My Press Review - Monday 13 December

Muslims in France 'like Nazi occupation'

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French far-Right, drew heavy criticism after she said Muslims praying outside were like Nazi occupiers.

 

Iran not a rogue state: Australia

Australia is at odds with its major security ally the United States over Iran, saying it is not a "rogue state" and its nuclear weapons program is for deterrence, not attack, according to U.S. cables released by WikiLeaks.

 

Barzani says Kirkuk belongs to Kurdistan

Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani has said that his semi-autonomous region has the right to self-determination and to the disputed city of Kirkuk, which is situated on top of some of Iraq’s largest oil reserves.

 

Japan to Refocus Military on China

Japan is about to release guidelines reducing forces pointed toward Russia in favor of units that can respond to China.

 

Sudan's southern independence referendum

Lawyers for a Sudanese campaign group on Sunday launched a legal bid to halt the country's referendum for southern independence, accusing organisers of mishandling the process

 

Netanyahu does not want to share Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a call from a key government partner to share the holy city of Jerusalem with the Palestinians, a reminder of the obstacles facing already troubled peacemaking efforts. Conflicting claims to east Jerusalem lie at the heart of ...

 

Shut Out by Mubarak, Egypt's Opposition Considers a New Path

With the regime's conduct of the recent election closing off the parliamentary avenue, opposition parties coalesce into a democracy movement

 

Thaçi claims Kosovo election victory

Exit poll puts Thaçi's party six percentage points ahead of its main rival, the Democratic League of Kosovo

 

Armenia Warns on Karabakh

Armenia's president threatened on Friday to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as independent if Azerbaijan resorts to force to resolve their dispute over the rebel enclave.

 

‘Ahmadinejad to visit Turkey this month’

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Turkey later this month to participate in a summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO

 

Sinn Féin leaders 'were aware' of Northern Bank heist plans

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness held lengthy negotiations with the former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern to save the Northern Ireland peace process in the full knowledge that the IRA was planning to carry out the biggest bank robbery in its history, according to leaked US cables passed to WikiLeaks.

 

Iceland walks out of fishing talks

Britain and the EU are on the verge of a trade war with Iceland and the Faroe Islands after talks to agree a quota for fishing mackerel collapsed.

 

Afghanistan plans national electronic ID cards

War-torn Afghanistan lacks basic national infrastructure, yet on Sunday the government unveiled plans for a $100 million electronic identification system with cards to be issued to all Afghans within five years.

 

US public-private conflict over Uzbekistan

The post-Soviet state of Uzbekistan is a nightmarish world of "rampant corruption", organised crime, forced labour in the cotton fields, and torture, according to the leaked cables.

U.S. free-traders sour on China

Long-simmering trade tensions between the United States and China have broken out into open verbal warfare, with some highly respected and influential voices on trade now advocating an all-out economic war with the Asian giant.

 

Tunisia: Japan contributing to solar projects in Morocco

Morocco and Japan have signed, in Tunis, an agreement on renewable energy cooperation, with a view to

Egypt Red Sea beaches to reopen

Egypt is to reopen beaches in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after a series of shark attacks, with new measures to protect swimmers.

 

Wealthy Beijingers buy foreign homes

Strict policies introduced by the government to cool the rocketing real estate market in the capital have led many of the city's richest residents to look overseas for their real estate investments

 

Mona Lisa painting 'contains hidden code'

Art historians are probing a real life Da Vinci Code style mystery after discovering tiny numbers and letters painted into the eyes of the artist's enigmatic Mona Lisa

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What's Happening Today - Sunday 12 December

China:

An 11.7 percent surge in food prices has caused China's consumer price index to increase to a 28-month high of 5.1 percent in November

Thailand:

Holds by-elections for five parliamentary seats in provinces in the northeast and central region.

India, Sikkim:

Dalai Lama visits the north eastern Indian state Sikkim where he will visit various ancient Buddhist monastries along the border with China

Russia:

North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun visits for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov (-15) (Korean news agency KCNA)

Russia: 

Finnish Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi concludes visit; joins counterpart Vladimir Putin to launch high-speed St Petersburg-Helsinki railway service today

Russia:

Constitution Day; human rights activists hold forum to discuss public action to defend constitution, civil rights, options for dialogue with authorities; Monthly Day of Wrath opposition rally held in Moscow, also rally expected by supporters of jailed former Yukos oil company chief Mikhail Khodorkovskiy, his associate Platon Lebedev

Turkmenistan:

A total of 1,972 convicts have been pardoned and freed from further serving sentences under a decree signed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on the occasion of the Neutrality Day holiday; when it also shuts border with Kazakhstan

Iran:

Tehrani students will hold a gathering in protest against the assassinations of Iranian scientists by Western countries outside the British embassy

Iraq:

The Baghdad Operations Command will deny groups of officials access into Al-Kazimiyah from today until Friday [17 December] in order to provide better safety to citizens as they  “perform their religious rituals"

Kuwait:

Following the issue of Kuwaiti opposition MPs being exposed to beatings, the Illa al-Dustur Bloc, composed of the Development and Reform Bloc, the Popular Action Bloc, and the National Action Bloc, says it will 
submit a request to interpellate the prime minister.

