 | | | | | | | Newsletter | 03.12.2008, 17:15 UTC | | | Newsline | | | World news: international | | | | | | | | | News | | | | | Current Article | | | | US calls for Pakistani cooperation with India
The United States says it expects Pakistan's full cooperation in the investigation into last week's terrorist attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking at a joint press conference with her Indian counterpart in New Delhi, said Pakistan had a special responsibility in the wake of the attacks, which left at least 171 people dead. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has said that 20 terror suspects named by India will be tried in Pakistan. However, he expressed doubts that the surviving member of the militant group is a Pakistani national, as Indian authorities claim. Meanwhile, Indian police say they have found and defused explosives left behind by the assailants at Mumbai's main railway station – one of the targets of their attacks. |  | | Flights begin home tour for 350,000 tourists stranded in Bangkok.
International and domestic flights out of the Thai capital have begun returning up to 350,000 stranded tourists home. Anti-government protesters in Thailand ended their blockade of Bangkok's two main airports on Wednesday morning following a week long siege. Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy pledged to end their protest after Thailand's constitutional court stripped Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat of his post and outlawed the ruling People Power Party along with two coalition parties for electoral fraud. The court also barred the party's top leaders from politics for five years. Deputy Prime Minister Chaowarat Chandeerakul has been named to oversee a caretaker government. | | | 100 countries start signing ban on cluster bombs.
Representatives from some 100 countries have started signing a landmark treaty banning cluster bombs. The treaty outlaws the use, production, transfer or stockpiling of cluster munitions. Cluster bombs are dropped from planes or fired from artillery, and explode in mid-air, randomly scattering hundreds of bomblets. Many of these fail to explode, often leaving large civilian areas covered with de-facto landmines. The world's large cluster bomb makers and users, including the United States, Russia, China, Israel, India and Pakistan, have objected to the ban and refuse to sign it. Norway, which has played a key role in facilitating the treaty, was the first country to sign.
| | | Struggling US carmakers renew plea for state aid
Three major US carmakers have submitted proposals to Congress for a bailout package totalling 34 billion dollars. General Motors and Chrysler said they needed immediate cash infusions to last until New Year's. They also warned that they could drag the entire industry down if their businesses failed. In return for federal assistance, GM, Chrysler and Ford have pledged to slash work forces, car lines and executive pay. Critics have charged that many of the problems plaguing Detroit's Big Three are home-grown, but some politicians fear that without government aid, millions of jobs could be lost. House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that bankruptcy for the US automakers "is not an option." | | | Romanian Social Democrats and Democratic Liberal parties could form coalition.
Romania's two opposition parties have said they will consider forming a coalition after neither party won a clear victory in the country's general election. Although the Social Democrats came out just on top in the polls, the Democratic Liberal Party has three more seats in parliament. President Traian Basescu, who supports the Democratic Liberals, will nominate the new prime minister, who must be approved by parliament. A quick solution is seen to be essential for Romania's economy, as it struggles to respond to the global financial crisis. A new government will also be expected to move forward with stalled judicial reforms which were one of the conditions of the country's entry into the EU last year. | | | European Commission head pushes for Eastern Partnership.
The European Union's executive has announced a proposal to boost ties with Ukraine, Georgia and four other former Soviet republics in return for democratic and market reforms. Under the so called "Eastern Partnership," the six candidates would be offered financial aid, reduced trade barriers, closer political ties and eased travel restrictions. The deal would also provide closer cooperation on energy with the countries, which are either rich in oil and gas or are key transit hubs for energy from Russia and other states. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso said the plan had been influenced by August's war between Russia and Georgia. EU leaders are to debate the proposal when they meet in Brussels on December 11. | | | EU anti-piracy force to replace NATO off Somalia.
A European Union naval force will replace NATO warships as part of an anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia. Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier supported the EU flotilla saying it was necessary to protect vessels with international forces. France, Germany and Britain are expected to contribute ships to the patrol, while France and Italy will provide aircraft. The handover will take place on December 15. Meanwhile Somali pirates have freed a Yemeni cargo ship they seized last week after successful negotiations between regional authorities, local clan elders and the gunmen.
| | | ETA kills business entrepreneur in Basque region.
Suspected Basque separatists have shot dead an entrepreneur in Azpeitia in Spain's Basque region, police said. The victim was one of the owners of a company participating in the construction of a high-speed rail network which had come under threats from the militant Basque separatist group ETA. Earlier a gas explosion injured 28 people in Gava, near Barcelona in north-eastern Spain. Eighteen of the victims, including seven children were in serious condition after sustaining burns in at least 60 per cent of their bodies.
| | | Zimbabwe riot police charge protestors
Zimbabwean riot police have forcibly broken up a demonstration by doctors and nurses. The protesters were heading towards the central bank in Harare's financial district. Elsewhere one hundred medics protested outside the health ministry. At least one union leader has been detained by security forces. Meanwhile a cholera outbreak has killed nearly 500 people and infected almost 12,000 Zimbabweans, forcing hundreds to cross the border with South Africa to seek treatment. Most public hospitals have shut down due to drug and equipment shortages. | | | Coalition reach compromise on new anti-terrorism law
Germany's Christian Democrats and coalition partner the Social Democrats have reached a compromise on a controversial new anti-terrorism bill. Details about the agreement have not been released. The bill would grant police sweeping powers to monitor terror suspects. Opponents had objected to original proposals to allow federal police to conduct secret online searches of computers, tap telephones and bug the homes of suspects. The controversial legislation passed through the lower house, where Chancellor Merkel's grand coalition has a large majority, but was blocked by the upper chamber -- the Bundesrat. The law is expected to come into effect in 2009. | | | NATO agrees thaw with Russia
NATO ministers have agreed to gradually resume contact with Moscow after talks were suspended in September to protest Russia's invasion of Georgia. They decided to return to informal meetings of the so-called NATO-Russia Council, despite concerns that Moscow was not respecting a ceasefire that ended its brief war with Georgia. The 26 ministers meeting in Brussels also decided that Georgia and Ukraine would not gain fast track membership to NATO but would rather be offered deeper cooperation. Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier along with France, Italy, and Spain had previously said neither country was stable enough to gain early membership and warned against antagonising Russia. The NATO decision came hours after the 27-member European Union resumed talks on a broad-ranging partnership pact with Moscow. | | | | | |  | | |  Up-to-date news at DW-WORLD.DE | | | | | | |  | | | Note
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NATO Agrees to Bolster Afghan Force and Talk Directly to Russia
