![Palestinians gather around a crater caused by an Israeli strike, at the damaged Sheik Radwan cemetery, following Israeli military operations in Gaza City, 14 Jan 2009 Palestinians gather around a crater caused by an Israeli strike, at the damaged Sheik Radwan cemetery, following Israeli military operations in Gaza City, 14 Jan 2009](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090114200359im_/http://www.voanews.com/lao/images/ap_palestinians_israel_rocket_attacks-14jan09_1901.jpg) |
Palestinians gather around a crater caused by an Israeli strike, at the damaged Sheik Radwan cemetery, following Israeli military operations in Gaza City, 14 Jan 2009 |
GAZA - DIPLOMACY: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has renewed his call for an
"immediate and durable" cease-fire between Israel and Hamas militants
in the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Ban re-issued his plea at a news conference today in
Cairo, after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
The U.N. Chief is in Egypt at the start of a Middle East trip aimed at
ending the conflict in Gaza. Egypt has been at the forefront of efforts
to mediate a truce between the two sides. Mr. Ban will also hold talks
in Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Turkey,
Syria, Lebanon and Kuwait, but he will not travel to Gaza or meet with
Hamas.
![Russian PM Vladimir Putin welcomes Slovakia's PM Robert Fico (L), Bulgarian PM Sergei Stanishev (second L) and Moldova's Zinaida Greceani at Novo Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, 14 Jan 2009 Russian PM Vladimir Putin welcomes Slovakia's PM Robert Fico (L), Bulgarian PM Sergei Stanishev (second L) and Moldova's Zinaida Greceani at Novo Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, 14 Jan 2009](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090114200359im_/http://www.voanews.com/lao/images/ap_russia_urkraine_putin_slovakia_bulgaria_14jan09_eng_175.jpg) |
Russian PM Vladimir Putin welcomes Slovakia's PM Robert Fico (L), Bulgarian PM Sergei Stanishev (second L) and Moldova's Zinaida Greceani at Novo Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, 14 Jan 2009 |
RUSSIA EUROPE GAS: The European Union's executive branch says it will advise businesses in
member states to take legal action against Russian and Ukrainian energy
companies if the flow of gas to Europe is not restored.
In comments to the European Parliament today,EU
Commission President Jose Barroso called it "unacceptable and
incredible" that gas supplies have not resumed following an EU-brokered
agreement between Russia and Ukraine Monday.
Barroso says that if the agreement is not honored, it means Russia and
the Ukraine can no longer be considered reliable and that alternative
sources of gas supply and transit must be found.
![Secretary of State-designate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, is greeted by Senate Foreign Relations Committee members Sen. Christopher Dodd, Sen. John Kerry, prior to start of hearing, 13 Jan 2009 Secretary of State-designate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, is greeted by Senate Foreign Relations Committee members Sen. Christopher Dodd, Sen. John Kerry, prior to start of hearing, 13 Jan 2009](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090114200359im_/http://www.voanews.com/lao/images/AP-Hillary-Clinton-Senate-Confirm-190.jpg) |
Secretary of State-designate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, is greeted by Senate Foreign Relations Committee members Sen. Christopher Dodd, Sen. John Kerry, prior to start of hearing, 13 Jan 2009 |
US - CONFIRMATION - CLINTON: Senator Hillary Clinton says if confirmed as the next U.S. secretary of
state, she would pursue "smart power" diplomacy to promote a safe,
peaceful Middle East.
Clinton testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Tuesday as part of a vetting process to become the top diplomat in
President-elect Barack Obama's administration.
She pledged to improve Washington's relations with its allies, saying
she believed foreign policy must be based on principles and pragmatism,
not rigid ideology.
Clinton said she would apply this "smart power" diplomacy to address
Israel's security needs, as well as the Palestinians' political and
economic aspirations.