UAE:

7th Dubai International Film Festival (to Dec. 19).

Jordan:

Visiting Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd holds a press conference following talks with his Jordanian counterpart, Nasser Judeh.

Israel:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convene weekly meeting of his cabinet.

Egypt: 

Opposition holds Day of Wrath over alleged rigging of 28 November parliamentary election

Egypt: 

President Husni Mubarak addresses newly-elected parliament ahead of its first meeting tomorrow 

Libya:

Meeting of North African and southern European Interior Ministers.

Sudan:

Watching after Sudanese Armed Forces attacked Minni Minnawi's faction of the Sudan Liberation Army, a Darfur rebel group. Two ground attacks took place between the SAF and SLA, Darfur's UNAMID peacekeeping force spokesman stated, adding that both attacks were on the village of Khor Abeche, located 80 km northeast of Nyala, the capital of south Darfur.

Kenya: 

Jamhuri Day, marking anniversary of independence from UK in 1963, formation of republic in 1964; President Mwai Kibaki usually delivers speech; Prime Minister Raila Odinga may also speak 

Moldova: 

Election of head of Gagauz autonomous region

Moldova: 

Breakaway Dniester region holds parliamentary election 

Slovenia:

Slovene voters will head to the polls to vote on the new law on RTV Slovenija, a piece of legislation that would thoroughly change the public broadcaster compared to the existing law, which the centre-right government enacted in 2006.

Kosovo: 

Snap elections held following break-up of ruling coalition, no-confidence vote on 2 November 

Sweden:

Following as audio files in an e-mail to Swedish news organizations TT and SAPO sent by the man believed to have conducted a suicide bombing in Stockholm contained messages recorded in both Swedish and Arabic

US: 

Watching for developments after US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke is taken critically ill

US: 

Spanish Defence Minister Carme Chacon continues visit to meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for talks on Spanish involvement in peacekeeping missions (-14) 

Mexico:

Climate Change summit ends.

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My Press Review - Sunday 12 December

Thousands quit Afghan police force

Former Army commander says 2015 departure could be delayed if Afghanistan is unable to police itself. Afghanistan's police force, whose success and stability is crucial to allowing the government to withdraw British troops, is losing nearly one in five recruits every year, new figures reveal.

 

South Sudan party to campaign for independence

A senior member of South Sudan's ruling party on Saturday, Dec. 11, said it would campaign for southerners to choose independence in a referendum, abandoning a legal fiction that the movement was neutral.

 

Koran-protest pastor to visit UK

Campaigners call for a US pastor who threatened to burn the Koran to be banned from attending an English Defence League rally in the UK.

 

Diplomat Richard Holbrooke in critical condition

Richard Holbrooke, the veteran diplomat President Barack Obama tapped as his special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was in critical condition on Saturday after surgery to repair a tear in his aorta, the State Department said.

 

Stockholm bombers: 'Stop your stupid war on Islam'

Swedish journalists receive taped warning before cars filled with gas canisters explode in a shopping district, killing 1 and injuring 2.

 

Climate talks end with modest steps, no Kyoto deal

World's governments agreed on Saturday to modest steps to combat climate change and to give more money to poor countries, but they put off until next year tough decisions on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Ivorian rival tells Gbagbo to go

The man widely seen as winner of Ivory Coast's presidential poll urges Laurent Gbagbo to resign as the stand-off continues.

 

Police 'secure' Buenos Aires camp

Authorities in Argentina say they have regained control of an area of Buenos Aires where at least three people died in clashes between local residents and squatters.

 

Official report into Lockerbie bombing blocked by authorities

The publication of an official, 800-page dossier detailing the Lockerbie bomber's grounds for appealing his conviction has been blocked by authorities.

 

Huge crowd rallies in Rome against Berlusconi

A leader of Italy's center-left opposition is leading a huge rally in Rome against Premier Silvio Berlusconi as confidence votes on the conservative government looms in Parliament.

