[World] Insisting on Assad's Exit Will Cost More Lives, Russian Says

Insisting on Assad's Exit Will Cost More Lives, Russian Says
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/world/middleeast/syria.html
MOSCOW - Russia's foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said Saturday that there was “no possibility” of persuading President Bashar al-Assad to leave Syria, leaving little hope for a breakthrough in the standoff.

Plane runs off Moscow runway, catches fire
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/29/plane-crashes-near-moscow-killing-at-least-two/
Last Updated 11:04 a.m. ET. MOSCOW A passenger airliner careered off the runway at Russia's third-busiest airport while landing on Saturday, broke into pieces and caught fire, killing at least four people.

Egypt's presidents warns against unrest
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/international/30-Dec-2012/egypt-s-mursi-downplays-economic-crisis
An Egyptian police officer laughs with protesters as he secures a road leading to the Shura Council during a speech by President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday.

French Constitutional Council rules out high tax on rich
http://www.euronews.com/2012/12/29/france-constitutional-court-rejects-75-per-cent-tax-rate/
PARIS, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- French Constitutional Council rejected the 75-percent income tax rate on earnings over 1 million euros (1.32 million U.S.

Venezuela deports alleged French agent accused of plotting to kill Hugo Chavez
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/chavez-death-plot-agent-deported-16255678.html
CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan authorities said Saturday that they had deported a man they described as a French intelligence agent who was jailed for alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate President Hugo Chavez.

Blast in Karachi kills six, wounds 48
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/30-Dec-2012/karachi-cantt-bomb-blast-kills-7
Pakistan's commercial capital and biggest city has seen numerous militant attacks over the past 10 years and is also plagued by violence between rival ethnic-based factions.

Gaza construction convoy crosses from Egypt
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20869284
Egypt has allowed a shipment of construction materials to enter the Gaza Strip from its territory for the first time since 2007. A convoy of trucks carrying thousands of tonnes of supplies donated by the Gulf state of Qatar entered Gaza via the Rafah border ...

Philippines leader signs divisive reproductive health bill
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1229/breaking28.htm
(CNN) -- Legislation providing for government-funded contraception and sex education classes in the Philippines will take effect in mid-January, according to a spokeswoman for President Benigno Aquino.

Actual Saudi 2012 spending exceeded budget -state TV
http://arabnews.com/saudi-arabia-budgets-increase-2013-spending
RIYADH | Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:55am EST. RIYADH Dec 29 (Reuters) - Actual spending by Saudi Arabia's government totalled an estimated 853 billion riyals ($227.5 billion) in 2012, well above the 690 billion riyals in the original budget plan, state television ...

Bilawal, Be-Nazeeyar and the grin
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-151407-Bilawal-Be-Nazeeyar-and-the-grin
Before I begin, I have a question. Do you think when Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made a speech at BB's death anniversary this past Thursday, he was speaking impromptu from the heart, or was it from a carefully memorised script?

Metro shutdown, security keep Jantar Mantar crowds thin
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/metro-shutdown-security-keep-jantar-mantar-crowds-thin/article4255592.ece
The shutting down of ten Delhi Metro railway stations, the security barricades with grim-looking cops or plain despair and grief kept away from Jantar Mantar many of those who bravely took to the streets last Sunday demanding instant justice for the gang-rape ...