Dallas Morning News reporter, Kevin Krause, certainly could not be identified as an imposing figure when he prowls the premises of the Dallas County Commissioners Court building. He looks like the 'Where's Waldo?' cartoon character come-to-life. He refuses to go out in public without wearing a 'plaid-shirt,' which dependent on the weather, is a short-sleeve or long sleeve; and he alternates between dark and light colors every Tuesday at the county commissioners' weekly public hearing.

His personality is calm, laid-back, gentlemanly, and even when he stumbles upon a major breaking news story, he politely interviews the politicians without a hint of animosity or arrogance. Therefore, it comes as a big surprise that the top prosecutor of Dallas County refuses to answer his on-the-record questions.

Today, following a transformational organization in 2009, Royal Dutch Shell announced it will slash an additional 1,000 jobs across its international operations in an effort to reduce costs by another $1 billion.

According to the Houston Chronicle, "the impact on the company's operations in Houston, where Shel employs roughly 13,000 people, was not immediately clear. A company spokesman said it was too early to say which regions would be affected."

Last Thursday at the major international conference on Afghanistan in London, President Hamid Kharzai of Afghanistan called on the Taliban to participate in a 'loya jirge' (assembly of elders) as a beginning to peace negotiations.

The Asia Times reports that, "the Taliban are widely reported as having responded that first they want all of the more than 110,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan to leave the country by 2011."

On Wednesday, a North Korean cargo ship was hijacked by Somali pirates. The European Naval Force said that it could not be determined how many crew members were on board.

The Washington Post reports that, "the MV Rim was seized in the Gulf of Aden, outside the internationally recommended transit corridor patrolled by the anti-piracy naval coalition, said Cmdr. Anders Kallin of the EU Naval Force."

Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, who has earned notoriety for dodging interviews with Fox News 4 and other reporters he doesn't like, will adress race issues at a 'Roundtable Writer's Breakfast' at the Black Academy of Arts Letters at Canton and Akard streets downtown at 10 a.m. on Saturday. This month's topic will be entitled: "America: A Nation of Cowards?" D.A. Watkins will moderate the discussion, according to the Dallas Morning News. Those interested in attending the event can call (214)743-2440. Tickets will cost $15.

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The National Organization for Women believes that Heisman trophy winner, Tim Tebow, the University of Florida Gators quarterback, "endangers women's health," since he's starring in a pro-life commercial, which will be broadcast by CBS during the Super Bowl, this coming Sunday.

According to the Washington Times, "the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the Women's Media Center (WMC) are among the groups calling on CBS to refuse the ad. In a letter to CBS, WMC stated, 'The content of this ad endangers women's health, uses sports to divide rather than to unite, and promotes an organization that opposes the equality of Americans based on gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and reproductive freedom."

Oklahoma had been one of the first states in the nation to fight back hard against illegal immigration. The state enacted a series of tough enforcement laws, which included prohibiting companies in the state from firing legal workers while the business continued to employ undocumented workers.

According to the Houston Chronicle, "the law was was set to be enacted in 2007, but ran into a buzz saw of opposition. The courts upheld enforcing the measures. Now today, an appeals court has handed a major decision, ruling that key parts of the immigration control law are not enforceable."

Trial findings suggest that taking a daily fish oil capsule can stave off mental illness in those at highest risk.

The BBC News reports that, "a three-month course of the supplement appeared to be as effective as drugs, cutting the rate of psychotic illness like schizophrenia by a quarter."