A team of Joint Task Force-Bravo medical personnel deployed Jan. 17, in support of disaster relief efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake Jan. 12. Twenty-three members JTF-B medical element departed for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where they will provide critical medical support to Joint Task Force-Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response, the joint U.S. military disaster relief mission there. "The Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen on our medical element team are ready and eager to help Haiti," said Col.

Why Scott Brown's election in Massachusetts is about more than just health care http://www.examiner.com/x-4525-Seattle-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m1d19-Massachusetts-Senate-vote-about-more-than-just-health-care

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Knife Rights has launched a national state knife law preemption campaign, starting in Arizona. Knife Rights has launched a national preemption campaign in Arizona.

At least six people have been killed in fighting among Somali pirates over a record ransom paid for a hijacked ship. Witnesses say at least four people were killed and several others were wounded Monday as pirates battled in the town of Harardhere. In addition, two pirates were killed Sunday when rival pirate gangs clashed on the hijacked ship, the MV Maran Centaurus. Harardhere was calm Tuesday after local elders mediated between factions of pirates. The pirates received between $5 and $7 million to free the Greek-flagged oil tanker and its 28 crew members on Monday. P

Pakistani intelligence officials say missiles fired by a suspected U.S. drone (pilotless aircraft) killed at least five militants Tuesday in the country's northwest tribal region. The officials say the drone fired two missiles at a compound and a vehicle in a village about 30 kilometers west of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, and just south of the Afghan border. There have been at least 11 suspected attacks by U.S.

Guinea’s opposition coalition-chosen prime minister said he will soon name a cabinet that will work towards organizing the general election scheduled to be held within the next six months. Jean-Marie Dore said he is waiting to meet with interim military junta leader General Sekouba Konate before naming his government. “I am waiting the arrival of General Konate to take the act of nomination, and during the next days the government will be formed and we will start work,” he said. Dore is the leader of the opposition Union for the Progress of Guinea (UPG) party.

An Afghan-international security force searched a compound outside the village of Baghak, in the Jeldek District of Zabul province last night and detained a pair of suspected militants while searching for a Taliban IED cell leader. In Ghazni last night, a joint security force searched a compound in a rural area west of the town of Nyazullah, in the Waghaz district. As the joint force entered a building in the compound, an insurgent threw a grenade and the Afghan-international security force returned fire killing an insurgent.

Afghan national security forces effectively countered an insurgent attack in downtown Kabul today [18 January], and with ISAF support, are securing the area where several explosions and small-arms fire were reported this morning. "Today's attack by the Taliban in Kabul is yet another example of their brutality and contempt for the Afghan people," said Gen. Stanley McChrystal, ISAF commander. "Afghan national security forces effectively dealt with the situation and should be commended.