The latest news on Zimbabwe Leader Shot, A.N.C. Splinter Party, Arne Duncan, China, Paris, Fed Rate Cut, Somalia, and Israel.

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Zimbabwe leader shot. Mugabe regime blames opposition for shooting "Zimbabwe air force chief Perence Shiri injured after 'assassination attempt' by unknown gunman." Zimbabwe Commander Is Reportedly Shot "The attack on a member of Robert Mugabe's circle was another ominous episode in an unfolding political drama."

A.N.C. splinter party. A.N.C. breakaway party unveils leadership "South Africa's ruling party fears new rival may eat into parliamentary majority in next year's elections." A.N.C. Splinter Party Names Leader "The Congress of the People named the nation's former defense minister, Mosiuoa Lekota, as its president."

Arne Duncan. Arne Duncan to be education secretary "Obama's nomination comes after unveiling environmental 'dream team.'" Obama Names Education Chief "In debate between reform advocates and teachers unions, picking Duncan is likely to appeal to both." Obama names education secretary "The president-elect made the selection of Arne Duncan, the chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools, official Tuesday afternoon."

China. China defends latest web censorship "Government defends decision to block several foreign news websites." China Said to Be Blocking Web Sites "The Chinese government has quietly begun preventing access again to Internet sites that it had stopped blocking during the Olympic Games, experts said on Tuesday."

Paris. Dynamite Found at Paris Store "Group threatens more attacks unless France withdraws its military forces from Afghanistan." TNT discovered at Paris department store "A group demanding that France withdraw its troops from Afghanistan claimed it planted dynamite found Tuesday at a major Paris department store, officials said." Paris bomb scare raises question: jihadis, or not? "The note announcing the explosives lacked references to Islam, jihad, or the Taliban." Paris police find dynamite at department store "Police found the bundle in a department store restroom, and a group that wants France to withdraw from Afghanistan claimed responsibility." Dynamite found in bomb scare at French department store "The dynamite at Printemps in Paris was not attached to a detonator. A group called the Afghan Revolutionary Front had sent a warning letter."

Fed rate cut. Fed Cuts Key Interest Rate to Historic Low "Central bank cuts federal funds rate to target range of zero to .25 percent, an unprecedented move as government scrambles to repair economy." Record Low Reached in Effort to Fight Growing Recession "Having reduced its key rate to a record low, the Fed said that it would use 'all available tools' to fight the recession and downward pressure on prices." Stocks Soar After Fed Rate Cut "A cut in the federal funds rate was widely expected, but investors had not expected such a drastic move."

Somalia. U.S. Will Push U.N. for Somalia Mission "The Bush administration will mount a last-ditch push this week to muster international backing for a relatively small U.N. peacekeeping mission in Somalia, in an effort to help stem piracy and prevent the resurgence of Islamist militants in the lawless East African nation." Pirates Outmaneuver Warships Off Somalia "More than a dozen warships from nearly the same number of countries have joined the hunt for Somali pirates, but the pirates do not seem especially deterred." Somalia's President Appoints Premier "Somalia's transitional government plunged into deeper turmoil when the country's president defied the Parliament by appointing a new prime minister." Should ground troops hunt pirates in Somalia? "A Bush administration proposal to allow foreign forces to go ashore into Somalia to hunt the country's notorious pirates is getting a cool reception from U.S. military leaders, regional analysts, and some Somali officials."

Israel. Israeli Authorities Detain, Expel U.N. Human Rights Envoy "Israeli authorities detained a U.N. human rights envoy for more than 20 hours at the Tel Aviv airport before expelling him, putting him on a plane bound for Los Angeles, U.N. officials said Monday." U.N. Rights Investigator Expelled by Israel "Israeli authorities said Richard Falk was unwelcome because of what the government regards as his hostile position toward Israel." Palestinians rejoice as Israel frees 224 prisoners "The inmates' release keeps peace talks alive and helps shore up the standing of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas among his people. Israel expels a U.N. envoy accused of bias."