JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Israel holds off on action in Gaza Strip
Israel decided to hold off on a major military offensive in the Gaza Strip to give new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas more time to act against militants, a senior government official said Monday, after a top PLO body urged armed groups to halt attacks on Israel.

Insurgents kill 16 in attacks in Iraq
Gunmen killed eight Iraqi National Guard soldiers at a checkpoint in central Iraq on Monday, and eight people died in a suicide car bombing at a police station north of Baghdad, as insurgents struck at security forces on the day exiles began to register for Iraq's national elections.

Poll: Americans hopeful on 2nd Bush term
A majority of Americans say they feel hopeful about President Bush's second term and have a generally positive view of him personally, but they also express continued doubts about Iraq.

Official: Sri Lanka in reconstruction mode
U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said Monday that Sri Lanka is moving swiftly from relief to reconstruction three weeks after the devastating tsunami and help from U.S. military engineers won't be needed much longer.

Ex-Chinese Communist leader Zhao dies
Zhao Ziyang, who was ousted as China's Communist Party leader after sympathizing with the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests and became a symbol of the era's shattered hopes, died Monday after 15 years under house arrest. He was 85.


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The U.S. News: Iraq News
Iraqi Expatriates Eager to Vote in Election
By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) - For most Americans, registering to vote can be a tedious, humdrum process. For most Iraqis in this country, it's a brand new world. Tho... [in The Guardian] The US News: Iraq News

Two Iraqi Officials Killed in Kut Region
Two Iraqi government auditors were shot to death after armed gunmen stopped their car in an area southeast of Baghdad that has seen a recent flare-up in violence.The two Iraqis, who worked in the prov... [in Gadsden Times] The US News: Iraq News

Italy to Extend Iraq, Afghan Missions Through End of June .....
ROME: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government today extended its foreign missions, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan, through the end of June. [in Pak Tribune] The US News: Iraq News

Iraqi Confesses to Killing German Designer
A 25-year-old Iraqi man has confessed to strangling German fashion designer Rudolph Moshammer, allegedly after the designer refused to pay for sex, police said Sunday. [in Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

Witnesses May Say Saddam Didn't Gas Kurds
web sites )'s legal team claimed Sunday it has witnesses willing to testify that the fallen dictator's regime was not responsible for gassing thousands of Kurds in the northern Iraqi town of Halabja i... [in Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

Iraqi Translators Face Tough Dilemma
"She was young," her elderly mother said recently, her voice trembling. Remembering the way that her 24-year-old daughter's blood stained the sheet and pillow and even the walls, the mother, Sabihah A... [in Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

Iraqi Exiles in Australia Begin Registering to Vote in Their Homeland's Election
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Exiled Iraqis began registering to vote Monday in their homeland's first independent election in nearly 50 years, with dozens lining up at polling stations in Australia - the ... [in Tampa Bay Online] The US News: Iraq News

Iraq to Resume Oil Exports in 10 Days
Almost a month after saboteurs shut down a northern Iraqi oil pipeline, the government said Sunday it should resume pumping crude from northern fields to an export terminal in southeastern Turkey by m... [in Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

U.S. Not Rushing to Leave Iraq
AP Photo MAC104 By NEDRA PICKLER Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush says the U.S. military will pull out of Iraq ``as quickly as possible,'' but he is not endorsing Secretary ... [in The Guardian] The US News: Iraq News


Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Forces told to prevent Israel attacks
The Palestinian Cabinet on Monday asked the security forces to prevent attacks against Israel and ordered an investigation into a shooting at a Gaza crossing that killed six Israeli civilians last week, ministers said. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Exiled Iraqis start registering to vote
Exiled Iraqis began registering to vote Monday in their homeland's first independent election in nearly 50 years, with dozens arriving at polling stations from Australia to Britain - and many expressing confusion at the process. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq


Ananova: War In Iraq
Troops face abuse court martial
Shocking images of British soldiers allegedly abusing Iraqi prisoners are to be revealed in a courtroom in Germany. Ananova: War In Iraq


Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Current Quotations "What we fear now most is terrorists wearing police uniforms. The uniforms and body armor used by the police are available on the market for anyone to buy." — Shiite politician Salama Khafaji, who survived an ambush in central Baghdad by gunmen wearing police uniforms. She's canceled campaigning in southern Iraq after her staff discovered terrorist checkpoints on major routes. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Violence in Iraq as exiles register...Israel hold off...King Day holidayKatu.com: Iraq & Terror

16 Iraqis killed in pre-election attacks
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Gunmen killed eight Iraqi National Guard soldiers at a checkpoint in central Iraq on Monday, and eight people died in a suicide car bombing at a police station north of Baghdad, as insurgents struck at Iraqi security forces ahead of national elections. Fresno Bee: Iraq


From Fox News:
Violence Flares in Iraq
Terrorists carry out strikes that kill 16 in effort to derail impending elections

Indonesia Still in Tsunami Disarray; U.S. Lauds Sri Lanka
Ukraine Court Mulls Appeal
Female Shiite Candidate Survives Ambush
Bush: No Troops Out of Iraq Yet
U.S. Launches New Mosul Offensive
Iraqi Red Cross Driver Killed
Shiites Won't Seek Islamic State


From the Department of Defense:
More Insurgents Captured, Citizens Help
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2005 — With Iraq's Jan. 30 national assembly election drawing closer, coalition and Iraqi forces continue rounding up insurgents. In northern Iraq early today, three operations resulted in the detention of 36 suspected insurgents. Story

IN IRAQ
Reconstruction in Iraq Moves Forward
Supply Operation Delivers Goodwill

IN AFGHANISTAN
Marine Combat Engineers Fortify U.S. Camp
'Wolfhounds' Ensure Stability, Security

WHY I SERVE
Embassy Employee Risks All for a New Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 16, 2005 — A hero doesn't necessarily have to perform brave acts on a battlefield. Sometimes, the mere act of showing up for work is heroic. At his job, Ali serves as a bridge between Iraq and America. Story

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
Attack Again From Mosul Mosque
Iraq Daily Update
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IRAQ ELECTIONS
Fact Sheet: Iraqi Elections

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Daily UpdateMaps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Security Conference Ends
Ridge: U.S.-European Effort Vital
Bush Visits Pentagon for Updates
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
National Guard, Reserve Update