(Reuters) - A suicide bomber
driving an ambulance killed up
to 15 people and wounded
more than 50 in an attack on
Wednesday on an Iraqi police
training center in volatile
Diyala province, officials said.
Suspected Sunni insurgents and Shi'ite militia
have stepped up attacks in recent months on
Iraqi policemen and soldiers, seeking to
undermine faith in the security forces before a full
U.S. military withdrawal by the end of this year.
Samira al-Shibli, a spokeswoman for the
provincial governor said 15 people were killed and
52 wounded in the blast in the city of Baquba, 65
km (40 miles) northeast of Baghdad.
Police sources in Baquba put the death toll at 14,
and 64 wounded. Ali Hussein, general manager
of Diyala health department, said only five were
killed, and 74 wounded.
One police source said there were two attackers.
One of them shot dead three security guards at
the gates of the training center, opening the way
for a second assailant to drive the ambulance in.
The blast caused part of the three-storey building,
where offices for different departments of Iraqi
police and security are located, to collapse, said
Lieutenant Colonel Hisham al-Tamimi, head of the
counter-terrorism department in Diyala.
"I can see hands and legs of dead policemen
sticking out from under the rubble," said a
policeman at the blast site.
Wednesday's attack was the second by a suicide
bomber in two days on Iraqi security forces. At
least 49 people were killed in former dictator
Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit on
Tuesday when a suicide bomber attacked a line of
police recruits.
That was the bloodiest attack in Iraq since Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki won support in December
for his reappointment, ending a nine-month
stalemate that followed a March election.
Overall violence has fallen sharply since 2006-07
peak of the sectarian slaughter between once
dominant Sunnis and majority Shi'ites triggered
after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
But Sunni Islamist groups like al Qaeda still battle
Iraqi security forces, particularly in ethnically
mixed Diyala, Baghdad and the turbulent northern
province of Nineveh, and target the less visible
U.S. forces whenever they can.
POLITICS?
Analysts said recent attacks are probably not
related to the formation of the new Shi'ite-led
government, which includes the Sunni-backed
Iraqiya bloc.
Iraqiya won the most parliamentary seats in last
year's election and many feared its possible
exclusion from power could have led to a surge
in violence.
"Such explosions are common, due to the
security breaches and the inability of the security
apparatus to protect the people," said Iraqi
political analyst Abdul-Jabbar Ahmed, a professor
at Baghdad University.
"It is not the first time that such security breaches
happen, and it has nothing to do with the Iraqi
government leaning toward a specific
component."
In a separate incident on Wednesday, a suicide
car bomber killed two Shi'ite pilgrims and
wounded 16 on a road between Baquba and
Baghdad, police sources said.
Attacks against Shi'ites are expected to rise ahead
of the religious event of Arbain, which culminates
next week. Arbain marks a 40-day mourning
period for Imam Hussein, a grandson of the
Prophet Mohammad who was killed at the battle
of Kerbala in the 7th century and who is a central
figure of Shi'ite Islam.
Source: Http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70H18M20110119

READ MORE ...................

Futures little changed as bank earnings eyed.

(Reuters) - Stock index futures
were little changed on
Wednesday as investors
awaited results from Goldman
Sachs Group and Wells Fargo
after financial stocks fell in
the previous session on
disappointing results from
Citigroup.
A number of banks are scheduled to release
results throughout the day, including Goldman
Sachs Group Inc ( GS.N), which is expected to
report a 50 percent fall in quarterly profit because
of the same weak fixed income trading
environment that hurt Citigroup Inc results ( C.N).
Despite concerns over bank results, strong
earnings from Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and
International Business Machines Corp (IBM.N) late
Tuesday reinforced hopes of an overall strong
earnings season.
"There is no question the bulls are in control as
we see some quality earnings coming in. If
Goldman Sachs earnings are disappointing, will it
derail the current sentiment? I don't think so," said
Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Avalon
Partners in New York.
Apple's profit blew past Wall Street expectations
on strong sales of iPhones, iPads and Mac
computers. The results offered some reassurance
to investors worried over what impact the latest
medical leave by Chief Executive Steve Jobs
would have on growth.
Apple shares were up 2 percent at $347.39 in
premarket trade after a number of brokerages,
including Goldman Sachs and Bank of America
Merrill raised their price targets on the stock.
IBM's quarterly profit also easily topped estimates,
and a recovery in its services business raised
hopes that global companies would spend more
on technology. [ID:nN18146899] The stock was
up 2.6 percent at $154.60 in premarket trade.
S&P 500 futures fell 0.7 point and were below fair
value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking
into account interest rates, dividends and time to
expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial
average futures were unchanged, while Nasdaq
100 futures gained 0.25 point.
Optimism about earnings has bolstered equities,
with the S&P 500 .SPX ending last Friday with its
seventh straight week of gains.

