the already bad situation there, and certainly has sabotaged efforts at reconciliation.

Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/world/africa/30kenya.html?hp

Well, the day that many feared would yield a market as bad as the markets after Sept. 11 instead yielded a different enviornment. Perhaps most crucial was the Fed's decision to cut interest rates by a huge .75%, a move that inspired many investors to keep their money in the markets.

Full Article at: Wall Street Journal -- Stocks Stage Comback But Fail to Post Gains

Economies all over the world took a MAJOR hit, and it's going to be interesting to see how the New York Stock Exchange opens tomorrow to this environment.

Full Artcle at: New York Times -- Stocks Plunge Worldwide on Fears of US Recession

Photo Credit: http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=172087436&size=s

Washington is curently debating how to apporach a much-needed economic stimulus.

Full article at: New York Times -- Tax Rebate or Payment? A Policy Debate

Photo Credit: http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1920384330&size=s

Hillary Clinton fairly decisively won over Democratic opponent Barack Obama in the Nevada Caucus (51% over Obama's 45%), despite the latter's endorsement from the Culinary Union. John McCain narrowly won in highly contested South Carolina over Mike Huckabee; this race was seen as an essential win for both candidates.

Full Article at: Reuters -- McCain and Clinton Look to Next Battle

Peshawar is a city right in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan where the major militancy is going on, so as cities go it's not terribly surprising.  However, it says something that the extremists are beginning to have a major impact in a very big city.

Kenyans were outraged at the recent declaration that incumbent President Mwai Kibaki won the election, despite of widespread evidence of rigging. More than 100 people were killed in riots, and "some streets are beginning to look like war zones."

Full Article at: New York Times -- Turmoil Grows in Kenya, With More than 100 Dead

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for current Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's immediate resignation. Sharrif has also said that his party will participate in the parliamentary elections if they continue as scheduled on January 8 -- overturning his previous decision to boycott the elections.

Full Article at: New York Times -- Elections Face Possible Delays as Pakistani Tensions Grow

Obama has charged Edwards as a "hypocrite because, while Mr. Edwards has said he favors banning unregulated campaign money from outside groups, his campaign is getting millions of dollars...from outside contributors -- namely unions."

Full Article at: New York Times -- Whose interests Are Special? 

The Pakistani people are waiting for electoral officials to decide on the date of parliamentary elections, currently scheduled for January 8. Many hope that these elections might shift power away from military officials (such as current Prime Minister Pervez Musharraf) to civilian rule. 

Full article at: Reuters -- Pakistan Awaits Election Decision

In a newly released tape, Osama Bin Laden urged Sunni Iraqis against fighting Al Qaeda. Bin Laden directly targeted Israel, claiming, "We intend to liberate Palestine, the whole of Palestine."

Full Article at: CNN -- Purported bin Laden Message Has Warnings for Iraq, Israel

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has been attacking his various opponents, calling Mitt Romney's criticisms against his and John McCain's records "dishonest." 

Full Article at: Washington Post -- Huckabee Fights Back Against Romney

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards is in a three-way tie with Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. He has fought vigorously to win the caucuses in Iowa, and he might win this Jan. 3. 

Full Article at: Washington Post -- Edwards Fights to the Finish 

Mwai Kibaki yesterday won the Presidential elections in Kenya, in spite of the promised demonstrations and allegations of vote-rigging. 

Full Article at: Washington Post -- Amid Protests, Kibaki Declared President of Kenya (Side note: registration to the Washington Post Online is free.) 

Benazir Bhutto, who was recently assassinated, will be succeeded by her husband and 19-year-old son as heads of the Pakistan People's Party.

Full Article at: New York Times -- Bhutto's Son and Husband to Lead Party 

As the title says.  AFX article: http://www.forbes.com/topstories/home/feeds/afx/2007/12/27/afx4477634.html

 Sorry for the lack of a picture; my internet connection is being stupid.

Putin has endorsed a fellow named Medvedev whom nobody's ever heard of for President in the next elections.  Apparently Medvedev is extremely weak on his own, and owes his position completely to Putin, which of course seems to make it clear that Putin will still be steering the government for some time to come.

On an unrelated note, Gautam, you've been really busy over the last week and a half...

Edward Kennedy, Democratic Senator of Massachusetts, represented some Democrats when he declared, "we haven't seen anything likes this [cover up] since the 18 and half-minute gap on the tapes of Richard Nixon." Full article at: New York Times -- Democrats Call for Inquiry in Destruction

Bush is having to deal with an increasing amount of political turmoil, after the National Intelligence Estimate declared that Iran stopped its nuclear arms program in 2003.

Full article at: Financial Times --  Bush Under Attack over Iran

The CIA, the New York Times recently reported, destroyed tapes depicting the CIA interrogations of "terror suspects" in 2005, amidst the growing political scrutiny of the government's programs and actions. 

This is fairly explosive news, and the full article can be found at: New York Times -- C.I.A. Destroyed Tapes of Interrogations