President Barack Obama Addresses Joint Session of Congress
President Barack Obama gives his first speech to a joint session of Congress. The president struck an optimistic down while also explaining the challenging economic situation the country is in. You can read a transcript of the speech here on Whitehouse.gov. Below is a video of President Obama's speech.
Vice President Dick Cheney Experiences Abnormal Heart Rhythm
Vice President Dick Cheney was experiencing an abnormal heart rhythm today. He canceled a campaign event today in Illinois. He underwent a procedure at George Washington University Hospital and his heart has returned to a normal rhythm. Dick Cheney suffers from what's known as an atrial fibrillation - an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart. You can more about Cheney's heart woes here, here, here and here.
Olmert Talks About Israel Giving Up Most of West Bank
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said recently in an interview that Israel will need to give up Arab East Jerusalem and nearly all of the West Bank. He did say Syrians and Palestinians will have to step up to the plate as well for there to be a peace agreement between the two countries.
"What I'm telling you now has never been said by an Israeli leader before me," Olmert told journalists from Yediot Aharonot, the country's largest newspaper, in a lengthy pre-Rosh Hashana interview.
Technically, he's right; no previous Israeli premier ever publicly stated his willingness to sign peace treaties that gave the Palestinians "almost all...if not all" of the West Bank, including Arab East Jerusalem, as well as the entire Golan Heights to Syria.
Yet, dramatic as his remarks sounded, there's probably less to them than meets the eye.
For one thing, Olmert can't make good on his bold words because he has resigned (because of the corruption investigations against him), and will soon be replaced in a government reshuffle or elections.
A New York Timeseditorials calls Olmert's statements belated truths. Olmert can do little to act on his words as he is essentially a lame duck. He has already announced that he will be stepping down as you can see in the video below.
Ted Kennedy was released today after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. The AP says the life expectancy for this kind of brain tumor has increased. It used to only be a year but it is still rare for patients to live longer than five years after the diagnosis. Kennedy and his physicians have not yet determined how they will fight the cancer. Senator Robert Byrd gave an emotional message to Kennedy on the Senate floor.
Fidel Castro has resigned as Cuba's leader after 49 years of rule. The BBC reports that the resignation was posted at midnight in a letter published on the website of the Cuban Communist Party's newspaper Granma.
President George W Bush said the US was ready to help the "people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty".
A senior US state department official, John Negroponte, added that the 1962 embargo would probably not be lifted "any time soon".
The European Union said it hoped to relaunch ties with Cuba that were almost completely frozen under Mr Castro, while China described Mr Castro as an old friend and said it would maintain co-operation with Cuba.
Mr Castro has ruled Cuba since leading a revolution in 1959.
The BBC's Michael Voss reports from Havana that most Cubans will be saddened by news of their leader's retirement, but many hope the political transition will bring economic improvements.
Castro, who is said to be very ill, turned control over the government over to his brother Raul in July, 2006 according to the BBC. Raul is 76 years old. The BBC also provides this list of other potential Cuba leaders. President Bush wants Cuba to make changes. He said, "this should be a period of democratic transition for the people of Cuba." CNN's Political Ticker rounds up what some of the presidential hopefuls had to say about Castro's resignations.
East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta has been shot at his home by rebels. He is in "serious but stable" condition according to a BBC news story.
Mr Ramos-Horta was shot in the stomach in a pre-dawn attack on his Dili home.
Alfredo Reinado, a renegade soldier who had threatened the government, was killed by guards during the attack.
Gunmen also attacked Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao but he was not hurt. He called the incidents an attempted coup by Reinado and appealed for calm.
Mr Ramos-Horta is to be flown to the Australian city of Darwin for further treatment.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the "attempt to assassinate the democratically elected leadership of a close friend and neighbour of Australia's is a deeply disturbing development".
Jose Ramos-Horta won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996. You can see a bio of Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta here on the official East Timor website.
Fidel Castro has resigned as Cuba's leader after 49 years of rule. The BBC 
East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta has been shot at his home by rebels. He is in "serious but stable" condition according to a BBC 