![Chinese workers make Chinese dumplings at the Tianyang Food's factory in Shijiazhuang (file photo) Chinese workers make Chinese dumplings at the Tianyang Food's factory in Shijiazhuang (file photo)](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090114200359im_/http://www.voanews.com/lao/images/afp_china_food_safety_21feb08_0.jpg) |
Chinese workers make Chinese dumplings at the Tianyang Food's factory in Shijiazhuang (file photo) |
CHINA - TAINTED MILK: A group of Chinese parents whose children were sickened by contaminated
milk have rejected a government-backed compensation plan.
The group's organizer, Zhao Lianhai, told reporters Tuesday that more
than 200 parents have signed a petition rejecting the plan.
Zhao's son was among nearly 300-thousand children who fell ill last
year after drinking milk tainted with the chemical melamine. Six
children died.
The disgruntled parents are calling for milk companies to cover future
medical costs for children who drank contaminated products.
![State Department spokesman Sean McCormack State Department spokesman Sean McCormack](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090114200359im_/http://www.voanews.com/lao/images/usa_state_dep_video_Sean_McCormack1_8jan08_eng_11.jpg) |
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack |
NOKOR NUCLEAR: The United States says North Korea must satisfy its commitments under a
disarmament deal before it can realize diplomatic benefits.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Tuesday that the
obligations under a six-nation aid-for-disarmament pact are clear.
McCormack said Pyongyang must complete the de-nuclearization process
before it can enjoy normal relations with the world community.
His comment came in response to a North Korean statement that Pyongyang
will not give up its nuclear weapons until the United States
establishes diplomatic relations with it.
![Burma Burma](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090114200359im_/http://www.voanews.com/lao/images/burma_190_10Oct087.jpg) |
Burma |
BURMA - DISSIDENT: A human rights group says a Burmese student activist is the latest
political dissident in the military-ruled nation to receive a lengthy
prison sentence.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says Bo Min Yu Ko
was sentenced earlier this month to 104 years in jail by the Obo Prison
Court in Burma's Mandalay Division.
The AAPP says Bo Min Yu Ko, who is in his early 20s, is a member of the
All Burma Federation of Students Unions. He was arrested last
September. The group says he was denied a defense attorney, and his
family was barred from attending his court hearing.
![Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani speaks at the National Security Conference in Islamabad to discuss ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, 02 Dec 2008 Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani speaks at the National Security Conference in Islamabad to discuss ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, 02 Dec 2008](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090114200359im_/http://www.voanews.com/lao/images/AP_Pakistan_India_Gilani_Reza_02dec08.jpg) |
Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani speaks at the National Security Conference in Islamabad to discuss ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, 02 Dec 2008 |
INDIA - PAKISTAN: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is downplaying the
significance of a dossier handed over by India about the Mumbai
attacks, calling it, in his words, "information" and "not evidence."
Pakistan's state media say Mr. Gilani made the statement to lawmakers
late Tuesday, saying that Pakistan was continuing to examine the
dossier.
Last week, India handed over evidence it says proves the Mumbai attacks
were carried out by Pakistanis who were part of the militant group
Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The dossier includes transcripts of phone calls allegedly made during
the siege between the attackers and their handlers in Pakistan.
![President-elect Barack Obama, accompanied by National Economic Council Director-designate Lawrence Summers, leaves a Democratic policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, 13 Jan. 2009 President-elect Barack Obama, accompanied by National Economic Council Director-designate Lawrence Summers, leaves a Democratic policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, 13 Jan. 2009](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090114200359im_/http://www.voanews.com/lao/images/AP_US_Obama_Congress_13jan09_210.jpg) |
President-elect Barack Obama, accompanied by National Economic Council Director-designate Lawrence Summers, leaves a Democratic policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, 13 Jan. 2009 |
OBAMA - ECONOMY: U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is working to persuade lawmakers to
release the second-half of the 700-billion-dollars approved late last
year to help financial companies.
Mr. Obama discussed the financial rescue plan with majority Democratic
leaders Tuesday, as his aides answered questions about the plan before
the House Financial Services Committee.
Critics say the outgoing Bush administration did not do enough to make
sure the first 350 billion dollars of the package was spent wisely.
Some members of Congress have threatened to block distribution of the
remaining funds unless banks that get the aid are more accountable.
Listen to our World News for details.