4 January SWJ Roundup
Afghanistan
U.S. Sees Progress in Eastern Afghanistan – National Journal
U.S. General: Deal with Tribe in Taliban Bastion – Associated Press
Afghan Tribe Promises Peace for Foreign Aid – Wall Street Journal
U.S. Marines Report Peace Deal with Tribe – McClatchy Newspapers
Agreement in Afghanistan Offers Hope – USA Today
Afghanistan Hopes Tribal Uprising will Bring Peace – The Guardian
U.S.-built Infrastructure is Deteriorating – Washington Post
NATO: No Pause in Afghan Winter Fighting – Voice of America
Violence in Afghanistan ‘Had to Get Worse Before it Gets Better’ – Daily Telegraph
Judges Set to Rule on Afghan Election Complaints – New York Times
Fleeing Violent Husbands Lands Afghan Women in Prison – Time
Karzai Spokesman to Resign – Washington Post
Afghan Police: 1 Killed, 3 Hurt in Afghan Bombing – Associated Press
The Way Out of Afghanistan – The New York Review of Books opinion
Pakistan
Pakistan’s Premier Fights to Save Government – New York Times
Government in Crisis after Coalition Loss – Washington Post
Pakistan PM Gilani in Crisis Talks with Opposition – BBC News
Troubled Pakistan Faces Ruling Coalition Collapse – Associated Press
Main Pakistan Opposition Says Will Not Move Against PM – Reuters
U.S. Official: Pakistan Government Crisis Internal Issue – Reuters
Pakistani President Vows Support For Embattled PM – Reuters
Pakistan: 39 Suspected Insurgents Detained – Associated Press
Iraq
Two Americans Killed in Iraq – New York Times
Iraq And Jordan Agree on Building Oil Pipeline – Reuters
Iran
Iran Invites Some Nations, Not U.S., for Nuclear Tour – New York Times
Iran Invites Nations to Tour Nuke Sites – Associated Press
Iran Invites Ambassadors to Tour Nuclear Sites – Reuters
WikiLeaks: Iran Can Attack Israel With Less Than 12 Minutes Warning – VOA
Iran May Drop Stoning Sentence – New York Times
Report: Iran Jails Nuke Scientist After U.S. Return – Associated Press
Korean Peninsula
Top U.S. Envoy Wants Serious Talks on N. Korea – Associated Press
U.S. Says Hopes For Early Nuclear Talks on North Korea – Reuters
South Korea Stands Firm Against North’s ‘Adventurism’ – BBC News
U.S. Department of Defense
Decision on Europe-based Brigades Expected Soon – Stars and Stripes
White House Picks Special-ops Chief – Associated Press
Army will Evaluate Suspect in WikiLeaks – Washington Times
Defense Dept., Private Industry to Trade Workers for a While – Washington Post
Pentagon Issues Conflict of Interest Rule for Contractors – Washington Post
Former U.S. Official Found Dead in Delaware Landfill – Washington Post
Former U.S. Official’s Body Found in Del. Landfill – Associated Press
Navy Captain Is Investigated Over Videos – New York Times
United States
Obama May Bypass Guantánamo Rules, Aides Say – New York Times
What it Took to Get the Defense Spending Bill Passed – Washington Post
WikiLeaks: U.S. Diplomats Help Boeing Sales – Voice of America
Shield Bill a Clear Danger to Free Speech – New York Times opinion
How Little the U.S. Knows of War – Washington Post opinion
Don’t Deny Detainees their Day in Court – Los Angeles Times opinion
Australia
Flooding in Australia’s Queensland ‘to Last Weeks’ – BBC News
Australia Flood Death Toll Rises; Rains Cause More Havoc – Los Angeles Times
Australia Rushes Aid to Flooded Areas as Toll Rises – New York Times
Australian Floods Submerge Towns – Reuters
Africa
U.S. Offers Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo ‘Dignified Exit’ – BBC News
Diplomacy Again Falls Short in Tense Ivory Coast Standoff – New York Times
Africa Heads Offer Amnesty to Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo – Associated Press
African Leaders Meet Gbagbo, Urge Him to Go – Reuters
Organizers ‘100 Percent’ Ready for South Sudan Poll – Voice of America
Southern Sudan ‘100% Ready’ for Independence Referendum – BBC News
Nearly 4 Million Sudanese to Vote in Referendum – Associated Press
Nearly 4 Million Sudanese to Vote on Independence – Reuters
Sudan President Bashir to Visit South Before Referendum – BBC News
Sudan’s al-Bashir Vows to Accept Referendum Outcome – CNN News
Nigeria’s President Sets Out Anti-Terror Plans – Reuters
Africa Migrants Drown Off Yemen as Boats Sink – BBC News
Americas
Out of Prison and into Mortal Danger in Mexico – Los Angeles Times
Official: Mexico’s Zetas Drug Gang Had Base in Guatemala – Associated Press
Severed Head Hung From Bridge in Tijuana, Mexico – Associated Press
Colombian Soldiers Accused of Killing 3 Civilians – Associated Press
A Year Later, Haiti Struggles Back – New York Times
Asia Pacific
Japan to Propose Closer Military Ties With S. Korea – New York Times
China ‘in Nuclear Power Advance’ – BBC News
Japan And South Korea to Discuss Defence Ties And North Korea – Reuters
Europe
Germany Calls Last Conscripts as Army is Reformed – BBC News
France Tries Eight Men Accused of Funding Militants – BBC News
Arrests in Russia Signal Divisions Over Dissent – New York Times
Russia: Pro-democracy Activists Arrested after ‘Reset’ – Washington Times
Leaked Cables Show U.S.-German Spy Satellite Program – Voice of America
Germany Denies It Plans Secret Spy Project With U.S. – Associated Press
Greece Plans Anti-Migrant Fence At Turkish Border – Reuters
Belarus Releases Detained Presidential Candidate – Reuters
Consequences for Belarus – Washington Post editorial
Middle East
Copts’ Anger Escalates in Wake of Egypt Attacks – Los Angeles Times
Bombing Opens Vein of Christian Anger in Egypt – Associated Press
Alexandria Church Bomb: Egypt Police on High Alert – BBC News
Egypt Sees Qaeda Link to Blast; Europe Warns Copts – Reuters
U.S. Renews Mideast Peace Bid After Holiday Break – Reuters
Israel’s Labor: We’ll Quit if No Progress to Peace – Associated Press
Israel Arrests U.K. Consulate Staff over ‘Stadium Plot’ – BBC News
Israel Arrests 2 U.K. Consulate Workers in Jerusalem – Associated Press
U.S. Military Aid Is Available for Hire in Yemen – Wall Street Journal
South Asia
Sri Lanka: Tamil Tiger Releases Hit by Rehabilitation Problems – BBC News