Reuters - The U.N. Security Council voted on Thursday to impose sanctions on anyone contributing to violence and instability in Somalia, in a bid to curb fighting in the chaotic Horn of Africa nation.

Continue reading " U.N. council targets trouble-makers in Somalia (Reuters) "

AP - A defense contractor who once provided personal security for Afghanistan’s president was charged with shooting a handcuffed Afghani civilian after hearing the man had inflicted serious burns on a fellow contractor, prosecutors said.

Continue reading " US charges defense contractor with Afghan killing (AP) "

AP - Laura Bush is in Panama to promote breast cancer research.

Continue reading " Laura Bush in Panama to promote cancer research (AP) "

AP - Jarred by new jobless alarms, Congress raced to approve legislation Thursday to keep unemployment checks flowing through the December holidays and into the new year for a million or more laid-off Americans whose benefits are running out.

Continue reading " Congress extends jobless benefits, stocks sink (AP) "

AFP - The United States is seeking support in the United Nations for a resolution to tighten international measures against Somali pirates, a US diplomat said Thursday.

Continue reading " US seeks tougher UN moves against Somali pirates (AFP) "

AP - The U.N.’s torture investigator said Thursday that European countries should take in those Guantanamo inmates who cannot be sent home when the U.S.-run prison closes.

Continue reading " UN expert: 100 Guantanamo inmates need new homes (AP) "

AFP - The UN Security Council approved Thursday an extra 3,000 peacekeeping troops to help end conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where fresh fighting erupted earlier in the day.

Continue reading " UN raises DR Congo troop numbers to 20,000 (AFP) "

Reuters - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama sent his top aide to Capitol Hill Thursday to tell leaders of the rival Republican party that he needed their help to confront the challenges facing the country.

Continue reading " Obama chief of staff pick meets with Republicans (Reuters) "

CQPolitics.com - For the second year in a row, the House GOP caucus rejected an effort to limit its members’ requests for special projects, or earmarks, in this case a short-term moratorium.

Continue reading " House GOP Backs Away from Earmark Moratorium (CQPolitics.com) "

AP - Democratic leaders in Congress sidetracked legislation to bail out the auto industry Thursday and demanded the Big Three develop a plan assuring the money would make them economically viable. Until they show us the plan, we cannot show them the money, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at a hastily called news conference in [...]

Continue reading " Dems delay auto bailout vote, seek plan from Big 3 (AP) "