Daily Update

- President-elect Obama's foreign policy initiatives include the funded expansion of the U.S. Foreign Service. Is a career in the Foreign Service right for YOU? Take the quiz!

- According to the Iraqi government, Iranian MEK rebels to the current Iranian administration, sheltered by U.S. Forces 40 miles from Baghdad under current security arrangements, will not be welcome in Iraq after the U.S. leaves

- King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand swears in a new ruling party in Thailand as widespread demonstrations came to an end - but the 81 year-old King's absence at his recent anniversary speech disappointed those who expected him to exert a stronger influence in unifying the nation

- Drug violence from Mexico spreads to Honduras - while not a direct neighbor of Mexico, the overlapping of cocaine trade routes led to violence between competing cartels and with local authorities

- On a more positive note, Giant Pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are on their way from China's Szechuan Province to the Taipei City Municipal Zoo in an act of good will that was rejected in 2006 by former pro-independence President Chen Shui-Bien.

The phrase Tuan Yuan means "unite" - but before we start bashing China for injecting politics into animal names, it means "unite" in a more familial, rather than threatening sense, like "UNITE!"

With China, though, it's always hard to tell...

Daily Update

- The United States officially opposes any power sharing agreement in Zimbabwe that includes Robert Mugabe. This decision forces southern African to the forefront in any immediate diplomatic negotiations.

- The two main candidates for Israeli Prime Minister have promised to topple Hamas if elected. Kadima leader Tzipi Livni is the current foreign minister and has a record of negotiating with Palestinians. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud ex-Prime Minister, may actually "walk the walk".

- China and Taiwan conclude a summit at which they discussed how they could work together to deal with the current economic situation. These talks may be more fruitful with the newly elected pro-Mainland President Ma.

- The Status of Force Agreement may have been settled between Iraq and the US, but the parliament rejected a draft that would allow British forces to stay past December 31st.