Orb Standard: World News...of, by, and for the World

Dear OrbStandard Reader: We wish you the very best in this new Gregorian New Year and we encourage courage and responsible global citizenship.

OrbStandard will resume it regular broadcast on January 2, 2005!

U.S. soldiers secure the area after a car bomb attack in Baghdad today. (Hadi Mizban / AP)

Indonesia Stops Counting as Body Count Mounts

The total number of dead as a result of the tsunami tragedy is around 125,000. Hardest-hit Indonesia confirmed the official death toll of 79,940, but estimated up to 100,000 of its people died.

The death toll on New Year's Eve was around 125,000, six days after the most deadly tsunamis on record, caused by a major earth quake in the Indian Ocean, struck Sunday.

Full Story >>


Presidential Selection U.S. Replaces Memo on Torture with New Guidelines Growing Iraqi resistance causes 16 US troop losses Hastert May Replace Ethics Panel Chairman Two Detainees Refuse Guantanamo Hearing Powell to Lead U.S. Delegation to Asian Tsunami Region more>>		Middle East Electoral tempest in Iraq Within two days: At least 12 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire Peres deal ensures Gaza withdrawal After meeting in Beirut: Renewal of call for boycotting US products Saudi forces kill suspected Al Qaeda leader in clashes more>>
Africa Sudan, southern rebels race to meet peace deadline Congo: Kidnapped UN Staffers Released Senegal signs peace deal with rebels Kenyan ministers to lead delegation to Obama fete Nigeria: Coalition of parties to boycott national dialogue more>>		Americas HEALTH: Intimidation, Politics and Drug Trade Cripple U.S. Medicine WA: 54 troops with ties to state die at war in 2004 Canadians lead in tsunami relief Cuba optimizes its financial machinery for 2005 Death toll in Argentine club fire rises to 134 more>>
Asia Aziz announces postponement of Dhaka SAARC summit China promises to go on promoting six-party talks Korean Warships Exchange Warnings in West Sea Japan, N Korea relations worsen Thailand Unearths 3,500 Fresh Corpses more>>		Europa Schroeder hopes end to nuke standoff EU puffs launch of greenhouse gas market Defiant Basque vote spells trouble for Spain govt Yushchenko May Be a Gift for Business Chechnya invasion called 'a mistake' more>>
Oceana Whitlam denies supporting military action against E Timor Philippines: AFP-NPA Clash in Negros Shatters Christmas Truce The Impact of CAP Reform on New Zealand Philippines: GMA allies in Congress not sold on special session Malaysia: PM: We will work with other nations that have early warning systems more>>		Op-Ed The Ghosts of Vietnam: By ROBERT FISK Palestine: The Little Town of Bethlehem, By Doris Cadigan Linking al-Qaeda to the Iraqi Resistance: An Exercise in Futility: Kurt Nimmo 'Pharma Crops' Threaten Food Safety : by Stephen Leahy Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Nuclear Testing Unnatural Disaster?: By LILA RAJIVA more>>

Donate to OrbStandard.com to help this daily comprehensive survey of world news reach a wider audience. This site is solely supported by our readers who recognize the breadth of information available on this site is rivaled by few others.
Your small or large donation is critical to keeping us online!!!