 | | | | | | | Newsletter | 30.11.2008, 17:15 UTC | | | Newsline | | | World news: international | | | | | | | | | News | | | | | Current Article | | | | Heads roll over Mumbai attacks
India's national security advisor has resigned in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks. He is the second senior figure to stand aside, after India's home minister tendered his resignation earlier on Sunday. Home Minister Shivraj Patil gave notice in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he felt a "moral responsibility" for the attacks on India's financial capital. Singh has accepted the resignation and appointed the finance minister to replace him. Former Home Minister Patil was widely criticised in the Indian media for failing to ensure the country's security. Current estimates put the casualties from the Mumbai attacks at nearly 200 people dead and 300 injured. |  | | Thai police say they are in talks with protestors
Thai police say they are in talks with anti-government protestors to lift the siege of Bangkok's passenger airports. However, protest leaders deny that negotiations are talking place, and insist that their demands remain unchanged. The Peoples Alliance for Democracy wants Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his government to resign. The prime minister has authorised police to use force to disperse the protestors at the airports, but they have so far been reluctant to crush the blockade. As many as 100,000 tourists remain stranded. | | | Afghan bomber targets German diplomats
A suicide bomber in Afghanistan's capital has attacked a vehicle belonging to the German embassy. Kabul's police chief, Ayub Salangi, said three Afghans were killed in the attack. No German diplomatic staff were hurt. There has been no claim of responsibility for the suicide bomb which is the second in Kabul in three days. The suicide bomber was on foot at the time of the detonation.
| | | Uneasy calm returns to Nigeria's Jos.
A tense calm has returned to the central Nigerian city of Jos after three days of sectarian violence. The state information ministry has announced the first official death toll at 200 people, while agencies on the ground report figures of up to 400 killed in the clashes. The fighting between Muslims and Christians was triggered by a disputed local government election that has brought about the worst unrest in the country for years. Earlier the army had extended a curfew over the city and had received orders to shoot on sight. Jos has a history of sectarian violence between indigenous Christians and Muslim settlers.
| | | Israeli cabinet approves Palestinian prisoner release
Israel's cabinet has agreed to release 250 Palestinian prisoners in a bid to boost support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The prisoners are to be released in the occupied West Bank, which Abbas controls. Abbas is under pressure among Palestinians for failing to show many benefits from his attempts to compromise with the Israelis. Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had promised to free the prisoners earlier this month during a meeting with Abbas. A spokesperson for Olmert has described the step as "a confidence-building measure." Altogether, Israel holds around 11,000 Palestinians. | | | Germany forgives Pakistan debt for health promises.
Germany has agreed to forgive 40 million euros of Pakistan's debt in exchange for an agreement from the government to pour half the money into health programmes. The deal between the two nations and a global fund to fight illnesses was signed on the sidelines of a UN conference in Doha on financing development. The agreement is part of a programme launched in 2007 offering debt relief to countries that agree to invest in health programmes. Berlin made a similar agreement with Indonesia last year. | | | Romanians choose new government
Romanians are electing a new government. Opinion polls show Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu's centre-right National Liberal Party running third behind two opposition groups, the Democratic Liberal Party and the left-leaning Social Democrats. No party is expected to win an outright majority. A slacking economy has been a key theme leading up to the election. However, voter turnout is expected to be low, with many put off by rampant corruption among officials in the ex-communist country. | | | Proections suggest Swiss will approve heroin programme.
Swiss voters appear to have given overwhelming support to a programme that distributes heroin to hard core addicts. Projections based on early voting suggest 69 percent of voters approve making the programme permanent. Parliament approved the heroin measure in a revision of Switzerland's narcotics law this March, but conservatives challenged the decision and forced a national referendum. Over 1,000 patients are reportedly involved in the current programme credited with reducing crime and improving the health of addicts. The programme has been criticised by the US and United Nations narcotics boards.
| | | Shuttle landing delayed due to bad weather.
NASA has delayed the landing of space shuttle Endeavour because of bad weather at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Endeavour, which has been carrying out repairs to the international space station, had been due to land in Florida on Sunday afternoon. If conditions don't improve the shuttle could be diverted to a backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
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