Daily International News
November 30, 2009
DPRK
U.S. wants to close dialogue with N. Korea in single phase: official [Yonhap]
“The U.S., which is set to hold direct bilateral talks with North Korea next week to lure the country back to denuclearization talks, wants the contact to be a one-off event but the North is expected to attempt to drag out the two-way dialogue, a senior Seoul official said Monday.”
Japan
Japanese prime minister apologizes for scandal [WP]
“Hatoyama apologized Monday in parliament for the donations scandal but suggested he will remain prime minister unless he is prosecuted.”
China
Reporters face charges for mine coverup [China Daily]
“Ten journalists and nearly 50 officials are facing prosecution after a State Council probe found they allegedly took bribes to cover up a mine disaster in Hebei province.”
China rejects EU calls for yuan appreciation [Global Times]
“Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao rejected “unfair” calls for the yuan to appreciate Monday and reaffirmed China’s determination to take its own gradual steps on the value of its currency.”
AfPak
Obama’s Speech on Afghanistan to Envision Exit [NYT]
“It’s accurate to say that he will be more explicit about both goals and time frame than has been the case before and than has been part of the public discussion,” said a senior official.”
Zardari Cedes Power to Pakistani Premier [WSJ]
“In an attempt to defuse the situation, Mr. Zardari over the weekend transferred command of the country’s nuclear arsenal to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, signaling his willingness to shed some of his powers.”
Defense lawyer for Mumbai attack accused dismissed [Reuters]
“The lawyer for the lone surviving gunman accused of the Mumbai attacks was removed from the case on Monday for non-cooperation.”
Middle East
Iran says UN criticism prompted new nuclear plans [AP]
“Iran’s nuclear chief on Monday said U.N. criticism pushed his country to retaliate by announcing ambitious plans for more uranium enrichment. With tensions rising over deadlocked negotiations, France said diplomacy was not working and sanctions against Iran were needed.”
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Israel says enforcing West Bank settlement moratorium [Reuters]
“Israeli inspectors armed with aerial maps and empowered to confiscate construction equipment have begun enforcing a limited government moratorium on new building in West Bank settlements, officials said on Monday.”
Israeli right, settlers seethe over settlement ease [AFP]
“In an act of defiance, Gershon Messika, the director of a regional settlement council in the occupied West Bank, tore up the government moratorium order when he received it from the military, his spokesman said.”
Hamas Bans Women Dancers, Scooter Riders in Gaza Push (Update1) [Bloomberg]
“The Islamic Hamas movement banned girls last month from riding behind men on motor scooters and forbade women from dancing at the opening of a folk museum.”
Europe
Switzerland votes to prohibit the building of mosque minarets [WP]
“Official results on Sunday showed a surprisingly strong 57.5 percent of those voting endorsed it.”
Africa
Rwanda and France restore diplomatic relations [BBC]
“On Sunday Rwanda was also admitted to the Commonwealth.”
Americas
Honduras hopes to move past coup with election [WP]
“Election organizers also said that more than 60 percent of registered voters cast ballots.”
United States, Brazil at odds over Honduras crisis [Reuters]
“Conservative opposition leader Porfirio Lobo easily won the election on Sunday, but he will struggle to get recognition in Latin America where many leftist governments see the election as a nail in the coffin of ousted President Manuel Zelaya.”
Exit polls: Ex-guerrilla wins Uruguay presidency [CNN]
“Exit polls had Mujica defeating former president Luis Alberto Lacalle by a margin of 4 to 8 percentage points.”
Politics - Pwn3D 