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Pakistan and China sign free-trade deal Chinese president, Hu Jintao has signed a free-trade deal with his Pakistani counterpart, General Pervez Musharraf during ongoing talks in Islamabad. Pope Benedict to visit Turkey among anti-pope protests Security concerns are on the rise as protests progress following a trip from the Pope. On his visit, the Pope is expected to make peace with Muslims and meet with other Religious leaders. Police are taking full measures to ensure the Pope is safe during his trip.

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Wikipedia Current Events
The Islamic Courts Union that controls much of southern Somalia has dispatched thousands of troops to within 15km of the border with Ethiopia. Chad's armed forces have retaken Abéché with no major fighting being reported. Chadian forces have also claimed to have retaken Biltine, but rebel forces deny these claims. After earlier reports from The French embassy in Chad saying a large column of rebel vehicles had been spotted heading towards the capital N'Djamena, the embassy now says the progression has stopped. Peter Hain, the Minister for Northern Ireland criticizes "murky murders" associated with Vladimir Putin's regime in Russia following the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. Sunni and Shia Islamists score big victories in Bahrain's parliamentary elections as results are announced from yesterday's poll. Liberals and the left win no seats in the first round. A ceasefire commences between Israeli and Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip. It followed negotiations between the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Palestinian attacks on Israel continue, despite a ceasefire and subsequent Israeli pullout from Gaza, with militants firing a barrage of Qassam rockets on southern Israeli towns. One NATO soldier and 57 insurgents are killed in fighting in southern Afghanistan. The Fijian military calls up 1,000 as military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama states "my intention of removing this government is clear". Ecuadorian election: People in Ecuador go to the polls to choose a new president between Rafael Correa and Álvaro Noboa. Exit polls indicate a victory for Correa. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi collapses while giving a speech in Tuscany and has to be carried from the podium by his aides. Doctors treating him afterwards blamed a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Pope Benedict to visit Turkey amidst anti-pope protests
Pope Benedict will be visiting Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation, for four days starting on November 28.

Some, organized by an Islamist party, protested the visit in the streets after hearing of the Pope's trip. Security concerns are on the rise as the protests progress.

Benedict will arive in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. The Pope's objectives are to make peace with Muslims and to clean up the 1,000-year divide in Christianity between the Vatican and Orthodox churches[citation needed]. Benedict also plans to meet with political and religious leaders in Ankara.

Police are taking full measures to ensure the Pope is safe during his trip.

Iran and Russia: Economic discussions to start December 11
It is reported that The Head of RosAtom Russia’s Federal Atomic Agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, will meet Iran’s Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, in Tehran December 11 to discuss economic affairs of mutual interest.

Kiriyenko, former Russian Prime Minister, had proposed in February this year, that Russia would provide Iran with enriched uranium for its nuclear power plants, thus avoiding the need for Iran to build plants that might be used for weapon production. Since then there have been Security Council resolutions and threats of economic sanctions against Iran which has persisted in building an enrichment plant.

Russia has been building a light water reactor for Iran at Bushehr but there have been delays in completion, ‘for technical reasons’. The original reactors at Busheh, contracted to be built by Siemens in 1975, were bombed in 1985 and 1988 by Iraq.

Now, having trained Iranian troops in their use, Russia is delivering a consignment of Tor-M1 missiles to Iran. These are ground to air missiles for defence purposes with a range of about 18,000 feet.

Huge opposition rally to end presidential campaign in Venezuela
To mark the end of the presidential campaign in Venezuela, opposition candidate Manuel Rosales held a rally with up to 1.4 million people attending according to one source. Manuel Rosales is the opposition candidate to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who is running for his 2nd six-year term.

The rally, which in Venezuela they call "Avalancha" because of its size, was held on the highway that runs through Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The Presidential elections will be held December 3rd and Manuel Rosales has a much better shot of winning than most would have anticipated earlier in the year. Observers from Organization of American States, the European Union, and the Carter Center will be present to ensure that the elections are fair and make sure the people's vote is secured.

Large public demonstrations are banned by the government for December 3rd and 4th to ensure the elections "go smoothly."

U.S. President arrives in Singapore
U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Singapore the morning of November 16, beginning a week-long tour Asia. He was greeted by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng and discussed trade and terrorism issues with the Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

After a week of losses in the midterm election, Bush told an audience about the expansion of trade in Asia.

Mr. Bush also delivered his keynote address at the National University of Singapore's Cultural Center; the US' commitment to security and free trade in the region were the most emphasised topics. Among other subjects, he spoke on:

Regional security including the threat of terrorism and ongoing nuclear crisis in North Korea.

US continued engagement in Asia to confront security threats including N. Korea's nuclear ambitions and terrorism and address these challenges at global level

Free trade and trade expansion most certain path to Asian prosperity to lasting prosperity

Reviving the doha trade talks

An Asia Pacific-wide free trade area

Bush also called for US-Asian co-operation to fight with infectious diseases such as HIV-AIDS and avian flu.

Mr. Bush will be heading to Hanoi to for a state visit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Suicide bomber strikes Afghanistan restaurant
A suicide bomber has killed at least seven people in an attack on a restaurant situated in south-eastern Afghanistan. Twenty people are seriously injured in the attack.

The attack took place in the Urgun district of Paktika province, which shares its border with that of Pakistan.

Governor Mohammed Akram Akhpelwak said that most of those killed are civilians. He added that intention of the attack could have been to target a senior provincial official and an Afghan special forces commander.

Georgia and Japan qualify for 2007 Rugby World Cup in France
Both Georgia and Japan have qualifed for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France next October and November. The World Cup pools are now starting to take their final shape, with just two repechage positions remaining. 86 nations have attempted to qualify for next years' tournament.

Georgia drew 11-all Portugal in the final leg of the last series of European qualification, however in the previous match, Georgia were victorious, thus on points, Georgia go through to France. Georgia join Pool D, where they will face Argentina, hosts France, Ireland and Namibia. Georgia have previously qualified for one other World Cup, the 2003 tournament in Australia. Despite Portugal's loss, their hopes to qualify are still very much alive, though they now face Morocco for the right to then face Uruguay to take out one of the two repechage spots in the World Cup.

Japan defeated Korea 54 points to nil, this coming after their win over Hong Kong earlier in the week. Japan go through to Pool B, where they join Australia, Canada, Fiji and Wales. Japan have qualified for every World Cup since the first tournament in 1987. Korea (who have yet to debut at the Rugby World Cup) can also still qualify, as they will now play Tonga for the second repechage position.

Today in History
1095 - At the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade.

1868 - Indian Wars: The U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment led by George Armstrong Custer defeated Chief Black Kettle and the Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of Washita River.

1895 - Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, setting aside the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel Prize after his death.

1926 - Restoration of Colonial Williamsburg in the Historic Triangle on the Virginia Peninsula, United States began.

2001 - The Hubble Space Telescope detected sodium in the atmosphere of the extrasolar planet HD 209458b, the first planetary atmosphere outside our solar system to be measured.

Quote of the Day

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?
~ George Eliot

Word of the Day

omnific; adj

Capable of making or doing anything.

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