World News Desk

GlobalPost's editors keep track of what's important in the international news cycle so that you don't have to.

World News Desk's Notebook:

November 20, 2009 16:57 ET | Updated: November 20, 2009 16:57 ET

Chatter: What we're hearing

To receive the morning chatter by email, let us know at editors@globalpost.com.

Need to know: After spending $53 billion for relief and reconstruction in Iraq since 2003, the U.S. is concerned that Iraqis won’t be able to maintain the facilities once the Americans have left.

Want to know: Two fingers and a tooth removed from Galileo Galilei's corpse in a Florentine basilica in the 18th century and given up for lost have been found again. The items were removed by enthusiastic admirers from the astronomer's body in 1737, 95 years after his death, while his corpse was being moved from a storage place to a monumental tomb.

Dull but important: Colombia will not be provoked into armed conflict with Venezuela despite the neighboring country's aggressive rhetoric and its dynamiting of two cross-border pedestrian bridges, Colombia's defense minister said.

Just because: A Paris croissant addict learns the secrets of baking the buttery, crusty treats: We flattened the dough, placed a huge square of butter in it, then folded the dough around the butter like an envelope.

Wacky: Hundreds of private emails and documents allegedly exchanged between some of the world's leading climate scientists during the past 13 years have been stolen by hackers and leaked online. Climate change sceptics allege they provide "smoking gun" evidence that some of the climatologists colluded in manipulating data to support the view that climate change is real.

November 20, 2009 07:32 ET | Updated: November 20, 2009 11:18 ET

Chatter: What we're hearing

Need to know: Norwegian scientists have raise concerns about a mutated form of swine flu found in two patients who died and one who became severely ill, but they say it does not appear to be circulating in the general population. For more information, visit washingtonpost.com

A day after President Hamid Karzai promised a more inclusive government, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed 15 people, including several children, in a marketplace in western Afghanistan on Friday. The attack followed several days of operations by Afghan troops and NATO forces against Taliban militants in nearby areas, and comes as President Barack Obama returns to Washington to face what is the most consequential foreign policy decisions of his presidency.

Want to know: A suspected U.S. missile strike that killed at least eight militants Friday in northwestern Pakistan came hours before CIA director Leon Panetta held talks with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the capital. The CIA is believed to be behind the more than 40 missile strikes to have hit suspected Al Qaeda and Taliban targets over the last year, though American officials do not generally acknowledge the attacks, which are unpopular among many here. 

Dull but important: Russia has agreed to ease the terms under which it supplies gas to Ukraine, in a deal which Moscow says should prevent disruption in coming months. The deal was announced after talks between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Yulia Tymoshenko. It means Ukraine will not be fined for using less gas than in its current contract, because of the downturn. In January, many countries in Europe were left short of gas due to a payment dispute between Moscow and Kiev.

Just because: You may be headed there... Lifeboats and military helicopters rescued hundreds of people overnight in northern England as torrential rain flooded homes and washed away bridges.

Wacky: Scientists have given them snappy names — BoarCroc, RatCroc, DogCroc, DuckCroc and PancakeCroc — and dubbed them an "intelligent" and "successful" species — they are the extinct crocodiles unearthed in fossil form in what is now the Sahara desert, which believe it or not was once a swamp. Check out the pics at Reuters.com
 

November 19, 2009 18:22 ET | Updated: November 19, 2009 18:49 ET

Chatter: What we're hearing

To receive the morning chatter by email, let us know at editors@globalpost.com.

Need to know: EU leaders have chosen the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, to be the first permanent European Council President. Van Rompuy, 62, had crucial French and German support. He has a reputation as a coalition builder, having taken charge of the linguistically divided Belgian government and steered it out of a crisis.

Want to know: Four years after cartoons of the prophet Muhammad set off violent protests across the Muslim world, Islamic nations are mounting a campaign for an international treaty to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery — essentially a ban on blasphemy that would put them on a collision course with free speech laws in the West.

Dull but important: Who fears a free Mikhail Khodorkovsky? How Russia’s richest oligarch become the last best hope of its human rights campaigners.

Just because: Police have arrested a suspected Camorra hitman caught on camera as he shot a man dead outside a bar in central Naples in May. Images of the killing caused shock because they showed bystanders at the murder scene appearing largely unfazed.

Wacky: Franklin Chang Diaz has great aspirations for his rocket: a mail-carrier for outer space, a garbage truck for orbital debris and, the ultimate goal, a shuttle to Mars.

 

November 19, 2009 07:39 ET | Updated: November 19, 2009 10:07 ET

Chatter: What we're hearing

Need to know: Tainted by a flawed election and allegations of high-level corruption in his regime, President Hamid Karzai was inaugurated Thursday for a second term, saying the Afghan Army should assume full control of the country’s security within five years.

A suicide bomber killed 19 people Thursday outside a courthouse in northwestern Pakistan, part of an onslaught by Islamist militants against an army offensive in the nearby Afghan border region. The bombing was the seventh attack in less than two weeks in and around Peshawar, which collectively have killed more than 80 people.

Want to know: President Obama wrapped up an eight-day tour of Asia on Thursday, holding talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and speaking to American troops at Osan Air Base. Obama is due back in the U.S. on Thursday, after a refueling stop in Alaska.

If you don't see it here, you'll see it elsewhere — a sickening (some might say mouthwatering) video that's gone viral... China, chefs have figured out a way to keep a fish alive as it gets deep fried and then waits to be eaten. WARNING: could offend viewers.

Dull but important: Six world powers will meet in Brussels on Friday to discuss what measures could be applied against Tehran for its refusal to halt its nuclear enrichment program.

Just because: The French won, the Irish lost — but few seem to be in doubt about which team deserves to play in next year's World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa. An admission by French striker Thierry Henry that he handled the ball in the build up to the winning goal  in the Cup qualifier did little to console a devastated Irish team as the controversy rumbled into Thursday. And according to USA Today, questions remain whether the French have what it takes there after being outplayed by Ireland in Wednesday's 1-1 draw.

Wacky: An 81-year-old Australian man became lost on an early morning drive to the store and ended up almost 600 kilometers (370 miles) away from his starting point. Steward left Yass, a country town in New South Wales state, to buy a newspaper, and more than eight hours later — after taking a wrong turn on the highway — found himself asking Victoria state police for help. "I didn't know where I was going but I knew it was somewhere, and with a bit of luck I would eventually find my wife again," said Stewart, adding that he "liked to drive."

 

November 19, 2009 00:26 ET | Updated: November 19, 2009 00:57 ET

Chatter: What we're hearing

Need to know: As President Obama wrapped up his Asia trip, he and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak sent a unifed message over the border to North Korea: return to the negotiating table and end nuclear ambitions. In return, they promised economic aid.

Want to know: We’ve been enjoying following the political intrigue in Brussels, Europe’s capital, over the choice of the EU’s first president. While Tony Blair was an early strong contender, the BBC now puts its money on a less controversial choice: Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy.

Dull but important: Transparency International released its annual corruption perceptions index. Somalia came in at No. 1. But since the list is based on perceptions, that’s no surprise. A place best known for its pirates clearly has some perception issues. Afghanistan came in second.

Just because: The Canadians: They're not like us. Witness their fondness for French fries with cheese curds and gravy. We've tried it and while the Canadians lapped it up we just picked and grimaced. But none other than Calvin Trillin has now given poutines a try.

Wacky: Have you been following bowgate? It just keeps going. Slate points out that colonial Americans bowed to each other. On his latest stop, the press noted that Obama did not bow before the Korean greeters who bowed before him.