Top story: France has now joined the United States and Britain in closing its embassy in Yemen due to threats from Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the terror group believed to be behind the attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas. The British and American Embassies remain closed for a second day.
Meanwhile, Yemen forces clashed with al Qaeda militants on Monday and claimed to have killed at least two who were planning to carry out the embassy attack.
The initial decision to close the U.S. embassy came after a brief meeting yesterday between CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus and Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh. U.S. Counterterrorism Chief John Brennan said in a TV appearance on Monday that he believes there were “plans for Al Qaeda to carry out attacks in Sana, possibly against our embassy, possibly against U.S. personnel.”
Brennan also defended the decision to try attempted plane bomber Umar Farouk Abtulmutallab in Federal Court, saying that he might provide useful information as part of a plea agreement.
Reaching for the sky: Dubai will open the world's tallest building -- the Burj Dubai -- today, amid a debt crisis that has derailed the emirate's once-booming real estate market.
Middle East
- Dozens of Iranian University professors appealed to the government to halt violence against anti-government protesters.
- Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has vowed to seek punishment for the Blackwater guards accused of killing 17 Iraqi civilians.
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to discuss restarting peace talks with Israel.
Asia
- The five Americans held in Pakistan have denied that they were planning to carry out acts of terrorism.
- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered parliament to suspend its winter break to vote on a new cabinet after it rejected most of his original choices.
- The head of Burma's military junta has confirmed that the country will hold elections this year.
Americas
- Mexican authorities have captured the brother of Beltran Levya, the drug kingpin killed by the military last month.
- Brazilian authorities are considering a shutdown of the country's two nuclear power plants after a series of deadly mudslides.
- A Peruvian court upheld a 25-year prison sentence for former President Alberto Fujimori.
Europe
- Russia and Belarus have failed to agree on oil export tariffs, possibly threatening supply to Europe.
- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative opponent David Cameron have both begun campaigning, though no date has been set for national elections.
- Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko is accusing his election rivals of being part of a Russian-backed coalition.
Africa
- A Jamaican Muslim cleric who called for the murder of Jews and Hindus will be deported from Kenya.
- At least 47 people were killed in Central Somalia in fighting between the Shabaab rebels and pro-government forces.
- The Somali man who attempted to kill a Danish cartoonist last week was on a Kenyan terrorist watch-list.
KHALED FAZAA/AFP/Getty Images
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