Asia
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A suicide bomber struck outside a court in Lahore, Pakistan, killing at least 22 people, most of them policemen. [UPDATE: Some readers find the photo on the right confusing. It's one of the least grisly images from the scene of the bombing.]
India's Tata Motors introduced the world's cheapest car, a no-frills model dubbed the Nano.
The U.S. military is considering sending another 3,000 troops to Afghanistan.
Middle East
Iran rolled out its own video that purports to show a different picture of Sunday's naval showdown in the Strait of Hormuz.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine estimates that 151,000 Iraqis have died in violence since March 2003. (Read the BBC's summary here.)
Visiting the West Bank, U.S. President George W. Bush said he expects a peace treaty outlining a Palestinian state to be signed by the end of 2008. Most analysts say this is not realistic.
U.S. bombers struck more than 40 al Qaeda targets south of Baghdad, according to a military statement. Nine U.S. troops have been killed in the past two days.
Europe
Former British PM Tony Blair is taking an advisory position with U.S. investment bank J.P. Morgan, a cushy gig with a likely payout of more than $1 million per year.
Poland is seeking greater U.S. security assistance and guarantees in exchange for hosting part of a controversial "missile shield" program.
Kosovo's new prime minister is vowing to declare independence within "weeks."
2008 U.S. Elections
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is reportedly dropping his bid for the Democratic nomination.
Elsewhere
A new survey of top economic forecasters estimates the risk of a U.S. recession in 2008 to be 38 percent.
A new global outlook cosponsored by the World Economic Forum (the Davos guys) rates "food security" as "one of the major risks of the 21st century."
A leaked World Bank memo from Jan. 1 endorsing Mwai Kibaki's claims of electoral victory threatens to plunge Kenya back into chaos.
An estimated 400,000 people have fled worsening violence in eastern Congo.
Today's Agenda
- President Bush wraps up his meetings in the West Bank with a visit to Bethlehem.
- U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman is due to give a speech on "Financial Markets, the Economic Outlook and Monetary Policy" at 1 p.m. EST.
- Russia's deputy foreign minister meets with Polish leaders regarding the proposed U.S. missile shield.
Yesterday on Passport
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