 

Protests over UK Guantanamo man

A protest is held on the site of the new US embassy in south-west London to call for the release of the last British resident in Guantanamo Bay.

 

Spanish anger at Wikileaks arrest

Street protests in Spain call for the release of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who faces extradition from Britain to Sweden.

 

Gas pipeline to cross Afghanistan

A deal is struck on building a pipeline to carry Turkmen natural gas across Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.

 

Gulf States to spend $2 Trillion on infrastructure

The Gulf region plans to spend some $2 trillion over the next several years in infrastructure projects, according to a Pictet & Cie Bank report. 

 

OPEC ministers signal no change in output

The outgoing president of OPEC has announced that the annual meeting of oil ministers has ended with a decision to make no changes in crude oil output.

 

Don't bet against euro: German finance minister

Europe's single currency is here to stay and those who bet against its survival are making a mistake, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said.

 

South Africa's FirstRand to run Zambia's Finance Bank

Zambia's central bank has appointed South Africa's FirstRand (FSRJ.J) to run a key commercial bank facing collapse due to poor management, a central bank spokesman said today.

 

 Air-conditioned stadiums in Qatar an easy job

While some people doubt the feasibility of Qatar's promise to build fully air-conditioned stadiums for the 2022 World Cup, a leading sports architecture company said the idea was not impractical.

 

Russia, Qatar, then China?

Qatar winning the bid to host the 2022 World Cup didn't only upset its major competitors, the United States and Australia, but also disappointed China as the nation's hopes of a 2026 China World Cup nosedived.

 

Being Somali

The trip to Kenya, to investigate the plight and status of Somalis living in Kenya, took a month of planning. After intensive research, I sent out more than 100 e-mails to local administrative bodies, foreign NGOs, analysts and reporters. Only three bothered to reply, and in the end, I did not use any of them. I met all the sources in my story on the ground. Luck, to be honest, played a big part. I only had nine days in Kenya. In order to talk to Somalis living in communities in Nairobi's Eastleigh neighborhood and the northeastern town of Mandera which borders Somalia, as well as a key source in the eastern port city of Mombasa, my timing had to be very precise. I also had to meet various other sources within the tight deadline.

 

Mothers – the hidden addicts of Afghanistan

Mariana lies on her bed in the Sanga Amaj clinic in Kabul. She shares a small ward with 12 women enrolled in the clinic's 45-day residential drug rehabilitation programme. At 22, she is five months pregnant with her fourth child. Her one-year-old son lies in a separate room of the clinic. He is also addicted to opium.

 

Polish snowman, 6 days in making, rises 31 feet

A group of Poles have decided to make the most of winter, building a 31-foot (9.5-meter) snowman dubbed Milocinek, who wears a barrel for a hat and a road safety cone for his nose.

 

 

 

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What's Happening Today - Thursday 9 December

Japan:

US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen visits from Seoul for meetings with military leaders 

Japan:

Joint US-Japanese military exercise Keen Sword continues in Sea of Japan (-10) (Japanese news agency Kyodo)

China:

Turkey's transportation minister Binali Yildirim discuss a high-speed railway planned to be constructed between the northwestern province of Edirne and eastern province of Kars; attends the Seventh World Congress on High-Speed Rail of the International Union of Railways (UIC) 

China:

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmad Karti continues visit (-10); 

South Korea: 

Large-scale artillery firing exercises continue in seas around Korean peninsula (-12)

Indonesia:

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Bali for around 12 hours; meets Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss Korean Peninsula Crisis, participates in Bali Democracy Forum

Thailand:

Constitution Court rules on whether will accept case in which ruling Democrat Party has been accused of accepting undisclosed donation of 258m baht (8.5m dollars)

Laos:

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva leads an entourage on a visit to attend the inauguration of the multi-purpose Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project

India:

Russia's top commander wraps up visit to India to discuss bilateral military cooperation ahead of the up coming INDRA-2011 joint drills and a visit BrahMos Aerospace - a Russia-India joint venture manufacturing supersonic cruise missiles

Russia:

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon wraps up visit

Russia:

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) foreign ministers meet in Moscow ahead of CSTO summit and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) jubilee summit later in day; Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union summit meets at session of governing body of Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC); President Dmitriy Medvedev among presidents attending

Russia:

Leaders of the Former Soviet republics Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia to meet to discuss Customs' Union issues.

Russia:

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will take part in the Intergovernment Council of Euroasian economic community.

