WESTERN EUROPE

E.U. TO BUILD NETWORK OF SPY SATELLITES

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Union is building a multi-billion-dollar network of spy satellites, known as “Global Monitoring for Environment and Security,” that should be up and running by 2010, a commission spokesman said. A commission memo acknowledged that GMES would play a key role in the “implementation, review, and monitoring of E.U. policies.” In addition, officials hope GMES will support the E.U.’s first steps towards becoming a military power.

– The Daily Telegraph

EMERGENCY POWERS EXTENDED IN FRANCE

PARIS – The French government decided yesterday to extend its state of emergency into the New Year amid fears that rioting could erupt again despite a present lull. Ministers approved the three-month extension at a special cabinet meeting chaired by President Chirac.

– The Daily Telegraph

EASTERN EUROPE

PUTIN RESHUFFLES CABINET

MOSCOW – President Putin promoted two top Kremlin officials yesterday, both mentioned as possible presidential candidates in 2008. Mr. Putin gave Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov the additional post of first deputy prime minister. Mr. Putin also named his chief of staff Dmitry Medvedev to become first deputy prime minister. In a third move, Mr. Putin named Sergei Sobyanin as his new chief of staff.

– Associated Press

MIDDLE EAST

ISRAELI TROOPS KILL SENIOR HAMAS TERRORIST IN WEST BANK RAID

NABLUS, West Bank – Israeli troops killed the commander of Hamas’s armed wing, Amjad Hanawi, 34, in an arrest raid yesterday, touching off threats of revenge from the Islamic group. The violence raised tensions as dignitaries from around the world gathered in Israel to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin.

– Associated Press

PERSIAN GULF

OPERATION KILLS 50 INSURGENTS; BLAST OUTSIDE GREEN ZONE KILLS TWO

BAGHDAD, Iraq – American and Iraqi troops launched a fresh attack yesterday against an insurgent stronghold near the Syrian border. The American command said about 50 insurgents were killed. Two American Marines were killed in the fighting in the border town of Obeidi, according to a New York Times reporter is embedded with the Marines.

In Baghdad, a bomb exploded near the Green Zone, killing two South Africans.

– Associated Press

CENTRAL ASIA

TWO SUICIDE CAR BOMBS HIT KABUL

KABUL, Afghanistan – Suicide bombers rammed cars filled with explosives into NATO peacekeepers in two attacks in the Afghan capital yesterday, killing a German soldier and an Afghan child.

– Associated Press

EAST ASIA

EARTHQUAKE SHAKES NORTHERN JAPAN, TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED

TOKYO – A 7.2-magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu shook northern Japan early today. A 12-inch tsunami wave hit the city of Ofunato, and two 4- to 8-inch waves generated by the quake struck two other towns in the area. There were no immediate reports of damage.

– Associated Press

NORTH AMERICA

MEXICO AND VENEZUELA SEVER DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

MEXICO CITY – Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chavez, accused Mexico’s leader, Vicente Fox, of being a “puppy” of President Bush. Mr. Fox shot back yesterday that “we have dignity in this country” and demanded an apology. Now the two countries are withdrawing their ambassadors.

– Associated Press