Russia offers to host talks between Syrian government and opposition

Moscow says it is ready to host negotiations between the government of President Bashar Assad and the Syrian opposition in an effort to resolve the deteriorating situation in the country.

Russia is also ready to send 30 military observers to the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, said on Wednesday.

"By supporting the work of the Mission, Russia has informed the UN Secretariat about its readiness to send 30 military observers to UNSMIS. We are also ready to give a platform for talks in Moscow to the Syrian authorities and the opposition," Churkin said as quoted by Itar-Tass news agency.

Russia’s envoy to the global body reiterated that Moscow’s stance on Syria is “principled.”

Read details: RT

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Israeli parliament approves Likud-Kadima coalition government

The Israeli parliament has approved a coalition deal between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and the Kadima party of Shaul Mofaz. The new government will have a majority of 94 in the 120-seat Knesset - one of the biggest in Israeli history.

The Kadima leader was immediately sworn in as a minister without portfolio within the prime minister’s office on Wednesday, after the Knesset approved his appointment by 71 votes to 23.

The agreement between Netanyahu and Mofaz, who took over leadership of the center-right Kadima only six weeks ago, was announced in the early hours of Tuesday.

Read more: Alarabiya

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Spain unveils austerity budget

Spain is cutting 27bn euros ($36bn; £22.5bn) from its budget this year as part of one of the toughest austerity drives in its history.

Changes will include freezing public sector workers' salaries and reducing departmental budgets by 16.9%. The government says it will raise 12.3bn euros this year, aided by an increase in tax for large companies.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said the nation was in an "extreme situation".

Read more: BBC News

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North Korea's military to share power with Kim's heir

[ via Yahoo News ] 21 Dec

North Korea will shift to collective rule from a strongman dictatorship after last week's death of Kim Jong-il, although his untested young son will be at the head of the ruling coterie, a source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing said.

The source added that the military, which is trying to develop a nuclear arsenal, has pledged allegiance to the untested Kim Jong-un, who takes over the family dynasty that has ruled North Korea since it was founded after World War Two.

The source declined to be identified but has correctly predicted events in the past, telling Reuters about the North's first nuclear test in 2006 before it took place.

Read more at Yahoo News

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