Source: Http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70G3AB20110119

READ MORE ................... Futures little changed as bank earnings eyed.

Suicide Attack on Iraqi Security Forces Kills 12.

Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber driving an
ambulance killed at least 12 people in an attack
on a security service training center in central
Diyala province.
Local officials say at least 50 people were also
wounded in the blast Wednesday.
It was the second suicide attack on Iraqi
security forces in recent days.
On Tuesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up
in a crowd of police recruits in Saddam
Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, killing at least 50
people and wounding 150 others.
Local officials blamed the attack on members of
al-Qaida.
Some information for this report was provided
by AFP, AP and Reuters.


Source: Http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Suicide-Attack-on-Iraqi-Security-Forces-Kills-12-114195289.html

READ MORE ................... Suicide Attack on Iraqi Security Forces Kills 12.

Jean-Claude Duvalier charged with theft over 15- year rule.

Haitian prosecutors have charged the former
leader Jean-Claude Duvalier with theft and
misappropriation of funds during his 15-year rule,
which ended in 1986.
Mr Duvalier, also known as Baby Doc, was
detained and charged two days after his surprise
return to Haiti from exile.
But human rights groups say Mr Duvalier should
also face trial for the torture and murder of
thousands of people.
Haiti's former leader Jean-Claude "Baby
Doc" Duvalier has been charged with
corruption and embezzlement during his
1971-1986 rule, prosecutors say.
Mr Duvalier was allowed to go free after
questioning, but a judge will decide whether his
case goes to trial.
The ex-leader, who denies wrongdoing, made a
surprise return to Haiti on Sunday after 24 years
in exile.
He was regarded as a playboy during his time in
office, when he used a brutal militia to control the
country.
He said he had "come to help" after last year's
devastating earthquake.
Port-au-Prince's chief prosecutor Aristidas
Auguste told Reuters that charges of corruption,
theft, misappropriation of funds and other alleged
crimes had been brought against him.
'Ongoing burden'
There have been growing calls for Mr Duvalier to
be prosecuted for alleged torture and murder of
thousands of people during his rule.
On Tuesday, Mr Auguste and a judge came to Mr
Duvalier's hotel in Port-au-Prince to question him
over allegations he embezzled millions of dollars
from the country's treasury.
He was then taken to court where he was
questioned for several hours. Some onlookers
are reported to have jeered as he left, while
others cheered in a show of support.
Gervais Charles, president of the Port-au-Prince
bar association and a member of his defence
team, told the BBC that Mr Duvalier had been very
calm during questioning and denied having done
anything wrong.
"When they asked him how much money he
had in Swiss bank accounts, he said about $1.5m
at that time, 26 years ago, and the funds are still
blocked," Mr Charles said.
His client had said the money in question came
from his mother's foundation, Mr Charles added.
Judicial system
Gianni Maggazini, a senior official with the Office
of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
told the BBC the decision to charge Mr Duvalier
"may be an important step to establish the facts,
try to understand what happened, ensure
accountability for past crimes and fight impunity".
Mr Maggazini said the case underlined how
important it was that international pledges made
to help improve the Haitian judicial system "need
to be translated into action".
"The judicial system in Haiti needs as much
support as possible."
US state department spokesman Philip Crowley
described Mr Duvalier's return to Haiti as an
addition to the country's "ongoing burden".
He arrived on the day Haiti was supposed to hold
a second round of elections to choose a
successor to outgoing President Rene Preval.
That vote has been postponed because of a
dispute over which candidates should be on the
ballot paper.
Provisional results from the first round on 28
November provoked violent demonstrations
when they were announced, and most observers
said there was widespread fraud and intimidation.
The UN secretary general's spokesperson said Mr
Duvalier's return had come as a "total surprise" to
the organisation's mission in the country, as it
had to many others.
Martin Nesirky said it was a source of concern to
see him resurfacing at a critical time for the
stability of the country.
Mr Duvalier was just 19 when he inherited the title
of "president-for-life" from his father, the
notorious Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, who had
ruled Haiti since 1957.
Like his father, he relied on a brutal private militia
known as the Tontons Macoutes, which
controlled Haiti through violence and intimidation.
Haiti is struggling to recover from a massive
earthquake one year ago that killed more than
250,000 people and left Port-au-Prince in ruins.