Russia:

Watching as Russian NATO Ambassador Dmitry Rogozin demanded that NATO's defense plan for the Baltics and Poland, that mentions Russia as a potential aggressor, be confirmed or denied

Turkmenistan: 

Afghan President Hamed Karzai visits to finalize pipeline project to transport gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India via Afghanistan 

Iran:

Opposition Green Movement marks first anniversary of reformist Ayatollah Montazeri's death by gathering at his tomb in Qom

Turkey:

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani wraps up visit

Bahrain:

Trial of alleged members of an alleged 25-member Shia terror network resumes; to face charges of forming and belonging to an illegal network seeking to undermine Bahrain's security and stability.

Saudi Arabia:

Riyadh hosts last day of the international symposium on the "Relations of the Arabian Peninsula with Greek and Byzantine worlds, from 5th century BC to 10th century AD"

Yemen:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) completes repatriation of  hundreds of Ethiopian migrants stranded in northern Yemen last week.

Egypt: 

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas visits for talks with counterpart Husni Mubarak on Middle East peace process, latest Palestinian developments; Abbas said yesterday that Middle East peace talks were in crisis following Israel's refusal to stop building in settlements 

Sudan: 

Expert-level meetings in Khartoum to prepare for Higher Kuwaiti-Sudanese Ministerial Committee set to meet on 21 December; meeting come after 20-year hiatus

Tunisia: 

Second and final day of 34th conference of top Arab police and security officials; fight against terrorism, human trafficking on agenda 

Ivory Coast: 

Watching developments as stand-off over who has won presidential election continues: UN Security Council yesterday endorsed opposition leader Alassane Ouattara as winner 

Ethiopia: 

African Union Peace and Security Council meets in Addis Ababa to discuss situation in Guinea but Cote d'Ivoire situation also likely to come up (Regional sources)

South Africa: 

Third and final day of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Durban; heads of state, government officials, businessmen, others in attendance 

Namibia: 

Aviation security chief Nehemia Shafuda, accused of planting bomb-like security test package on Munich-bound plane appears in court

Greece: 

EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn to speak at a one-day Economist conference "Keeping the euro alive: Greece's economic recovery."

Lithuania:

Parliament to hold the final vote on its budget 2011.

Latvia:

Parliament to vote on passing 2011 budget in the first reading.

Belarus:

Presidential candidate Nyaklyayew will meet with Vital Rymashewski, the presidential nominee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, to discuss a strategy of defending the real voting results.

Bulgaria: 

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman visits from Bosnia-Hercegovina

Croatia:

Amnesty International launches report on war crimes impunity in Croatia - 0001 GMT 

Kosovo: 

Campaigning for 12 December snap parliamentary election continues (-10); Pristina has said yesterday's shooting of a Bosnian Muslim poll official will not stop first elections since declaration of independence

Germany:

Launch of Transparency International's 2010 Global Corruption Barometer (0600).

Germany:

The "Werthebach Commission" created by Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere to give recommendations for a completely new security architecture in Germany. (NB Expected to propose new Federal Criminal and Financial police forces)

Belgium:

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to visit Belgium (to Dec. 10).

Belgium:

The European Parliament's committee on foreign affairs to discuss Turkey's 2010 progress report.

Belgium:

European defence ministers meet – to discuss how to pool resources and cut military budgets

France:

Syrian President Bashar al-Asad meets counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss security cooperation, tensions in Lebanon ahead of first indictments by UN tribunal in 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri 

UK:

Britain's parliament to vote on plans to raise tuition fees for university students, an issue which has split the Liberal Democrats, the junior partner in the Conservative-led coalition.

Ireland:

Parliament holds second vote on austerity budget.(NB Finance minister Lenihan has been named Europe's worst finance minister for second year running in survey of economists by Financial Times)

Spain: 

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero addresses parliament on government's imposition of 15-day state of alert which placed air traffic controllers under military command thus halting weekend wildcat strike to protest about working hours and benefits 

UN: 

International Anti-Corruption Day

US:

Hong Kong finance minister Tsang arrives in New York to visit the Federal Reserve Bank 

US:

Nigeria and United States hold high-level talks in Washington DC on the forthcoming general election between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Odein Ajumogobia.

US: 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton due to give speech at Brookings Institution in Washington; some speculation that may use opportunity to outline new US thinking on Middle East peace efforts; meanwhile, chief Palestinian negotiator Sa'ib Urayqat and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Baraq both reported to be heading to Washington for talks with Obama

US:

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski concludes visit focused on military cooperation, possible deployment of Falcon, Hercules aircrafts in Poland, visa-free travel, Polish shale gas deposits; Komorowski met Obama 
yesterday 

Venezuela:

Looking for reaction after Venezuelan National Assembly approved the 2011 budget, totaling 204.2 billion bolivars (about $47.4 billion), Globovision reported Dec. 7. The 2011 budget represented a 28 percent increase from the one approved for 2010 and was calculated at an assumed oil price of $40 per barrel and daily oil production of 3.17 million barrels.

