President and Mrs Obama hosting Prime Minister and Mrs Singh at a state dinner at the White House today.

(Picture Getty Images)

Today at the IDesk, Hala Gorani spoke with Vincent Brossel of Reporters Without Borders on politically motivated violence that has reportedly claimed the lives of up to twenty journalists. If this number is confirmed, this would be the largest single mass killing of reporters.

Hello everyone,

As I write this, the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh is addressing journalists at the White House, highlighting the importance of his country's economic relationship with America. In the news conference, U.S. President Barack Obama also underlined what bonds the two countries: the United States is India's largest trading partner.

This will be the first "state dinner" of Barack Obama's presidency, the highest honor America can extend to visiting leaders.

But this visit isn't only about business: India is a crucial strategic partner for the United States. Mister Obama wants Prime Minster Singh to know that despite the fact that he is busy with Afghanistan, Pakistan and recently visited China, India is not forgotten.

We will go live to Washington, D.C. for more on the visit.

Then, we will take you live to London for more on the British inquiry now under way on why Britain took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Tony Blair is expected to be one of the star witnesses in the next few months.

Paula Newton will have more on the inquiry panel and on the significance of a public debate on why the U.K. followed the United States into Iraq.

Also today, I will speak with Vincent Brossel of Reporters Without Borders on what could turn out to be the biggest single massacre of journalists. Up to twenty journalists may have been savagely killed in an attack on allies of a local politician in the Southern Philippines, in which almost 50 were killed.

The bloody clan turf war in that part of the country routinely claims lives. We will cover that story form all angles.

We are live in Jerusalem for more on statements by Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, who's been dampening expectations of a prisoner swap deal with Hamas that could leave to the release of Hamas captive Gilad Shalit.

We are also live on Wall Street, in Islamabad, Madrid and in Mecca.

See you at the IDesk!

Hala

Hello Ideskers!

Today we will start the show with a report from CNN's Nic Robertson on fears that Irish dissidents are re-organizing and planning attcks in Norther Ireland.

Over the week-end, shots were fired at a police garrison in a small town and a 400 pounds bomb was discovered in Belfast near a strategic target.

Should this be a cause for alarm for authorities after more than a decade of peace in Northern Ireland?

I had an interesting viewer comment on this story, asking if the suspects were Pakistani, if the media would call them dissidents. What do you think about the terminology used in mainstream media? Let me know in our comments sections below.

Also today, we will take you to Wall Street. The figure out today from the National Association of Realtors is truly stunning: existing homes sales jumped 10% in October, to their highest level since February 2007.

This – aprt from unemployment, of course – is one of the most crucial indicators in the United States. If the "perceived wealth" of American households goes up, that is, if people feel richer on paper, they are much more likely to spend money and get the economy going again.

There is liquidity in the market, it is just not being lent and not being spent. The challenge is for the economic cycle to starts working again and increase the overall level of spending.

We will ask: is the housing number a blip or is it indicative of an upward trend?

Plus, an amazing story out of Belgium on a man thought to be brain dead and in a vegetative coma, who was awake all along. A doctor tested Rom Houben a few years ago and found that his brain activity was near normal. Houben had been essentially trapped in his own body for 23 years.

This is a case that is sure to rattle the medical community and families whose loved ones are presumed brain dead. We will talk to a top Atlanta neurosurgeon for more on this story.

We will also look at horrific pre-election violence in the Philipppines and whether or not a deal to realease Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit – held in Gaza – may be getting closer.

See you at the IDesk!

Hala

Hello everyone,

Sometimes, sports stories become international news stories. The World Cup qualifying match between France and Ireland fits into that category.

After a hand ball from French star striker Thierry Henry sent France to the World Cup finals, there have been calls for a replay from ordinary fans all the way up to Irish politicians.

Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern told a radio station he believes there should be a rematch, but added: "They (FIFA) probably won't grant it as we are minnows in world football but let's put them on the spot."

But the French Prime Minister is reportedly saying the Irish government should butt out of the footballing row. Is this football controversay turning into a diplomatic spat?

Football is so closely tied to national pride in many parts of the world that a perception of injustice such as this inflames passions. And even people in France are saying this was not the way they wanted to win.

My Twitter page was flooded with viewers – France and Ireland supporters alike – saying FIFA should order a replay. Although that is unlikely to happen, this incident may have an impact on how the world football federation considers improvements to refereeing.

We will talk with Pedro Pinto in London, Terry Baddoo here in Atlanta and hear from the irish justice minister as well from the streets of Paris.

Also today, we take you live to Brussels for more on the ongoing vote for a new E.U. President. Jim Bittermann is in the Belgian capital with more on the front runner and what the job of European Union president means.

Don't forget to take part in our online poll on whether you think electing a European president will make a difference.

