Silicon Valley Employee Charged With Selling Military Secrets

December 15, 2006 -- U.S.

Silicon Valley Employee Charged With Selling Military Secrets

The U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco announced Thursday a 36-count indictment in an economic espionage case against Xiaodong Sheldon Meng, a former employee of Quantum3D, a Silicon Valley company specializing in military simulations. (ABC News)

FIDEL CASTRO

Castro Near Death, U.S. Intelligence Chief Says

Cuban President Fidel Castro is very ill and close to death, Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte said yesterday. (Washington Post)

U.K.

Blair Questioned in Cash-For-Honors Case

Prime Minister Tony Blair has been questioned by police investigating allegations that peerages and other honors were bestowed in return for political contributions, Blair's office said Thursday. (AP)

AFGHANISTAN

Bombers Hit Afghanistan as NATO Launches Operation

Two suicide bombers, one dressed in an Islamic burqa, killed at least two Afghan soldiers and wounded a foreigner on Friday as hundreds of British-led troops launched a major operation in the Taliban's heartland. (Reuters)

PAKISTAN

'Taleban Law' Blocked In Pakistan

Pakistan's Supreme Court has blocked a fresh attempt to enact a Taleban-style law to enforce Islamic morality in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). (BBC)

Pakistan 'Arrested' 500 Taleban

Pakistan says it has arrested more than 500 Taleban militants this year and handed most of them to Afghanistan. (BBC)

Two Killed In Violence in Karachi

Two people have been killed and 10 others injured in the Pakistani port city of Karachi. (BBC)

IRAQ NEWS

Rice Rejects Overture to Iran And Syria

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday rejected a bipartisan panel's recommendation that the United States seek the help of Syria and Iran in Iraq, saying the "compensation" required by any deal might be too high. She argued that neither country should need incentives to foster stability in Iraq. (Washington Post)

SAUDI ARABIA

Blair Defends Saudi Probe Ruling

Tony Blair has hit back at claims a corruption probe into a Saudi arms deal with BAE Systems was dropped after commercial and political pressure. (BBC)

LITVINENKO INVESTIGATION

Dutch to Test 20 People for Polonium Radiation

Dutch health authorities said on Friday they have called in about 20 people for radiation testing after they stayed in a London hotel where poisoned former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko also spent time. (Reuters)

U.S.

U.S. Drops Effort to Track When, or If, Visitors Leave

In a major blow to the Bush administration's efforts to secure borders, domestic security officials have for now given up on plans to develop a facial or fingerprint recognition system to determine whether foreign visitors leave the country, officials say. (International Herald Tribune)

DARFUR

Darfur Violence 'Preventing Aid'

Nearly half a million people in the Darfur region of Sudan have less access to aid as a result of a recent upsurge in violence, according to aid agencies. (BBC)

SOMALIA

Somali Group Denies Al-Qaeda Link

Somalia's powerful Islamist group has dismissed US allegations that its leadership is dominated by al-Qaeda. (BBC)

WIRETAPPING IN GREECE

Greek Scandal Sees Vodafone Fined

Mobile phone giant Vodafone has been fined 76m euros ($100m; £51m) by a Greek privacy watchdog. (BBC)

DRUG TRAFFICKING

Mass Drug Arrests across Europe

Police across Europe have broken up an international drug-trafficking network, arresting 90 people in a number of countries. (BBC)

ON THE WEB

ABC News Extremist Website Monitoring

This is a daily update of some of what can be found on militant Islamist websites that are often used by al Qaeda and its sympathizers, insurgent groups in Iraq and other groups for propaganda, recruiting and communication purposes. (ABC News)

ANALYSIS & OPINION

What Syria Would Say

By David Ignatius

What positions would Syria take if it entered a dialogue with the United States about Iraq and other Middle East issues? I put that question Thursday to Walid Moallem, Syria's foreign minister, and he offered surprisingly strong support for the recommendations made last week in the Baker-Hamilton report. (Washington Post)

A Bitter Struggle for Power in Iran

By Sami Moubayed

Much is being written in the international media about the twin elections in Iran, which take place on Friday. Some, like veteran Iranian journalist Amir Taheri, are expecting the "first major political defeat" for Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. (Asia Times)

Rapid Slum Growth Breeds Crime And Terrorism, Says U.N.

The rapid growth of slums in the world's towns and cities is increasing urban poverty and creating a breeding ground for terrorism, fanaticism, pollution and disease, the United Nations said on Friday. (Reuters)

In Bahrain, Democracy in Action or Just Divide and Rule?

By Fred Wehrey

Shiite and Sunni Islamist candidates dominated Bahrain's late November parliamentary elections - winning a combined total of 29 out of 40 seats - leading some observers to warn of a polarized Parliament where civility and legislative action would fall victim to sectarian mudslinging. Others predicted a tenuous detente, where the two sides would avoid divisive issues such as anti-Shiite discrimination and constitutional amendments and collaborate instead on consolidating social conservatism. (Daily Star)

The Insider Daily Investigative Report (DIR) is a summary of major news articles and broadcasts relating to investigative news, including international terrorism and developments in Iraq. The DIR is edited daily from foreign and U.S. sources by Chris Isham, Hoda Osman and Elizabeth Sprague of the ABC News Investigative Unit. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ABCNEWS.