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What's Happening Today - Wednesday 8 December

Australia:

Southern Sudanese national registration for referendum ends, after one week extension. About 8,000 people are thought to have registered. Registration also ends in the other 7 countries outside of Sudan.

Japan:

Bolivian President Evo Morales wraps up visit 

South Korea: 

Large-scale artillery firing drills held in seas around Korean peninsula to beef up defence readiness against potential attack by North Korea. General Han Min-koo, chairman of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), will meet his US counterpart Adm. Mike Mullen in Seoul to assess “North Korean provocations”

China:

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmad Karti begins visit (-10); meets counterpart Yang Jiechi 

Indonesia: 

South Korea President Lee Myung-bak heads to Bali, meets President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, participates in Bali Democracy Forum (9); then travels to Malaysia to meet Prime Minister Najib Razak, sign treaty on judicial cooperation and fighting crime 

India: 

Watching developments as security tightened across country following last night's bomb attack in Varanasi that killed one and injured many others; attack came on 18th anniversary of demolition of Babri Masjid mosque; responsibility has been claimed by banned Indian Mujahideen

India: 

Head of Russian Armed Forces staff Gen Nikolay Makarov visits New Delhi and Agra (-9); meets Chief of Air Staff Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, Adm Nirmal Kumar Verma, chief of Indian Navy, and Chief of Army Staff Gen Vijay Kumar Singh; will discuss developing military cooperation and joint exercises Indira-2011 

Indonesia:

Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara will visit Indonesia, Malaysia and then Tunisia and Algeria to attend economic forum and energy talks.

Russia:

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon visits 

Russia:

A meeting of the Russian, Afghan, Pakistani and Tajik heads of drug control will be held in Moscow.

Pakistan:

Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry appointed as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, at the behest of the PM.

Uzbekistan:

Justice Ministry holds multiple conferences to help “improve the legal knowledge of the younger generation” in Xorazm, Qashqadaryo and Tashkent regions

Turkey: 

Last day of visit by Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani; in Istanbul, meets Turkish business community at luncheon hosted by Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) of Turkey; receives honorary degree in journalism from Marmara University (Pakistan Ministry of Information)

Yemen: 

Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defence Rashad al-Alimi questioned in parliament over secret memos released by WikiLeaks on strikes against Al-Qa'idah in Yemen 

Israel:

Following as Washington suspends its demand that Israel freeze Jewish settlement building before Middle East peace talks resume

Sudan: 

Following up after US State Department said voting on an independence referendum for the oil-rich Sudanese region of Abyei will not take place on Jan. 9 as originally scheduled

Tunisia: 

Start of 34th conference of top Arab police and security officials; opened by Interior and Local Development Minister Rafik Belhaj Kacem; fight against terrorism, human trafficking on agenda 

Ethiopia:

Addis Ababa hosts UN-sponsored International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA); over 10,000 delegates from around world to participate 

Kenya:

High Court in Nairobi to be urged to issue a provisional arrest warrant against Sudanese president, Umar Al-Bashir. 

South Africa:

The South African Reserve Bank will hold its annual general meeting.

DR Congo:

Former Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi – the so-called “Mandela of the Congo” - expected to return to the country after three-year absence.

Central African Republic:

Despite the electoral commission setting the deadline for submissions for presidential election on 8 November, the Collective of the Forces of Change have insisted that registration ends on Wednesday in a move that has proved controversial.

Ivory Coast: 

Watching developments as stand-off over who has won presidential election continues: UN Security Council has failed to agree on statement backing Alassane Ouattara due to block by Russia who expresses concern about interfering in domestic matters

Estonia:

Third and final reading in parliament of Estonia's state budget for 2011.

Czech Republic:

Strike of public sector workers to protest against government's austerity measures

Czech Republic:

Prime Minister Petr Necas authorises country’s energy system to be connected to Poland’s with construction to  be finished within the year – it will be the first gas system linking Warsaw to the transmission system of southern Europe 

Kosovo:

Looking ahead as campaigning for 12 December snap parliamentary election continues (-10) 

Switzerland: 

UN-organized conference on financial crisis, world governance held in Geneva; head of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy gives lecture 

Germany:

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany: 

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on last day of visit; meets Chancellor Angela Merkel; news conference (1115 gmt)

Holland: 

International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to confirm charges against Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain, Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus – the  Darfur rebel leaders accused of war crimes

Belgium: 

Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev meets King Albert II, Prime Minister Yves Leterme 

Belgium:

A "road map" of cooperation on missile defence will be adopted at the meeting of the Russia-NATO Council at the level of ambassadors

Belgium:

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev meets Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme and King Albert II.