Then, we will go to Kabul and talk to our Chris Lawrence who attended President Hamid Karzai's inauguration after a controversial elections and calls from close allies to seriously address corruption in the Afghan government.

Plus, a look at Wall Street where a major sell-off is under way.

That, and the rest of the day's top stories, as always.

See you at the IDesk!

Hala

Diplomats are meeting in Belgium today, and voting on the first-ever European Union President. There are several candidates in the running. We should know the name by 21:00 in London, 22:00 CET. But, we wanted to know:

Hello everyone,

We continue our "Autumn of Change" coverage with the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in Prague today. Fionnuala Sweeney is live in the Cezh Republic where there are plans to recreate the student March that triggered the fall of communism in that country.

In what was Czechoslovakia, the wave of anti-communist protests forced peaceful change. The Czech Republic is now a European Union and NATO member, with a market economy.

We will look at where things stand today, and how must the country's past is having an impact on the younger generation.

Also on the show today, we will have the latest on President Barack Obama's trip to China, framing a new U.S.-China relationship. Presidents Obama and Hu Jintao met to discuss all important issues that concern both countries.

But with two wars and a global recession hitting it hard, America is not necessarily in the driver's seat. China has weathered the recession relatively well and is essentially financing the U.S. budget deficit by holding so much of America's debt.

The two men talked about trade gaps, Iran, human rights and climate control, all issues on which there was not complete agreement.

Our Ed Henry is in Beijing with more.

Al Goodman is in Spain for the latest on a Spanish vessel crew freed by Somali pirates. They had been detained for weeks and there are questions about whether a deal was struck to secure their release.

We are also live in London for important corporate news and we have the latest on Wall Street action from New York.

Paula Newton is live in Rome for the latest on a hunger summit where some of the world's most controversial – and colorful – leaders have managed to steal the spotlight again.

Plus, all the rest of the day's top stories, as always.

See you at the IDesk!

Hala

Hello everyone,

We will start the show with a live report from the annual Lord Mayor's Banquet in London where the U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown will once again defend an increasingly unpopular Afghanistan policy.

The Prime Minister is expected to reiterate the notion that Al Qaeda and Islamic extremism remain the biggest threat to national security and that Britain's engagement in Afghanistan is essential.

We have a live report.

We will also report on Barack Obama's first trip to China as President. The American leader took questions from students at a town hall meeting in Shanghai over the week-end. A balancing act for President Obama, whose challenge it to achieve rapprochement with China while raising human rights and political freedom issues.

Today, the American president is in Beijing ahead of a summit and state dinner tomorrow. We will have full coverage.

Then, Marc McKay will join me to talk about a carmaker bucking the trend in Formula One: rather than running in the opposite direction, Mercedes Benz is getting back into the sport. We'll tell you all about the move and whether it will pay off.

And- the ex-Republican vice-presidential Sarah Palin is on a media blitz to sell her new book in which she reveals details of her unsuccessful 2008 ticket with John McCain.

Questions surrounding her political ambitions are surfacing again. Will she run for the Republican nomination in 2012?

On that topic, a new CNN/Opinion Research poll reveals that only 28% of Americans think Palin is qualified to be president, while 70% say she is not.

Also today, we will preview NASA's latest launch and Maradona's two-month ban from the football pitch.

See you at the IDesk!

Hala

Hello IDeskers,

Today, we will start the show with the formal announcement that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged co-conspirators will be tried in civilian courts in New York.

This means that they will be moved from their cells in Guantanamo Bay and prosecuted for their role in the September 11th attacks by federal prosecutors, not in military tribunals.

We will talk to former federal prosecutor and high-profile attorney Kendall Coffey on what happens next. How do admissions made using "harsh interrogation techniques" like waterboarding affect the trial? What kind of precedent will this set? Why are accused USS Cole attackers being tried in military courts?

Don't forget to take part in our daily poll below, on whether you think Khalid Sheikh Mohammed can get a fair trial. We will also be reading some of your tweets @halagorani on air, so leave your comments as well.

Also today, we will discuss the meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. It's interesting to see France roll out the red carpet for Mister Assad.

When I was in Paris a few weeks ago, there was considerable talk that President Sarkozy was feeling snubbed by U.S President Barack Obama. Some were speculating that because of that, Mister Sarkozy is trying to forge new alliances with countries on his side of the Atlantic.

The meeting, designed to make a fresh push for Mideast peace by involving the Syrians (not quite on President Obama's new diplomatic engagement policy yet), positions France in an interesting way.

Plus, we are live in Islamabad for more on the latest bombing attributed to Taliban insurgents. The battle between the Taliban and Pakistani government for control of several key regions in the country continues, with ordinary civilians paying the highest price.

We are also live on Wall Street (the rally continues) and London (where Prime Minister Brown is making troop increase recommendations for Afghanistan.)

See you at the IDesk!

Hala