October 22, 2007 3:54

Turkey Pushed to Brink by New Attack

Turkish artillery bombarded Kurdish PKK rebel positions in Northern Iraq today after an audacious attack by the PKK killed 17 Turkish soldiers on Sunday. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice personally lobbied Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan not to launch a full-scale incursion into Iraq as regional tensions escalate.

Turkish troops keep watch - Burak Kara / Getty

Mindful of what havoc a Turkish invasion could bring to Iraq's Kurdish-dominated northern region, President Jamal Talibani, himself a Kurd, has ordered the PKK to lay down their arms or leave Iraq.

Even as Iraq looks to its northern borders for trouble, the U.S. military sees plenty of problems coming from the country's Shi'ite militias. That's mainly because the Surge has taken many Sunni extremists out of the picture.

Yesterday, some 49 people were killed when U.S. forces raided Sadr City, the Baghdad stronghold of the Shi'ite militias. "The Iraqi government said many of the victims were civilians and protested the action. The American military said that all of those killed were 'criminals,'" writes the Los Angeles Times.

Politics - Cheney's Sharp Words for Iran

After strong words last week from President Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, it was Vice President Dick Cheney's turn this weekend to rattle his saber at Iran. Calling Tehran a "growing obstacle to peace in the Middle East", Cheney made clear that, "We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon".

Cheney's words of war? - Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty

Talking of subtle international diplomacy John Bolton has a book coming out and it's going to be a humdinger. The former undersecretary of state describes how he sought to undermine Secretary of State Colin Powell's attempts to negotiate with Iran, while his report card on his successor, Condoleezza Rice, is said to be underwhelming to say the least.

Perhaps it's applicable to move onto the gloves-off tenor of last night's Republican debate where John McCain, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney and most-to-prove Rudy Giuliani tried to best each other's conservative credentials. When they weren't laying into each other, the candidates did find common ground - beating up on Hillary Clinton.

World - U.S. Sailors Shot in Bahrain

Two U.S. Navy sailors have been shot and killed in Bahrain this morning. The BBC says the incident was a "domestic situation" involving female sailors and not terror-related.

China's leadership has a slightly new look to it this morning, including the promotion of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang - two up and coming stars of the future who are "expected to inherit the posts of party general secretary and prime minister in five years’ time," says the NYT.

Hu's in charge but planning for the future - Feng Li / Getty

Bad news for the Kaczynski brothers. The Polish Prime Minister (whose brother is President) is facing a landslide defeat in this weekend's national elections.

A new study claims that global oil production peaked in 2006 and will fall by half by 2030. Not if they start plundering the Arctic and Antarctic.

Killer monkeys on the loose in Delhi? The BBC reports the deputy mayor of the Indian capital has died after "being attacked by a horde of wild monkeys," and then falling from the terrace of his home. And we thought teenagers were bad!

National - California Burning

One person is dead and many homes have been destroyed as wildfires continue to whip through Southern California. The worst affected area is Malibu where two landmark buildings including Castle Kashan, an ornate, 10,000-square-foot hillside home that loomed over Malibu Lagoon, have burned to the ground.

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Bobby Jindal, the 36-year old son of first generation Indian immigrants, has been elected Louisiana's youngest ever Governor, and the first non-white person to hold he post since Reconstruction. The former GOP congressman won 53% of the vote.

As drought ravages much of the rest of the U.S. the Great Lakes also face problems. Water levels in the lakes are falling and, "the more we lose water, the less cargo the ships that travel in the Great Lakes can carry, and each time that happens, shipping companies lose money,” a port official tells the New York Times. Guess who the shipping companies pass the added costs on to?

Ever had an embarrassing High School nickname that stuck? Then you will sympathize with Sioux City airport. It's learning to live with and embrace its Federal Aviation Administration identifier - SUX.

Celebrity - Harry Potter Sexuality Shocker

Dumbledore was gay? So says Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

Move over Bette Davis. Is Dumbledore the new gay icon? - Warner Bros.

Kid Rock in Atlanta waffle house fight shocker. Guess they don't serve real maple syrup down South.

From Kid Rock to the spiritual son of Cop Rock. The Sydney Morning Herald looks at what the critics are saying about local boy Hugh Jackman's new TV show Viva Laughlin. Could it be the "worst show in the history of television"? If so it is up against some stiff competition.

Which got us thinking of T.J. Hooker.....surely when they remake that "classic" Chris Pine will guaranteed a part. After all, he's starting his career trajectory by playing a young James T. Kirk in a new Star Trek movie.