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The French have made Terminator-style rubber out of urine, while the Americans were focusing on a wooden car that can travel 240mph.

>>Star Wars - The US Navy successfully hit an impaired satellite the size of a school bus that was falling to earth and potentially contained 453kg of hydrazine, a hazardous fuel. The missile was fired from a vessel off the west coast of Hawaii. The aim was to strike and disperse the contents of the fuel tank. The satellite flew 247km above the earth. The Pentagon denied that this was simply a pretext for a weapons exercise in the face of China's unabashed test last year.

>>Kenya - The Kenyan government has "more or less agreed on" the creation of a prime minister's post, a key demand of the opposition and a possible breakthrough in the political crisis. Kofi Annan sees this as considerable progress. Negotiators return on Friday, when they are expected to ink the final deal. The stakes are high says the International Crisis Group in a new report.

>>Bush's African Tour - President Bush arrived in Liberia today to meet with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman ever elected to head an African nation and a U.S. Medal of Freedom winner. UN peacekeepers provided security in advance of his visit. This completes President Bush's five-nation tour of Africa, which also included stops in Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ghana.

"The current uneasy calm in Kenya should not be misunderstood as a return to normalcy."
- International Crisis Group

"We will continue waiting for the 'Reflections of Comrade Fidel,' which will be a powerful arsenal of ideas and guidance."
- as written in Granma, the Cuban Communist Party newspaper

• Meanwhile, A Peacekeeping Mission Falls Apart - by Mark Leon Goldberg
• Gambari Expected to Visit Myanmar - by Mark Leon Goldberg

Africa ...	Ugandan rebel deal met with skepticism, hope Fighting 'traps' Darfur refugees Morocco Outlaws Party Zimbabwe: Inflation Breaks the Six-Figure Mark
Americas ...	Castro to be Cuba's ideologue, elder statesman Colombian rebels set to free four lawmakers Yellow fever crisis hits Paraguay Farc 'to release another hostage'
Asia ...	U.S. Payments To Pakistan Face New Scrutiny Tibetan language seen hurt by China's neglect Afghan farmers earn about $1 bln from opium: IMF US to take own food to Olympics Deposed Pakistan judge demands crisis measures overturned China arrests over HK sex scandal Bhutto widower 'rejects PM role' US warns India over nuclear pact Burma attacked over constitution New rape allegation in Okinawa Pakistani leaders set for talks Thousands in Armenia Protest Results of Presidential Election Russia Denies Visa to Rights Group Leader in Days Before Report Turkey: Parliament Backs Return of Minorities' Properties New South Korean Leader Cleared in Fraud Inquiry Three killed as earthquake rocks Indonesia
Europe ...	Luxembourg parliament adopts euthanasia law Spain opens new bullet train link Serbs Continue to Push for Control of Northern Kosovo Germany Prods Liechtenstein on Fighting Fraud
Middle East ...	Shi'ite cleric ceasefire verdict due by Saturday Egypt detains brotherhood members Ahmadinejad Imam row grows Israeli MP blames quakes on gays Egypt treads a fine diplomatic line Journalist Sentenced to Death in Iran, Accused of Terrorism

Posted by Matthew Cordell at 7:22 AM