US: 

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski visits; Belarus political situation on agenda. 

Uruguay:

Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro is scheduled to testify before the legislative foreign affairs committee about leaked U.S. State Department cables released by WikiLeaks concerning Uruguay.

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My Press Review - Wednesday 8 December

Obama ends push for Israeli-settlements halt

President Obama has abandoned a two-year policy of trying to persuade Israel to stop some settlement construction as a condition for negotiations with the Palestinians, a major recalibration of the administration's strategy for brokering a deal for a Palestinian state.

 

Why Argentina and Brazil have recognized a Palestinian state

Argentina and Brazil have formally recognized a Palestinian state, and the US has given up on securing a new settlement freeze to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks.

 

Don't sell property to non-Jews

Three dozen top Israeli rabbis threw their support behind a religious ruling barring Jews from selling or renting homes to non-Jews — an indication of growing radicalism within the rabbinical community at a time of mounting friction between Israeli Arabs and Jews.

 

Justice Department Studies WikiLeaks Prosecution

Espionage is only one of the possible charges being considered by prosecutors looking into the WikiLeaks case.

 

This case must not obscure what WikiLeaks has told us

Every one of us owes a debt to Julian Assange. Thanks to him, we now know that our governments are pursuing policies that place you and your family in considerably greater danger. Wikileaks has informed us they have secretly launched war on yet another Muslim country, sanctioned torture, kidnapped innocent people from the streets of free countries and intimidated the police into hushing it up, and covered up the killing of 15,000 civilians – five times the number killed on 9/11. Each one of these acts has increased the number of jihadis. We can only change these policies if we know about them – and Assange has given us the black-and-white proof.

 

Why Britain is likely to send WikiLeaks' Assange to Sweden on rape charges

The legal team of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may fight his potential extradition to Sweden on human rights grounds, but it's unlikely Mr. Assange will avoid it, say legal experts.

 

UN caused Haiti epidemic - report

UN peacekeepers were the most likely source of the cholera epidemic sweeping Haiti, according to a leaked report by a French disease expert.

 

Gang 'treated workers as slaves'

A gang made £10m by treating workers like slaves in fields in Cambridgeshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, a court hears.

 

Jail for Saudi succession article

A Saudi law professor is detained for writing an article about a possible power struggle over the royal succession, a rights group says.

 

Judge throws out targeted-killing case of Awlaki

A federal judge on Tuesday threw out a lawsuit aimed at preventing the United States from targeting U.S.-born anti-American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki for death.

 

More nuclear talks agreed for 2011

Nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers ended yesterday with an agreement to meet again early next year, indicating that Tehran may be willing to address concerns about its atomic programme. But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned that unless UN sanctions are lifted, the six – the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – face failure in the next round.

 

Saudis proposed Arab force to fight Hezbollah

Saudi Arabia proposed creating an Arab force backed by US and Nato air and sea power to intervene in Lebanon two years ago and destroy Iranian-backed Hezbollah, according to a US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks.

 

18 countries join China in snub of Nobel Peace Prize ceremony

China and 18 other countries have declined to attend this year's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony honoring Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, Nobel officials said Tuesday as China unleashed another barrage deriding the decision.

 

US sends top officials to China over NKorea

The Obama administration is sending its No. 2 diplomat and three top Asia hands to China next week for talks on North Korea as Washington presses a reluctant Beijing to do more to rein in Pyongyang....

 

Guantanamo Bay transfers return to terrorism

Nearly one in four terrorists released from the detention facility at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, resumed terrorist activities against the United States and the number is expected to rise, according to a report to Congress by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

 

Qatar's the star – and Washington is worried

Despite the leaked US diplomatic reports on Qatar and their claim that it is a major source of "terrorist" funding, Washington would do well not to mess with the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

 

Haiti waits for election results

Officials sorted through fraudulent ballots and scrambled for compromises to head off the threat of social unrest as Haiti prepared for the expected release on Tuesday of results from its dysfunctional presidential election.

 

Israel agrees to offer ‘apology’ to Turkey

Israel has agreed in principle to offer an apology and pay compensation to Turkey for normalization of bilateral relations which have severely deteriorated since the killing of Turkish citizens in an Israeli raid on an aid flotilla in May, a leading Israeli daily reported on Tuesday.

