15 January SWJ Roundup

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Less Snow Coincides with Uptick in Violence – Washington Post

Officials in Afghanistan Begin Investigation Into Possible Fraud – New York Times

Combined Teams Target Insurgent Leaders – AFPS

Roadside Bomb Kills 7 in Southern Afghanistan – Associated Press

Protecting the Eyes That Face Explosions – New York Times

U.S. Marine Kills Afghan Policeman After Dispute – Associated Press

Close But No Afghan SIGAR – Washington Times opinion

Pakistan

Obama, Zardari Discuss Terrorism, Regional Security – Voice of America

Pakistani Official Says Taliban Can Outwait the West – Voice of America

Gunmen Kill Policewoman and Relatives in Pakistan – New York Times

Pakistan Blasphemy Law Reformers’ Death Threats – BBC News

Official: Gunmen Torch 14 NATO Tankers in Pakistan – Associated Press

Gunmen Kill 17 In New Pakistan Violence In Karachi – Reuters

Iraq

Syrian PM Seeks to Improve Ties With Iraq – Associated Press

Iraq’s Oil Expansion Plans Face Major Challenges – Associated Press

Sadr’s Followers Demand Biden Stay Away from Iraq – Reuters

Iraqi Soldiers Wound Three U.S. Soldiers In Mosul – Reuters

Ex-Army Translator Acquitted of Working as Iraq Agent – Associated Press

Iran

Envoys to Tour 2 Key Iranian Nuclear Facilities – Associated Press

Iran’s Nuke Tour without Major Powers, Key Allies – Associated Press

Obama Promised to Side with Iran’s People – Washington Times opinion

Korean Peninsula

Gates Says Talks with North Korea Possible – Voice of America

Gates Reaffirms American Support for South Korea – New York Times

Gates Insists on North-South Korea Bilateral Talks – Washington Times

Gates Consults With South Korea on North’s Provocations – AFPS

South Korea, Japan Continue Hard Line on N. Korea – Associated Press

U.S. Department of Defense

Congressional Commission Studies Women in Combat – AFPS

Reactions Mixed on Women in Combat Arms – Stars and Stripes

All Branches Meet Military Recruiting Goals – Stars and Stripes

Trip Enabled Biden to Spotlight Troops, Official Says – AFPS

Joint Forces Command Works on Closure Plan – AFPS

Army’s ‘Spiritual Fitness’ Test Angers Some Soldiers – NPS

Five Myths About Defense Spending – Washington Post opinion

A Leaner and Meaner Defense – Foreign Affairs opinion

United States

World Leaders, Officials Honor Late U.S. Diplomat Holbrooke – Voice of America

Holbrooke Remembered With Affection and Humor – New York Times

World Leaders Gather for Richard Holbrooke Memorial – BBC News

Obama Memorializes Holbrooke as Diplomatic ‘Leading Light’ – AFPS

Mullen: Holbrooke Understood Wisdom of Seeking Wisdom – AFPS

Clinton: Gates’ China Trip Continues Holbrooke’s Vision – AFPS

Homeland Security Cancels ‘Virtual Fence’ After $1b Is Spent – New York Times

Obama Administration Ends High-tech Border Fence – Associated Press

United Kingdom

Britain’s Labour Party Wins By-election – New York Times

U.K. Opposition Labour Party Holds Seat in Election – Associated Press

Australia

Australian Towns Band Together for Flood Cleanup – New York Times

Australia Flood Clean-Up Starts, Tough Task Ahead – Reuters

Africa

Tunisian President Flees Country Amid Unrest – Voice of America

Tunisia Leader Flees and Prime Minister Claims Power – New York Times

Tunisian President Flees Amid Unrest; PM Takes Reins – Washington Post

Tunisia Protests Force President from Power – Los Angeles Times

Tunisia: President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali Forced Out – BBC News

Tunisia PM Pledges Calm, Coalition Talks as President Flees – Reuters

Tunisia’s Ben Ali: A Cult of Personality Ends – Associated Press

Former Tunisian President In Saudi Arabia – Reuters

Arab Activists Hope Tunisia Uprising Brings Change – Associated Press

Tunisia Riots Offer Warning to Arab Governments – Reuters

Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution – Washington Post opinion

Sudan Secession Referendum Vote ‘Broadly Fair’ – Voice of America

Final Day of Voting in S. Sudan’s Independence Test – Associated Press

U.N. Chief Concerned By Ivorian Attacks on Civilians, Peackeepers – VOA

U.N.: Toll In Ivory Coast Rises to 247 Dead – Reuters

Ivory Coast Strife Draws In West Africa Central Bank – Reuters

Somali PM: More Than 2 Million at Risk of Starvation From Drought – VOA

Somali Pirates Highjack S. Korean Freighter in Indian Ocean – Associated Press

Americas

14 Killed in Army Raid in Mexico’s Veracruz State – Los Angeles Times

Mexico: Families in Juarez Activist Killing Seek U.S. Asylum – Associated Press

Venezuelan Police Detain Drug Suspect Wanted in U.S. – Associated Press

Toledo Leads Among Peruvian Presidential Hopefuls – Associated Press

U.S. Lifts Some Cuba Travel, Money-sending Restrictions – Washington Post

Obama Eases Rules on U.S. Travel to Cuba – BBC News

Haiti Weighs Move After Observers Reject Vote Results – New York Times

1 Dead After Police, Protesters Clash in Haiti – Associated Press

Haiti, Going Forward – New York Times editorial

Asia Pacific

U.S. Is Not Trying to Contain China, Clinton Says – New York Times

Clinton Airs Concerns About China Before Hu Visit – Washington Times

U.S. Prepares to Engage China on Human Rights – Washington Post

China’s Hu Jintao in Washington: Clinton Urges ‘Real Action’ – BBC News

Gates: Troops Needed in Japan to Keep China, N.K. in Check – Stars and Stripes

South Korea and Japan Sail Into Territorial Dispute – Christian Science Monitor

Europe

Belarus Accuses Poland, Germany of Takeover Plot – New York Times

Russian Parliament Debates Arms Pact with U.S. – Associated Press

Italy: Berlusconi Faces Inquiry in Prostitution Case – New York Times

Middle East

Arab League Calls Lebanese Crisis ‘Serious’ – Voice of America

Lebanon’s Hariri Denounces Hezbollah for Leaving Government – Washington Post

For Lebanese, Crisis Has Become a Way of Life – New York Times

Lebanon: Hariri Back in Beirut, Urges Dialogue – Associated Press

South Asia

U.N. to Call for Aid to Help Sri Lanka Flood Victims – Associated Press

Nepal, Ex-Rebels Agree on Monitoring as U.N. Leaves – Associated Press