30 December: Egyptian authorities attack Sudanese refugees, forcing them onto transports to end sit-in at UNHCR, demanding international assistance; at least 10 were killed by police... Exxon-Mobil reported to fund more than 40 groups established to oppose climate-change action, science; Cinergy corporation, by contrast, recognizes that human activity is warming the global climate, calls for more regulation, action to stop climate change...

28 December: Defense attorneys in terror-related cases say they will challenge Bush's extrajudicial NSA wiretapping order in court; civil suits against president a possibility... EU's Giove satellite will provide global navigation services to rival US' GPS technology... Thousands of Iraqi Sunni political supporters rally in Samarra, calling for new elections, alleging widespread fraud, intimidation in this month's elections; Shi'a pol, fmr. PM Allawi says fraud must be investigated, vote process comprehensively reformed; UN official says though fraud did occur, it was not widespread enough to warrant new vote... Fmr Chief Accounting Officer for Enron pleads guilty, agrees to cooperate with prosecutors, against fmr bosses, will serve 5 to 7 years in prison... Vietnam vet has posted sign next to military recruitment center in Duluth, MN, tracking Iraq casualties; 6 of 7 recruiter in that office say they don't want recruits to see the numbers... NYT leads with story based in HRW report earlier this month detailing China's intimidation of petitioners for resolution of injustices...

26 December: Massive Indian Ocean tsunami struck one year ago today, killing at least 224,000 —285,000 by some estimates—, in 12 countries from Sumatra to Somalia; an estimated 167,000 were killed in Indonesia's Aceh province alone... Bolivian president elect Evo Morales moves to use natural resources to strengthen nation's bargaining power in international markets... This month now considered most violent in Sri Lanka since tentative truce began; observers fear return to full civil war...

24 December: Egypt sentences main Mubarak oponent to 5 years in prison for paperwork violation; ally US has called for Mubarak to release rival... Nigeria, nation with 3rd most HIV cases, behind India, South Africa, will provide free anti-retroviral treatment in collaboration with the Global Fund... Inter-ethnic tensions in Australia, in the wake of race-fueled riots, leave coastline areas uneasy...

23 December: New science shows memory is work of brain to return to past state of chemical, neurological organization, representation; some call it "mental time travel"... Uzbek gov't says minister charged in Germany with crimes against humanity for Andizhan massacre has "retired" from service, commends him for his work toward "peace and security"... Italian arrest warrants for 22 CIA operatives accused of kidnapping a Muslim cleric off Milan streets, sending him to Egypt where he was tortured, now "converted" by Milan judge to European arrest warrants —a counter-terror measure permitting targets to be detained in any EU member country...

22 December: HRW reports "Côte d’Ivoire’s government security forces, allied militias, and the north-based rebels alike routinely harass, intimidate, and even execute civilians as the country’s political stalemate bolsters impunity"... ICG reports Ethiopia, Eritrea dangerously close to losing agreed peace along disputed border... US Senate votes to extend current Patriot Act for 6 months, to allow revisions, debate which might allow longer extension, new provisions which would to allay civil liberties concerns, win enough votes to become law; Sen. leader Frist had threatened to block any interim extension... Duma passes Putin's NGO control law with 376 to 10 vote, raising concerns of national shift toward authoritarianism... China says massive cadmium spill in south now "under control"... Toxic benzene slick from Chinese explosion at Jilin reaches Russian city of Khabarovsk; "Charcoal filters", sandbags used to block toxins entering municipal water system, officials say they will not cut off drinking water... Indigenous leader, rep. of coca growers, Evo Morales wins confirmed "absolute majority", will take over as Bolivian president... NYT reports videos show NY police interfering with peaceful protests to conduct surveillance, activists say undercover cops "distort their messages and provoke trouble"... NYC transit strike enters 3rd day, as observers spar over which side is in the right...

21 December: UNHCR plans to return half million Sudanese refugees to southern Sudan... Jewish group says top Russian rabbi has been denied entry to Russia for two months, under new crackdown by Putin, in what they describe as "Russian nationalism"... Leading EU human rights lawyer, professor says his expulsion from Russia is related to Putin's crackdown on independent thought, proposed law to take over NGOs; critics say move is part of efforts by Putin to bring all private activity under strict gov't control... Gorbachev says Putin's NGO control law must be revised to ensure it does not hamper vital NGO services or expand needless bureaucracy... Australian authorities work to provide elementary knowledge of Afrikaans, so guards at football matches can better discern racial slurs, act against racist fans...