 

Moldova struggles to find compromise

Moldova sought on Tuesday to put together a ruling coalition after a November election failed to break deadlock, with leftist politician Marian Lupu being courted by pro-Western and Communist leaders alike.

 

A third of universities 'at risk'

A union labels a third of universities in England at risk from government cuts, with the worst hit facing closures or mergers.

 

Ireland sets out record austerity budget

The Irish government detailed the toughest budget on record on Tuesday, targeting 6 billion euros in spending cuts and tax hikes, and warning passage was crucial to avert a deeper crisis and free up EU and IMF rescue funds.

 

Bank of America to pay $137 M, avoid conviction

Bank of America agreed on Tuesday to pay $137.3 million in restitution to federal and state agencies for its role in a conspiracy to rig bids in the municipal bond derivatives market and as a condition of its admission to a Justice Department leniency program allowing it to avoid criminal ...

 

GCC preserving water, diversifying energy

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states called for adopting a comprehensive strategy for the Gulf states to insure proper investment

 

From Kuwait to Oman - Gulf Railway to be Completed by 2017

GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah said the railway linking the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) would be

 

Egypt, Uganda Discuss Renewable Energy Cooperation

Egypt will talk part in the establishment of power hydraulic station, the infrastructure projects, renewable projects and projects for providing rural areas with electricity in Uganda,

Cancun Climate Conference 'using as much energy as a village for a year'

The Cancun Climate Conference is using up as much energy as a small village in England for a whole year.

 

Study finds middle class 'unhappy'

Daniel Zhou (not his real given name) paused, trying to remember his son's age.

 

2.79 m Shaanxi residents to be relocated from mountains

Two projects that will relocate 2.79 million people from remote mountainous areas in Northwest China's Shaanxi province will start next year and be completed within a decade, the provincial government recently revealed.

 

Turkish national anthem to be ‘nationalized’

An attempt by a German organization to obtain the copyright for the national anthem recited in Turkish schools has prompted Turkey to take action by issuing a Cabinet decree granting the state the copyright for the national anthem.

 

Find elixir of life – Kazakh president

Nursultan Nazarbayev calls on new research institute to concentrate on study to unlock secret of immortality

 

Federal Reserve Prints Faulty $100 Bills

A printing problem has left the Fed with 1.1 billion unusable $100 bills. So what happens now to all those bungled Benjamins?

 

'Historic' vote for language law

A new law to promote the Welsh language and giving it official status is unanimously passed by the Welsh assembly.

 

Britons fattest in European Union

More than half of people in the European Union are overweight or obese and Britons are the fattest, a report said today.

 

Malnutrition in India is on the rise

Malnutrition in India is on the rise, despite nutrition rehabilitation centres and ration shops

 

Finland loses top literacy rating

A world schools survey drops Finland from first place for the first time in a decade, putting it behind South Korea.

 

Lenin statue blown up

A statue of Vladimir Lenin, the former Russian communist leader, has been blown up in St Petersburg.

 

 

 

 

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What's Happening Today - Tuesday 7 December

Japan:

Japanese space probe Akatsuki is expected to be put into orbit around Venus, some 200 days after a rocket carrying the probe blasted off 

Japan

Bolivian President Evo Morales visits Japan (to Dec. 8)

China:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority issues new 1,000-HK dollar banknotes 

South Korea: 

Large-scale artillery firing exercises continue in seas around Korean peninsula to beef up defence readiness against potential attack by North Korea (-12)

India:

French President Nicholas Sarkozy to visit the sites of the 26/11 attacks and attend a memorial service.

Sri Lanka:

Conference on maritime security in Colombo; 22 countries attending, including UK, US, China, Russia, India, Australia; part of programme marking 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka's navy

Pakistan:

National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence headed by Azra Afzal  has demanded clarification from the Interior, Foreign and Defence Ministries by Tuesday on how US drone attacks cannot be considered an attack on national sovereignty.

Russia:

The relics of St Catherine brought to Yekaterinburg from St Catherine's monastery in Egypt, are processed around city and taken to cathedral, until 23 December, when they will be returned to Egypt.

Ukraine:

Kozhedub Kharkiv Air Force University, financed by the Defence Ministry, will have its electricity and heating cut off if it fails to pay its bill of around 7.6m hryvnyas (about 950,000 dollars) after weeks of warning

Iran: 

Student Day – protests planned over killing of Iranian nuclear scientist. In Rey (a city adjacent to Tehran), protests begin at 0500 GMT

UAE:

Second and last day of GCC summit meeting in Abu Dhabi

Iraq:

MP Fu'ad Ma'sum says the Kurdish Assembly will have chosen their authoritative ministry by Tuesday.

