SIx In The Morning

US, N. Korea in first nuclear talks since Kim death

Discussions will be closely watched for signs of more cooperation from Pyongyang

Associated Press
BEIJING — Amid cautious optimism, U.S. and North Korean envoys met Thursday for their first talks on dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear programs since the death of the country's longtime leader Kim Jong Il. The discussions will be closely watched for signs of a more cooperative approach from North Korea, which stands to gain food aid, economic help, and diplomatic concessions in return for taking steps to end its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

EU tar sands vote looms
The decision whether Europe will officially label oil produced from tar sands as highly polluting will be made on Thursday

Damian Carrington guardian.co.uk, Thursday 23 February 2012 06.45 GMT
A fierce battle over whether the European Union will officially label oil produced from tar sands as highly polluting comes to a head on Thursday with a crucial vote. The issue is seen as a key test of the EU's ability to implement its climate change policies amid pressure from the Canadian government and oil companies' ability to prevent billions of barrels of tar sands oil being designated as especially harmful to the environment. The lobbying has been intense, with Canada secretly threatening a trade war with Europe if the proposal is passed. The Nasa climate scientist James Hansen has said full development of the tar sands would mean it was "game over" for the climate.

Prosecutor tells Mubarak he faces death by hanging
Ex-President snubs final chance to address court after claims he ordered shooting of protesters

Alastair Beach Cairo Thursday 23 February 2012
The deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was last night facing the possibility of death by hanging as the final session in one of the most sensational trials in recent history drew to a close. Given a last opportunity to address the court in Cairo, where for much of the past six months he has lain on a hospital bed in a cage listening to the evidence against him, Mr Mubarak refused, telling the judge he had no comments to make

SADC heads planned onslaught on pirates
Southern African Development Community navies are plotting to defeat Somali pirates before they move southwards

MHLABA MEMELA | 23 February, 2012 01:10
The bloc's naval heads from 14 countries were locked in high-level discussions in Durban yesterday to formulate their battle plan, which they expect to put into action as soon as the issue of funding is thrashed out. The naval chiefs, who will deliberate until tomorrow, acknowledged that piracy now threatened the entire continent - as trends show that brazen pirates are moving towards the south sub-Saharan region.

Convoluted fuse to Bangkok bombs
Southeast Asia

By Anthony Davis
BANGKOK - Since the mid-February bomb blasts which struck Bangkok and New Delhi, and a failed attack in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, confusion over events on the ground has been compounded by a predictable war of words between Iran, widely viewed as behind the attacks, and its arch-enemy Israel, the apparent target. Amid the din of accusation and denial, amplified by camp-followers of both parties, puzzled independent observers have managed to concur on only two aspects of the still unexplained events.

Brazilian activists urge crackdown on 'death squads'
Human rights officials aim to make contract killing a federal crime in Brazil after two journalists are killed.

By Elyssa Pachico, Guest blogger
A top human rights official in Brazil's government said that Congress should push through a bill which makes contract killings a federal crime, after two journalists were shot to death in less than a week. Maria do Rosario, head of the office of the President's main human rights commission, said Congress should pass a bill allowing the federal government to investigate and prosecute contract killings. The bill would also increase the penalties for murders committed by militias and death squads, including increasing jail time for militia members from four to eight years, Agencia Brazil reports (in Portuguese).