20 December: Judge who sits on secret court to oversee surveillance in intel cases resigns in protest of Bush order for domestic spying, reportedly confided to associates "legally questionable" order compromised legitimacy of panel's work... Vermont effort to stop NY paper mill burning tires, oil for fuel, due to concerns about downwind pollution may result in EPA approving tire burning...

19 December: "Riots" shake Hong Kong with worst clashes in 30 years as demonstrators allegedly seek to derail WTO summit; police fired rubber bullets, detained 900 people, mulling formal charges... Wilmington, NC, commission finds that 1898 armed overthrow of city government —the only one in US history— was pre-planned white-supremacist insurrection, not a "race riot" ... Israel PM Sharon suffers "mild stroke", is taken to hospital, though reported to have been incoherent reports suggested he "never lost consciousness"; observers speculate about future of his new centrist party, Israeli politics in general... Questions emerge as to Alito support for routine use of deadly force against unarmed fleeing suspects; Alito said Constitution contains no guidance for officers facing such dilemma, supported use of deadly force; high court struck down principle that deadly force could be routine one year later... Netanyahu gains leadership of Israel's Likud party...

18 December: Bush admission to spying on US citizens is 3rd such revelation about domestic surveillance in as many months; Washington Post reports "a burgeoning Pentagon campaign for 'detecting, identifying and engaging' internal enemies that included a database with information on peace protesters"; 2 days ago, the Senate blocked passage of a renewed, strengthened, permanent USA Patriot Act, designed to circumvent protections against secret surveillance... Ahmedinejad slides into rhetorical incoherence, claims Holocaust denial is for "academic" debate, that West is only offended because his views go against its "monologue", admonishes EU condemnation, saying it "is not based on international diplomatic norms. They should avoid illogical methods"; 6 million Jews were killed by Hitler's Nazi regime during World War II, along with 6 million other people; 50 million people died in the war... One day after election touted as "peaceful", bomb attacks and shooting across Iraq leave at least 9 people dead...

17 December: In what civil libertarians see as a shocking admission, Bush says he is responsible for authorizing secret NSA domestic spying, not approved by court-issued warrant, not upheld by law... Senate Republican leaders say they will refuse Democrats' offer to extend current Patriot Act 3 months, while civil liberties protections are included, opting instead to either make permanent and expand new powers or let the entire bill lapse... NYT reports number of Cuban refugees at highest level since 1994 officially-sanctioned exodus... Rep. Cooper says government spending out of control, says House passed $2.6 trillion budget with almost no debate, in 2 hours, after majority party used Rules Committee to suspend rules for debate on the budget; concerns raised as $12 billion in cuts to Medicaid being used to finance tax cuts for wealthy, defense spending... Lifelong Republican, elite financier, Reagan adviser Whitehead tells NOW government must raise taxes to stave off economic havoc in future...

16 December: Bush agrees to support full McCain torture ban... Rep. Duncan Hunter says he will "close" conference committee working to pass defense bill with McCain ban until White House gives written "clarification" demonstrating that US intelligence personnel will not be "harmed" by the ban... Bush admits spying on US citizens, says moves saved lives; secret NSA program circumvented requirement for court-issued search warrants, now raising constitutional questions on Capitol Hill... Conservation groups sue US gov't to list polar bear as species endangered by global warning... NE US regional greenhouse gas reduction talks stalled by concerns about consumer costs from RI, CT, MA delegations... Reports from Iraq suggest turnout in the first election for a permanent Parliament was high, despite threats against voters and polling stations; Chicago Tribune says "Iraqis Swarm Polls", turnout so high paper ballots were exhausted in some places... UN forms rapid-response disaster relief fund... El País newspaper reports Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian thought to be head of "al-Qaeda in Iraq", was captured last year and mistakenly released by Iraqi security forces...

15 December: Bush admits intelligence wrong, takes responsibility for invasion; new evidence emerges of Pentagon campaign to plant pro-US stories in global media, including in allied countries; Pentagon also facing questions over alleged surveillance list of opponents to war, "suspicious incidents" promoting peace as alternative... Survivors of the May 2005 Andizhan massacre in Uzbekistan have filed suit in Germany calling for prosecution of Uzbek Interior Minister, Zokirjon Almatov, on charges of war crimes; Almatov is in Germany for medical treatment at present... Czech PM criticized for "ignoring" China's massacre of at least 20 civilians demonstrating against state seizure of their land... Novak says Bush likely knows who CIA leak source was, should reveal information to public... US House of Representatives votes 308 to 122 to include full McCain torture ban in final defense spending bill; House leaders would have to oppose majority vote, White House would have to oppose majority votes in both houses to avoid ban... HRW says DR Congo vote, first in 4 decades, at risk of not being free, fair... Germany says EU will weigh Ahmedinejad's holocaust denial, condemns comments, calls on EU, UN to formally condemn remarks, says Tehran must learn patience of int'l community not limitless... Catalán gov't raises regional university-education budget by 21%, seeking to enhance quality of public system...