Source: Http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12223836

READ MORE ................... Jean-Claude Duvalier charged with theft over 15- year rule.

Clinton: Building trust with Beijing a must for US.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton says she has high expectations
for this week's talks with Chinese President Hu
Jintao (hoo jihn-TOW'), saying the two powers
must build a stronger foundation of trust despite
their differences.
Clinton also tells CBS's "The Early Show" that
while Washington "must always stand for our
values," the U.S. government shouldn't let
differences over human rights issues get in the
way of doing constructive business with Beijing
on problems such as North Korea, global
warming and trade.
She calls Wednesday's high-level talks between
President Barack Obama and President Hu a
"continuation of two years of the Obama
administration's efforts to build a positive,
cooperative and comprehensive relationship"
with China. Clinton says it's important in this
climate to establish strong "face to face
relationships."

Source: Http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h6fBI8RyeuVneHrTSsNnlrjvlKHg?docId=0677505dad354a849ac7b254fde6b051

READ MORE ................... Clinton: Building trust with Beijing a must for US.

FBI probing MLK Day bomb for racial motives.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Federal agents are
investigating race as a possible motive behind an
abandoned backpack containing a functional
bomb after it was left along the downtown route
of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade.
"The confluence of the holiday, the march and the
device is inescapable, but we are not at the point
where we can draw any particular motive," said
Frank Harrill, special agent in charge of the
Spokane FBI office.
The suspicious backpack was spotted by three
city employees about an hour before the parade
was to start Monday, Harrill said. They saw wires
and immediately alerted law enforcement, who
disabled it without incident, he said.
The discovery before the parade for the slain civil
rights leader raised the possibility of a racial
motive in a region that has been home to the
white supremacist Aryan Nations.
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner said the attempted
bombing was unacceptable.
"I was struck that on a day when we celebrate
Dr. King, a champion of non-violence, we were
faced with a significant violent threat," Verner
said. "This is unacceptable in our community, or
any community."
The Spokane region and adjacent northern Idaho
have had numerous incidents of anti-government
and white supremacist activity during the past
three decades.
The most visible was by the Aryan Nations,
whose leader Richard Butler gathered racists and
anti-Semites at his compound for two decades.
Butler was bankrupted and lost the compound in
a civil lawsuit in 2000 and died in 2004.
In December, a man in Hayden, Idaho, built a
snowman on his front lawn shaped like a
member of the Ku Klux Klan holding a noose. The
man knocked the pointy-headed snowman down
after getting a visit from sheriff's deputies.
Harrill decried the planting of the bomb as an act
of domestic terrorism that was clearly designed
to advance a political or social agenda.
"The potential for injury and death were clearly
present," he said of the bomb.
The FBI received no warnings in advance and did
not have a suspect, Harrill said. No one has
claimed responsibility for planting the bomb.
The federal agency has offered a $20,000 reward
for information leading to an arrest and
conviction in the case.

Source: Http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-01-19-mlk-parade-bomb-spokane_N.htm

READ MORE ................... FBI probing MLK Day bomb for racial motives.

Debunking common myths about health-care reform.

