1 | Seoul
Shoot-out at Sea
North and South Korea's navies exchanged gunfire for the first time in seven years, raising tensions between the rivals shortly before President Barack Obama visits the region. Both countries reported no injuries from the Nov. 10 skirmish along their western maritime border, though the North Korean vessel sustained heavy damage. Officials in Seoul said the shooting was triggered by a North Korean patrol boat that had strayed more than a mile into South Korean territory; the North said the South was the aggressor. Analysts did not expect the incident to spark further conflict, suggesting that Pyongyang may be seeking attention before Obama visits Seoul on Nov. 19. North Korea recently sent signals that it may be willing to return to six-party talks on disabling its nuclear program.
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Area of naval firefight
NORTH KOREA
SOUTH KOREA
2 | Beirut
Seating a Government
Five months after Lebanon's parliamentary elections, Prime Minister--designate Saad Hariri managed to form a unity government. Though the resolution to what had been a contentious political stalemate left Hariri's Western-backed coalition with the most ministerial posts, the opposing faction led by the Iranian-backed militia Hizballah--which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization--gained crucial Cabinet positions. The power-sharing agreement was welcomed by the U.N., but critics admonished Hariri for conceding to Hizballah's demands and potentially legitimizing its military presence in the country.
3 | Pakistan
The Onslaught Continues
Four bombs in four days rocked Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province, including a Nov. 10 explosion in a crowded marketplace near Peshawar that killed 34 people. Extremists have targeted the region in retribution for the Pakistani army's offensive against Taliban fighters in South Waziristan, a militant enclave along the Afghan border. Bombings have killed an estimated 350 Pakistani civilians since early October.
4 | Egypt
Business Or Aid?
Citing a desire to bolster development, China pledged $10 billion in low-interest loans and other economic benefits to African nations. In Sharm el-Sheikh to announce the plan on Nov. 8, Premier Wen Jiabao dismissed suggestions that the initiative is merely an attempt to broaden China's business interests on the continent. The package--coming on the heels of a $5 billion pledge in 2006--includes clean-energy projects, debt cancellations and tariff exemptions.
5 | New York City
Doling Out Doses of H1N1 Vaccine
The New York City department of health has come under fire for distributing rations of the still scarce H1N1 vaccine to corporate health centers--including those of Wall Street firms--despite shortages faced by hospitals and pediatricians. Officials defended the decision, arguing that they are simply increasing the types of locations where the shot is available.
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H1N1 tally
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