14 December: Alliance of conservation groups compiles, publishes list of 800 species in immediate danger of extinction... Woman found alive after two months trapped in Kashmir quake debris, her muscles stuck in fetal position as they had been throughout... USA Today reveals Pentagon contracts with 3 companies to plant stories in global media... US Supreme Court will hear case to decide legality of DeLay-engineered map for Texas congressional districts... Court will also hear case related to federally imposed rule requiring that universities which do not allow military recruiters on campus cannot receive federal funds... Fmr Spanish pres. Aznar alleges "grave national crisis", says "the very idea of Spain" is being changed through current policies...

13 December: Swiss senator acting as investigator for the Council of Europe human rights commission says allegations of CIA abduction, illegal transport of terror suspects across Europe, "credible"; findings reportedly based on new evidence... CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger refused to grant clemency to convicted gang leader Stanley Williams, who maintained innocence in 4 murders, fought for end to street violence from prison; Williams was executed by lethal injection; governor claimed he was unconvniced about Williams' remorse (critics note remorse is uncommon when convict claims innocence, say gov. based choice on politics—Williams had expressed regrets about his gang activities)... Apartment building in New Jersey "explodes", provoking fears of injury, attack not suspected... Analyst says US over-dependent on housing market, whose recent boom may be unsustainable... Reports from Hong Kong show police using pepper spray against demonstrators; clash between police, protesters followed burning of WTO in effigy...

12 December: Race riots erupt in Sydney, as thousands of youths chanting racist slogans sought out people appearing to be of Arab descent, backlash in suburbs saw violence, some 40 cars battered... Spanish newspaper El País reports Turkish authorities confirm October CIA flight passed through Barcelona, Istanbul on way to Baku, Azerbaijan; Turkish foreign minister Gul said the plane was always under control of gov't, no abductions, interrogations or torture was possible on Turkish soil... Poland plans full investigation of alleged CIA prisons, extrajudicial detentions, possibly on Polish soil; gov't continues to deny camps existed... Bush acknowledges large number of Iraqi casualties from war, saying "30,000 more or less have died as a result of the initial incursion and the ongoing violence"...

11 December: Families of victims in Nigeria plane crash search for remains; more than 100 were killed Saturday when a flight from Abuja crashed near the runway in Port Harcourt... London, much of southeast England, overtaken by cloud of black smoke after oil depot explosion Sunday morning; blast was heard as far away as the Netherlands... Chile elections appear smooth, with high participation; socialist candidate Michelle Bachelet looks likely to be Chile's 1st female president; Lagos will leave office with 71% approval in national surveys... Frist says he will move to ban filibuster in judicial appointments if Democrats try to filibuster Alito confirmation; move could lead to widespread political battle on other issues, stalling much upcoming legislation... Tom Paine says "winner take all" congressional system stifling political debate, turnover in US... Netanyahu attacks Kadima party after high level defection of Defense Minister Mofaz from Likud to Sharon's new centrist alliance...

10 December: UN climate talks wrapping up in Montreal with agreement on talks, US not joining; Bush admin. "accepted only a watered-down proposal to enter an exploratory global 'dialogue' on future steps to combat climate change"... US Justice dept. reportedly asked federal court to "set aside" ruling of 9 Sept., permitting detention without charge of American citizen held as "enemy combatant", says argument now moot as Padilla faces criminal charges... German reports suggest Schroeder gov't may have provided information leading to CIA abduction of innocent German... Gotovina passed through 8 countries before arriving in Canary Islands; will be extradited to the Hague for prosecution... Fmr pres. Clinton suggested rebuilding New Orleans to make it 1st green US city, create jobs, get on path to climate responsibility; without directly criticizing Bush, Clinton said it was "crazy" not to act to curb climate change, that renewable wind, solar power could replace fossil fuels entirely... Valerie Plame said to be leaving CIA; plame was covert counter-proliferation operative when exposed by reporter Robert Novak in 2003, VP top aide was indicted for lying about involvement; fmr counterterrorism chief quoted as saying "Her career was arbitrarily and whimsically destroyed by a mean political trick"... Spanish newspaper El País reports Bush used false al-Libi confession, obtained through torture, to claim link between Al-Qaeda, Hussein...