House Republicans plan to
press forward Wednesday with
their effort to repeal the
health-care law enacted last
year. They have the votes, so
the bill's passage is not in
doubt. But
the Democrats who
control the Senate have no
interest in following suit, and
President Obama has pledged
a veto. So this is mostly a
symbolic act. But it's an issue
that comes with a number of
popular myths that persist and
are worth revisiting.
"This is a 'government
takeover' of the health-care
system."
Republicans repeatedly use
this snappy talking point to
bash Obama's crowning
legislative achievement - but it
is simply not true.
In many ways, the health-care
law resembles the reform
legislation that Massachusetts
enacted in 2006 under then-
Gov. Mitt Romney (a
Republican and potential
presidential rival of Obama in
2012). It builds on the existing
private insurance system,
adding requirements and
incentives to ensure that most
people have some form of
health insurance.
Under the nation's new law,
the private system has no
government alternative - this
was a potential provision that
was dropped during the
congressional tussle.
The number of people who
qualify for the existing
federal-state Medicaid
program for the poor will be
expanded. States (or the
federal government) will run
"exchanges," or
marketplaces, in which private
insurers will sell coverage to
individuals and small
businesses. But this should
mean that more, not fewer,
people will get private
insurance. Tax credits will also
be offered to people who have
trouble buying private
insurance.
Certainly, the law bolsters
government regulation of the
health-care system, such as
forcing insurance companies
to no longer deny coverage to
people who have existing
medical conditions. People
who do not have insurance
will be required to buy it. But
the core of the health-care
system in the United States
will remain the private
insurance market.
"Medicare benefits will be cut
- and payments will be cut to
Medicare doctors."
This was another GOP attack
line during the 2010 midterm
campaign, though in many
ways it was payback for the
Democrats' effective use of
the same charge against
Republicans in 1994, when
they sought to restrain growth
in Medicare spending.
The politically radioactive
word "cut" is a misnomer.
Under the health-care law,
Medicare spending will
continue to increase year
after year, but at a slower
pace than anticipated. Both
parties, in theory, agree that
this is a good thing. Medicare,
the venerable government-run
health-care plan for
Americans older than 65, is
one of the fastest-growing
parts of the federal budget.
The health-care bill will cut
projected Medicare spending
by $575 billion over 10 years,
primarily by lowering
projected fees paid to
hospitals and other providers
and by reducing payments to
private Medicare Advantage
insurance plans. Benefits have
also been added, eating into
the overall projected savings,
but the effect on the Medicare
Advantage plans is unclear.
"A secretive government
committee ['death panels'] will
be created to make end-of-life
decisions about people on
Medicare."
This claim, first made by
former Alaska governor Sarah
Palin, has been thoroughly
debunked. Yet it persists. A
Kaiser Family Foundation poll
in September found that 30
percent of seniors still
believed this to be the case
and that 22 percent were not
sure - meaning that fewer
than half knew the claim was
false.
The charge stemmed from a
proposed amendment to the
bill that would have covered
the cost of end-of-life planning
discussions. Democrats quickly
dropped the provision after
the firestorm created by
Palin's assertion, even after it
was proved incorrect.

Source: Http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/18/AR2011011806519.html

READ MORE ................... Debunking common myths about health-care reform.

Obama's day: Dealing with China,

Good morning from The Oval. On this day in
1955, President Dwight Eisenhower first agreed to
something that is now essential to White House
life: A news conference filmed for television.
It's a day of high level diplomacy for President
Obama, as he summits with President Hu Jintao
of China. After Vice President Joe Biden greeted
Hu at the airport yesterday, the Chinese president
and Obama held a small private dinner at the

White House. Today, it's down to work.
After a more formal welcoming ceremony this
morning at the White House, Obama, Hu and
their aides hold a series of meetings. Among the
topics: Human rights in China, improved trade,
the value of Chinese currency, and the primacy of
the U.S. dollar.
During the lunch hour, the presidents host a
meeting of U.S. and Chinese business leaders.
The American delegation includes Steve Ballmer
of Microsoft, Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs,
and Jeff Immelt of General Electric.
After that, Obama and Hu take four questions at a
news conference.
The Chinese visit wraps up tonight with more
pomp, a formal state dinner honoring Hu. Each
president will deliver toasts.
In other news:
The Hu visit takes place a day before the second
anniversary of Obama's term, and USA TODAY
asks a simple question: "Who Is Barack Obama?"
A pragmatic streak makes it a hard question to
answer.
Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, the 2000 vice
presidential nominee and a Democrat-turned-
independent, announces today he will not seek
re-election in 2012, reports Fredreka Schouten of
USA TODAY.
The great re-debate of the Obama health care bill
is on in the House, writes Kelly Kennedy of USA
TODAY.
A store video apparently caught Jared Loughner's
shooting rampage in Arizona.
Sargent Shriver, Kennedy in-law and first Peace
Corps director, rest in peace.
And our colleague Joan Biskupic reports that the
Supreme Court is pondering a case on "state
secrets."
We of course have no secrets here at The Oval,
so check in with us throughout the day on the
China meetings as well as other White House
happenings. And thanks for reading.


