Loughner Described as Troubled Loner, Biden Meets with Karzai in Afghanistan

Jared Lee Loughner, accused of killing six people and wounding 14 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., appeared in court Monday to hear the five charges against him, which include murder and attempted assassination and could bring him the death penalty. Friends and people who knew the 22-year-old described his troubled and erratic behavior and the estrangement from his parents.

Doctors treating Rep. Giffords said that her medical condition has not deteriorated and that she is “likely to survive,” but she still faces an uncertain road to recovery. Giffords remains hospitalized at University Medical Center in Tucson after being shot once in the head.

Secretary Clinton Visits Yemen to Discuss Terrorism Threat

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa to discuss the threat of extremist groups within the country, saying the two countries “face a common threat posed by the terrorists and al Qaeda.” Al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula is believed to be behind the attempt to blow up cargo planes bound for the United States and the attempted Christmas Day bombing in 2009 on a plane headed to Detroit.

Her arrival was kept secret as a security precaution. It was the first visit by a secretary of state since 1990. Despite tense relations between the two governments, Yemen last year was the recipient of $300 million in aid from the Obama administration.

Biden Meets with Afghan President Karzai on Second Day of Visit

On the second day of his surprise visit to Kabul, Vice President Joe Biden met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai as part of an effort to assess the planned troop reduction this summer. Biden said the United States would be willing to stay involved after the target 2014 handover, saying both countries share a desire to see a “stable, sovereign Afghanistan.”

Biden’s unannounced visit comes a month after President Obama went to Afghanistan but did not meet with Karzai, reportedly due to weather. Some see the visit as an attempt to smooth over often-uneasy relations with Karzai.

Secretary Gates: N. Korean Missiles Are Growing Threat to U.S.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in China for a series of meetings with Chinese military officials, warned of North Korea’s increasing missile capabilities, saying the country is within five years of being able to hit Alaska or the West Coast of the United States. The concerns are compounded by North Korea’s ongoing quest for nuclear warheads.

Shortly before Gates met with Chinese President Hu Jintao, there was a test flight of China’s new stealth plane, known as the J-20, which has been a source of unease for the Pentagon. The meetings were designed to improve relations between the two militaries. Chinese officials say the timing of the test flight was unrelated to Gates’ visit.

President Obama will meet with President Hu next week at the White House. Gates’ next stop is in Tokyo, where he is expected to focus on strengthening military ties between South Korea and Japan.

Residents Told to Evacuate as Floods Near Brisbane

Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city, is the latest part of the country to face rising water levels as the worst flooding in decades has residents on the move. Flooding in recent weeks in the state of Queensland has forced people out of their homes and damaged crops and industries as authorities grapple with emergency response.

There are nine people dead and an estimated 70 missing in the latest round of flash floods. The river level reportedly rose more than four feet in an hour. Some local grocery stores have run out of supplies as residents prepare for further flooding. The forecast calls for more rain in the coming days.