February 10, 2005

February 10, 2005

* Balance of trade: The U.S. Department of Commerce states imports exceeded exports by $670 billion for 2004, beating the previous record by nearly 25%. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4254369.stm (BBC)]
* September 11, 2001 attacks: A previously unreleased portion of the 9/11 Commission's report details that the Federal Aviation Administration received 52 intelligence reports on potential terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda before September 11, 2001. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4255755.stm (BBC)] [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/10/politics/10terror.html (NY Times)]
* Wal-Mart closes a store in Jonquière, Quebec in response to what a company spokesman says are unreasonable demands from union negotiators. The union was close to winning the first ever labor contract from the world's largest retailer. [http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/business/index.ssf?/base/business-34/1108041996133770.xml&storylist=mibusiness (MLive/AP)]
* Conflict in Iraq:
** Iraqi officials announce they must recount around 300 ballot boxes due to various discrepancies, delaying the final results.
** In Salman Pak south of Baghdad, guerrillas attack a police station killing at least eight Iraqi policemen and wounding more than 60.
** Three people are killed when a car bomb is detonated in Baghdad.
** Also in the capital, the bodies of 20 truck drivers are found and guerrillas ambush a convoy of Kurdish party officials, killing one and wounding four.
** In Basra, guerrillas kill an Iraqi journalist working for the U.S.-funded al-Hurra TV station and his 3-year-old son as they leave their home.
** A roadside bomb in Samarra leaves four policemen dead. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4253005.stm (BBC)] [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=486736 (ABC)]
* Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Israel has postponed security talks with Palestinians following a mortar attack by Hamas on the Gush Katif Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. Hamas claim the attack was in retaliation for an attack by Jewish settlers which left one man dead. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas responds by firing the top security commanders in the Gaza Strip. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4254725.stm (BBC)]
* Clarence House announces that Charles, Prince of Wales is to marry Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony on 8 April. When Charles becomes a king, it is intended that she be styled as a princess consort, rather than a queen consort. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/4252795.stm (BBC)]
* North Korea and weapons of mass destruction: North Korea announces that it has developed nuclear weapons for its self-defense, and suspends participation in multi-nation talks to discuss its arms program. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7588568 (Reuters)]
* Saudi Arabia starts its first nationwide municipal elections. Voting is limited to men in Riyadh and voters elect only half of the municipal councils; the other half is appointed by the monarchy. Other regions are scheduled to hold elections next month. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7588403 (Reuters)] [http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=58768&d=10&m=2&y=2005&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom (Arab News)] [http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2005/February/middleeast_February294.xml&section=middleeast (Khaleej Times)] [http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050207-094045-9469r (World Peace Herald)]
* In a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States, west African leaders refuse to recognise Faure Gnassingbé as the new president of Togo and threaten to impose sanctions if the country does not begin to plan presidential elections. Gnassingbé has promised elections as soon as possible. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7584671 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4251785.stm (BBC)] [http://www.republicoftogo.com/fr/news/news.asp?newsID=9206 (Republic of Togo)]
* An Indian baby who is believed to be the smallest baby in history to survive complications related to being of a relatively small size during birth, goes home six months after she was born in a hospital in Chicago. She was born weighing 8.6 ounces (244 grams). [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050210/asp/nation/story_4359725.asp (Calcutta Telegraph)] [http://www.kntimes.com/025/insider025-more-smallest+baby+home-knc-100-kni-3377.html (Khalsa News)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7583785&type=worldNews (Reuters)]
* In Peru, 5 die and 19 are injured when two gangs clash in the maximum security Lurigancho prison outside Lima. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=asAUJOi.E6G8&refer=latin_america (Bloomberg)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4251325.stm (BBC)]
* According to Zimbabwean police, female athlete Samukeliso Sithole is actually male. [http://allafrica.com/stories/200502090647.html (AllAfrica)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4249949.stm (BBC)]