Source: Http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/01/obamas-day-dealing-with-china/1

READ MORE ................... Obama's day: Dealing with China,

Saudi ends Lebanon mediation efforts: Saudi Finance Minister

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has abandoned
its mediation efforts in Lebanon, saying the
situation was "dangerous," Al Arabiya television
said on Wednesday, citing Foreign Minister
Prince Saud al-Faisal.
The foreign minister said that Saudi's King
Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

had been in contact to help "end the whole
Lebanon problem."
"When that did not happen, the custodian of the
holy mosques said he was pulling his hand out"
from the effort, Prince Saud was quoted as
saying.
"If the situation reaches full separation and
(regional) partition, this means the end of
Lebanon as a state that has this model of
peaceful cohabitation between (different) religions
and ethnicities," he added.

Source: Http://us.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70I1OC20110119?ca=rdt

READ MORE ................... Saudi ends Lebanon mediation efforts: Saudi Finance Minister

Fresh but peaceful protests in Tunisia's capital.

Tunis, Tunisia -- Another day of
demonstrations in Tunisia's capital city
commenced Wednesday, a peaceful rally in a city
wracked by violent protests.
A crowd that grew to about 1,000 people
tramped down Avenue Habib Bourguiba, singing
the country's national anthem and chanting
against the former ruling party and the former
president, who fled the country last week amid
the country-wide grass-roots uprising
The people strode to a police line and met the
officers eyeball to eyeball, but there was no
conflict. Witnesses said the police demeanor
appeared more relaxed than in previous days
with the officers holding their ground but not
acting aggressively.
This is in contrast to other days in Tunis, when
police lobbed tear gas and dispersed peaceful
throngs of marchers with batons.
As protesters chanted, an army helicopter flew
over the city and that drew a cheer from the
crowd, which views the army as a calming factor
in the street conflict and sees the police as aligned
with former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and
his Constitutional Democratic Rally party.
This comes as Tunisian officials attempt to keep
afloat the country's unity government, formed
earlier this week with members of the opposition
and the Ben Ali party.
But there have been difficulties in getting that
administration going because protesters are
demanding that more should be done to sweep
the old guard out of power.
Tunisia's interim president and prime minister
resigned from the ousted leader's ruling party,
state TV said Tuesday, a move seen as a gesture
to placate angry street demonstrators and keep
the unity government afloat.
But at least four ministers from opposition parties
have pulled back from the new government,
leaving some observers concerned that the
coalition may collapse before it can set up new
elections.
Asked whether the unity government will
collapse if demonstrations continue, Minister of
Social Affairs Moncer Rouissi said that everyone
has the right to demonstrate but that will not stop
the government from fulfilling its duties.

Source: Http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/19/tunisia.protests/

READ MORE ................... Fresh but peaceful protests in Tunisia's capital.

Americans are still split on health care reform, but only 18% favor a total repeal: poll

Obama has vowed to fight any efforts to repeal
the health care reform he fought to pass.
Though Republicans have vowed to get rid of
Obama's sweeping health care reform as quickly
as possible, it turns out most Americans don't
want the legislation repealed entirely.
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll released
Tuesday found that only 18% are in favor of
completely ejecting the health care overhaul
passed last year, which Republicans dubbed
" Obamacare."
That doesn't mean most Americans support the
reform, however: 50% of those polled said they
oppose the law.
It's no surprise that views on the issue are
severely split along party lines.
Three-quarters of Democrats support the law,
according to ABC News, while 80% of
Republicans oppose it. Furthermore, Republicans
polled largely said they anticipate negative
consequences of the legislation, while most Dems
expect positive effects.
However even among those who said they don't
support the law, only 33% favored a flat-out
repeal. Thirty-five percent said they'd like to see a
partial repeal, while 30% voted for a "wait-and-
see approach."
These numbers are almost exactly where they
were back in August of 2009, the Washington
Post reported, meaning attitudes have barely
shifted since the legislation was passed.
The poll comes just as the House of
Representatives resumed debate on the health
care repeal bill, which had been halted in the wake
of the attack on Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
The repeal is not expected to pass the
Democratically controlled Senate, and the White
House has already announced it will block any
attempt to overturn the legislation.
Meanwhile, Democrats welcomed the fight as an
opportunity to defend health care reform.
"The debate in some ways in the House gives us
a chance to...remind people what it is that's at
stake. Why we can't go back to where we were,"
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius told ABC.

Source: Http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/01/18/2011-01-18_americans_are_still_split_on_health_care_reform_but_only_18_favor_a_total_repeal.html

READ MORE ................... Americans are still split on health care reform, but only 18% favor a total repeal: poll