Turkey:

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani continues visit, meets President Abdullah Gul; co-chairs inaugural session of High Level Cooperation Council with counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Sudan: 

Campaigning ahead of January 2011 independence referendum officially kicks off 

Sudan:

Foreign ministers of Sudan and Austria attend a meeting between the two partners of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), a continuation form the meetings held in Vienna on 10 and 11 of last November

Ethiopia: 

UN-sponsored International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) continues in Addis Ababa (-8); over 10,000 delegates from around world taking part 

Kenya:

Kenya prosecutes a group of suspected Somali pirates picked up in its waters by a Belgian frigate. (NB A Kenyan judge in November ruled the country did not have jurisdiction to prosecute Somali pirates captured outside the country's territorial waters – a ruling Nairobi is challenging)

Kenya:

Police security chiefs start giving statements to the ICC investigators over post-election violence

South Africa:

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP17) continues in Durban (-9); heads of state, government officials, businessmen, others attending

Nigeria: 

West African leaders hold emergency summit in Abuja to consider situation in Cote d'Ivoire; Ivorian leaders not invited although country member of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Ivory Coast: 

Watching developments as stand-off over who has won presidential election continues; yesterday, US president Barack Obama was latest leader to urge incumbent Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo to stand down 

Greece:

Greek and Turkish officials hold latest round of exploratory talks on resolving territorial disputes.

Greece: 

Mahmud Abbas visits from Turkey; meets counterpart Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister George Papandreou

Greece: 

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki concludes visit

Poland: 

Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev ends visit with wreath-laying ceremony at Monument to Russian Soldiers in Warsaw; goes on to Brussels
    
Poland:

President Bronislaw Komorowski holds talks with his German counterpart Christian Wulff.

Albania:

Turkish Armed Forces evacuation helicopters arrive to help with relief effort. Red Crescent tents, blankets, foodstuff and medicine set out from  Montenegro

Romania:

Coalition Government is expected to face no-confidence vote over new wage legislation- a key requirement under the country's 20 billion Euro IMF-led bailout - 0500 GMT

Hungary

Hungarian Parliament due to vote on key figures of 2011 budget. Final vote due around December 20

Slovakia:

Second attempt at election of a prosecutor general  - which will likely not achieve a result as different parts of coalition government back different candidates.

Czech Republic:

Trade unions (CMKOS) to hold a news conference on its upcoming public sector strike against the government austerity measures (1000).

Switzerland: 

Second and final day of talks in Geneva on Tehran's nuclear programme between Iran and Five Plus One Group (the five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany)

Belgium:

EU Economic & Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) Meeting.
    
Belgium:

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits Belgium (to Dec. 8) meets with the EU presidency for the bi-annual EU-Russia summit.

Belgium: 

Brussels hosts EU-Russia summit; visa-free travel, recovery from recession and the final stage of Russia's joining the World Trade Organization [WTO] are all on the agenda.

Belgium: 

European finance ministers meet to discuss 85bn-euro rescue plan for Ireland and eurozone's debt crisis which now threatens Portugal

France:

Former French football star Eric Cantona has appealed to web users, setting up a Facebook page where more than 27,000 people say they want to take part, to take part in a specially created event: "Revolution! We're all going to withdraw our money from the banks".

UK: 

Whistleblowing website WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange expected to appear in court after his lawyers said he would meet police to discuss European extradition warrant from Sweden relating to alleged sexual 
assaults 

UK:

Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi visits United Kingdom.

Ireland: 

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan presents austerity budget to parliament (1545 gmt); first stage of voting this evening, second stages 9 December and January; Lenihan has been named Europe's worst finance minister for second year running in survey of economists by Financial Times

Haiti:

Preliminary election results are expected, just as the number of reported cases of cholera hits 50,000, though health experts say figure could be much higher because data on the epidemic has not been received from some rural communities; yesterday one of presidential frontrunners, musician Michel Martelly, warned he would not accept result that put Preval protege Jude Celestin among top vote winners; final results set for release on 20 December; if necessary, second round tentatively set for 16 January 2011

Cuba: 

South African President Jacob Zuma continues visit (-8) 

Costa Rica:

President Laura Chinchilla will increase the number of troops on the border following a dispute about the Colorado River, which Chinchilla says is moving due to Nicaraguan industry and incursion.

Mexico: 

UN climate change summit continues in Cancun amid low expectations of significant progress (-10)

Posted via email from luay's posterous