Top story: Around 4,000 U.S. marines pushed into the Taliban-controlled Helmand River valley in eastern Afghanistan in the biggest offensive since President Barack Obama ordered 21,000 additional troops to the country. The mission is supported by British troops stationed in Helmand, and the Pakistani military, which has set up along the border to block Taliban fighters from escaping into Pakistan.
A Marine commander described the mission as different from previous offensives in terms of the "massive size of the force introduced, the speed at which it will insert, and the fact that where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces.”
Reported casualties on both sides are minor so far, but a senior Taliban commander told Reuters that "Thousands of Taliban mujahideen are ready to fight against U.S. troops in the operation in Helmand province."
It has also been revealed that a U.S. soldier was taken prisoner by the Taliban in Eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday.
Must read: Declassified records from Saddam Hussein's interrogation by the FBI indicate that the former Iraqi leader's WMD bluff was aimed primarily at Iran.
Asia
- North Korea test-fired two short range missiles.
- Islamist rebels in Southern Philippines say they have killed more than 500 government troops in the last 10 months.
- In a landmark ruling, an Indian court overturned the country's ban on gay sex.
Middle East
- Iranian opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mohammad Khatami issued statements condemning the government's post-election crackdown and calling the Islamic regime illegitimate.
- Several Iraqi insurgent groups issued statements calling on Iraqis to continue the fight against U.S. troops after this week's withdrawal from major cities.
- Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing war crimes during its recent war in Gaza.
Americas
- Honduras's interim government is refusing to cave to international pressure to reinstate ousted president Manuel Zelaya, and has accused the former president of allowing drugs to be shipped through the country.
- The U.S. ambassador to Venezuela has returned to Caracas, nine months after he was expelled.
- Argentina has sworn in a new health minister as it continues to battle a swine flu outbreak.
Europe
- The European Union is considering withdrawing its diplomats from Tehran.
- Russian president Dmitry Medvedev vlogged a message to the United States ahead of his meeting with President Obama next week, calling for better relations.
- Albania's ruling Democratic Party is claiming victory in last weekend's election, but the opposition is disputing the result.
Africa
- At the African Union summit in Tripoli, Union President Muammar al-Qaddafi is pushing for more continent-wide integration while richer nations like Nigeria and South Africa are expressing concerns over losing sovereignty.
- Nine people convicted of genocide in Rwanda have been transferred to Benin to serve out their sentences.
- Internationally mediated talks to resolve Madagascar's political crisis will resume this month.
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