The latest news on the Mumbai Attacks, Cluster-bomb Ban, Richardson Commerce Secretary, Zimbabwe, Auto Industry, Private Job Losses, Congo, North Korea, Episcopal Church Split, and Right of Conscience Rule.

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Mumbai Attacks. New bomb alert at Mumbai train station "Two bombs found in a bag are defused at Chhatrapati Shivaji train station, which was attacked last week." Mumbai Attacks "Gunmen target popular tourist sites, killing and injuring hundreds." Rice demands Pakistan help in probe "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that Pakistan has a 'special responsibility' to cooperate with the investigation into the deadly Mumbai attacks." Ex-U.S. Official Cites Pakistani Training for India Attackers "American intelligence has concluded that former Pakistani military and intelligence officers helped train the Mumbai attackers, a former Pentagon official said." Pakistan moves up U.S. priority list "The terror attacks in India next door have emphasized the instability in the region." U.S. calls for India-Pakistan cooperation in investigating Mumbai attacks "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in India, and Adm. Michael Mullen, in Pakistan, call on Pakistan to act with urgency and resolve. In Mumbai, tens of thousands gather to show their solidarity."

Cluster-bomb Ban. Nations sign cluster-bomb ban, U.S. and Russia refuse "Scores of nations began signing a treaty banning cluster bombs today in a move that supporters hope will shame the U.S., Russia and China and other non-signers into abandoning weapons blamed for maiming and killing civilians." U.S., Russia snub cluster bomb ban "The United States and Russia were absent Wednesday as representatives from countries from around the world gathered to sign a treaty banning the use of cluster bombs."

Richardson Commerce Secretary. Obama names Bill Richardson as commerce secretary "The New Mexico governor is a former U.N. ambassador and one of the most prominent Hispanic politicians in the U.S." Obama Taps Richardson To Head Commerce Dept. "President-elect names New Mexico governor as commerce secretary, placing a second former campaign rival in his new Cabinet." Obama Names Richardson as Commerce Secretary "Barack Obama denied that the job was a 'consolation' prize for Gov. Bill Richardson, who had been considered a candidate to be secretary of state." Obama picks Richardson for Commerce "The president-elect names New Mexico's governor his administration's chief spokesman for business."

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe villagers face starvation "Crop failure and economic collapse have left the nation without food. Millions survive on nothing but wild fruit. 'Children are dying out in the bush,' one foreign doctor says." Zimbabwe tackles cash shortage amid riots and looting "Government is set to greatly increase the amount of money people can withdraw from banks in an attempt to quell unrest over a drastic cash shortage." Zimbabwe 'asks for cholera help' "Zimbabwe's government has asked for urgent international help to tackle its cholera outbreak, the World Health Organization has said." Zimbabwe: Soldiers' Protests Rock Harare "Zimbabwe is facing widespread protests by discontented soldiers feeling the heat of the country's collapsing economy."

Auto Industry. Ford: GM Could Drag Us Down "Economy Watch: CEO says if GM goes bankrupt, it will take the industry into bankruptcy." Auto Giants Ratchet Up Pleas for Aid "As sales hit 25-year low, companies pledge to unload brands and slash costs." Lead Director Pins G.M.'s Hopes on Federal Rescue "G.M.'s lead outside director said the company's board is behind the chief executive and does not consider bankruptcy an option." UAW offers concessions "The United Auto Workers will delay automakers' payments to a union-run health care trust as the Big Three seek a $34B federal bailout." UAW to suspend jobs bank, rework healthcare trust "The United Auto Workers will to try to help bailout efforts by surrendering job protections and delaying payments to a retiree healthcare trust."

Private Job Losses. Report: 250K Jobs Lost in Nov. "Private employers slash unexpectedly high number of positions; service sector contracts." U.S. economy sheds 250K jobs in Nov.: ADP "Economists had expected the ADP report to show 20,0000 private-sector jobs were lost in November, according to the median of forecasts in a Reuters poll." Private sector loses 250000 jobs - report "The goods-producing sector lost 158,000 jobs last month, its 24th consecutive month of decline, according to the report. This includes 118,000 positions." U.S. service sector sheds 250,000 jobs in a month "More than 250,000 private sector workers in the U.S. lost their jobs in November, according to new figures from the Institute of Supply and Management (ISM)."

Congo. U.N. Helping Coax Militiamen Out of Congo "Though over half a million Hutu refugees have returned to Rwanda, the presence of militiamen in Congo perpetuates the conflict." Congo rebels pull out of eastern town "Rebels in Congo have pulled out of a town on the Ugandan border they captured in fighting that forced 10,000 people to flee." U.N. still hopes for E.U. force in eastern DR Congo "The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo held out hope for a backstop European force for the turmoil-torn east Wednesday." Rwanda Hutu Militia Takes Congo Corridor After Rebel Withdrawal "A Rwandan Hutu militia in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo took control of a corridor vacated by rebels."

North Korea. Brawl Near Koreas' Border "Leaflets dropped in the North have infuriated the government there, which is believed to have become particularly sensitive to personal attacks aimed at Kim Jong Il." Activists scuffle over anti- North Korean leaflets "Defectors from North Korea scuffled Tuesday with protesters trying to stop their campaign to send anti-North Korean leaflets." Tensions - and balloons - rise in South Korea "Park Sang Hak, a North Korean defector, launches balloons bound for his homeland. They carry bags of leaflets accusing North Korean leader Kim Jong Il."

Episcopal Church Split. Conservatives Expected to Split Episcopal Church "The schism over the ordination of an openly gay bishop would create two competing provinces on the same soil." U.S. Anglicans form breakaway church "Traditionalist Anglicans in North America are to set up a new church to settle their differences with the liberal views of the Episcopal Church." Conservatives form rival group to Episcopal Church "Theological conservatives upset by the liberal views of the Episcopal Church are forming a rival denomination."

Right of Conscience Rule. Broader medical refusal rule may go far beyond abortion "The Bush administration plans a new 'right of conscience' rule that would allow more workers to refuse more procedures. Critics say it could apply to artificial insemination and birth control." Rule will strengthen right to refuse care "The Bush administration is planning to announce a broad new 'right of conscience' rule." Baltimore Sun Examines Potential Impact Of Proposed HHS Conscience "The Baltimore Sun on Sunday examined the debate surrounding possible implications of the proposed HHS conscience rule."