Follow-up news for Monday

Putin and Medvedev try to calm Russian election outcry

Prime minister's spokesman says Kremlin will listen to protesters, while president promises investigation into disputed election result

the Guardian,

11 December, 2011

The Russian leadership has sought to calm tensions following an unprecedented protest against Vladimir Putin that brought tens of thousands of demonstrators on to the streets of Moscow.

The prime minister has yet to comment on the protest, but his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said: "We respect the point of view of the protesters. We are hearing what is being said. We will continue to listen to them."

For article GO HERE

Nick Clegg lashes out at PM and vows to rebuild ties with Europe

'Bitterly disappointed' deputy prime minister joins Liberal Democrat chorus of outrage at EU veto

the Guardian, 

11 December, 2011

Nick Clegg promised to rebuild the government's shattered relationship with the rest of Europe and risked opening a coalition rift by going public with his "bitter disappointment" at David Cameron's decision to block a new EU agreement.

The deputy prime minister said Britain risked becoming "isolated and marginalised" from the European mainstream, and along with senior Liberal Democrats spent the weekend contacting European leaders in a "strategy for re-engagement to recover lost ground", according to a senior government source.

Several high-profile figures, including the former leader Paddy Ashdown and the party president, Tim Farron, joined Clegg in a wide-ranging attack on Cameron's resort to a British veto.

Clegg will hold a meeting with business leaders this week to convince them "they had not completely had the door shut", according to an aide. There is growing concern that the 26 EU countries who agreed on greater fiscal integration last week will now be able to strike deals affecting British banks and businesses.

For article GO HERE

“Too little too late” is how this is being characterized.

Global climate change treaty in sight after Durban breakthrough

Climate conference ends in agreement after two weeks of talks

the Guardian

11 December, 2011

The world is on track for a comprehensive global treaty on climate change for the first time after agreement was reached at talks in Durban in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Negotiators agreed to start work on a new climate deal that would have legal force and, crucially, require both developed and developing countries to cut their carbon emissions. The terms now need to be agreed by 2015 and come into effect from 2020.

"I salute the countries who made this agreement. They have all laid aside some cherished objectives of their own to meet a common purpose – a long-term solution to climate change," said Christiana Figueres, the United Nations climate chief.

For article GO HERE