Qaddafi denies fleeing to Niger in audio message; Libyan rebels say they are closing in on Qaddafi; HSBC to cut 3000 jobs in Hong Kong; militant Turkistan Islamic Party has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in China's Xinjiang region; Obama to reveal jobs plan to Congress; Italy's upper house passes austerity plan to save $75 billion; and more
Top of the Agenda: Qaddafi Denies Fleeing to Niger
In a new audio message, ousted Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi denied reports that he had fled to Niger in a large convoy earlier this week. He called on loyalists (al-Jazeera) to continue fighting against the rebels' National Transitional Council (NTC), which he claimed was a front for Western powers.
Following Qaddafi's address, loyalists fired rockets (WSJ) at NTC fighters from inside the desert town of Bani Walid, one of the last remaining Qaddafi strongholds. Still, NTC troops said they were closing in on Qaddafi and that he had no way to escape, though they did not disclose his location.
Niger's foreign minister, Mohamed Bazoum, confirmed that officials from Qaddafi's government--including his security chief, Mansour Daw--were seeking safe haven (BBC) in Niger.
Meanwhile, new concerns emerged over missing heat-seeking missiles (NYT) from weapons warehouses, as Western governments urged the NTC to secure Libya's stockpile of weapons and keep them out of the hands of criminals and terrorists.
Analysis
There may be some goons among the rebel movement in Libya, but there are reasons to be optimistic about the post-Qaddafi era, writes the New York Times' Nicholas Kristof.
Foreign powers did help the Libyan rebels overthrow Qaddafi, but Libya can still choose its own path, writes Dan Hind in this al-Jazeera op-ed.
While Qaddafi has fallen, it is too soon to tell whether Operation Unified Protector is a success, writes CFR's Max Boot in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed.
PACIFIC RIM
HSBC to Cut 3,000 Hong Kong Jobs
British bank HSBC announced it will cut three thousand jobs in “support functions” (WSJ) over the next three years at its Asia headquarters in Hong Kong. HSBC, founded in Hong Kong in 1865, is one of the region's largest employers.
CHINA: The militant Turkistan Islamic Party released a video claiming responsibility for recent deadly attacks (Guardian) in China's Xinjiang region. The province is mainly comprised of Muslim ethnic Uighurs, who say they have been marginalized by an influx of China's Han ethnic majority.
ELSEWHERE:
Obama to reveal jobs plan to Congress
Italy's upper house passes $75 billion austerity plan
This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org.