In the News: Dec-31

White House says cease-fire depends on Hamas - 31 Dec 2008 at 3:01pm - CRAWFORD, Texas -- President George W. Bush believes the first steps in any cease-fire in the ongoing violence in the Mideast will require the Islamic militant group Hamas to agree to stop firing rockets into Israel now and in the future, the White House said Wednesday. From his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Bush called Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for the first time since the conflict escalated between Israel and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Well, since Hamas demands open borders as a condition of cease-fire, and Israel demands closed borders as its condition, it seems it kind of depends on both.

Canadian military unit probes possible 'inappropriate conduct' in Afghanistan - 31 Dec 2008 at 2:09pm - The investigative arm of the Canadian Forces is probing possible "inappropriate conduct" stemming from the death of a "presumed insurgent" in Afghanistan's Helmand province, military officials said Wednesday.

Troop deaths in wars at lowest - 31 Dec 2008 at 10:18am - As 2008 ends, U.S. troop deaths for the year in Iraq and Afghanistan are the lowest combined total since the Iraq war began in 2003. Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, warned against complacency as the Americans hand off security to Iraqi forces in the new year and more U.S. forces head to Afghanistan.

India signs new anti-terror laws in wake of Mumbai attack - 31 Dec 2008 at 9:42am - In response to the deadly Mumbai attacks, India's president has signed into law a bill that doubles the number of days police can detain terror suspects and extends police powers to conduct searches.

Thought for the day:
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. -Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)