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Top Story: U.S. President Barack Obama's much-watched three-day trip to China ended with more of a whisper than a bang. Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao reportedly discussed a number of sensitive issues, including North Korea and the U.S. debt held in China. But their many public statements indicated few policy advances.
Obama is now visiting South Korea. In Seoul, he made a strong pronouncement against Iran and North Korea. He also said the U.S. envoy to North Korea will travel to Pyongyang for bilateral talks.
Europe Uniting: Today, European leaders meet to select an E.U. president and foreign-policy chief.
Americas
- The U.S. Congressional Budget Office estimated a Senate bill on health care will cost just under $850 billion over 10 years, clearing the way for a vote.
- Senate staffers said they might consider paring back a cap-and-trade bill to include limits only on emissions from power plants.
- Mexico's congress might consider altering its laws to declare that life begins at conception.
- A supervisor of Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hasan at Walter Reed warned the Army about him in 2007.
Asia
- Afghan authorities locked down Kabul in advance of President Hamid Karzai's swearing-in ceremony.
- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to Kabul to stress the need for a reduction in corruption to Karzai.
- A monthlong standoff between Sri Lankan refugees and the Australian government ended.
Africa
- The three-day Rome U.N. summit on hunger ended with African nations disappointed over the lack of funds committed to emergency food aid.
- The head of the U.S. agency PEPFAR, an AIDS initiative, said the recession had not dampened efforts to eradicate the disease on the African continent.
- Qatar launched Darfur peace talks in Doha without representatives of the Sudanese government or the rebel force present.
Europe
- ABC News has reportedly uncovered a secret U.S. CIA "black site" prison at a horse-riding academy in Lithuania.
- The European Union and Russia completed a one-day summit, where they agreed to cooperate on climate change.
- Ukranian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said she has struck a deal with Moscow, guaranteeing the Ukrainian transport of Russian gas to Europe for 2010.
- NATO will delay a decision on troop levels for Afghanistan until Obama makes a determination on the U.S. troop level.
Middle East
- Iran rejected a U.N.-brokered deal to send its uranium abroad for enrichment, making U.S. sactions likely.
- Israel broke ground on new East Jerusalem settlements, despite condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, United States, and United Nations.
- Hamas said Israeli airstrikes wounded three in the Gaza Strip.
Lee Yong-Ho-pool/Getty Images
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