Democratic Republic of Congo: Tutsi rebels under the leadership of Gen Laurent Nkunda have advanced to just outside the eastern city of Goma, causing tens of thousands of people to flee. Gen Nkunda has said the goal of his forces was to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide. Diplomatic moves are under way to end the crisis, which has threatened to spill over into neighboring Rwanda. The UN is sending envoys to both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, while a senior US official is also due in the region. The International Red Cross has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the area, saying a main hospital had been looted and aid had not been reaching the displaced.
Italy: AC Milan have confirmed that England midfielder David Beckham will join the club on loan from Jan. 7. The 33-year-old’s representatives held talks with the Italian team on Thursday and quickly reached an agreement on the terms of the deal. Beckham, who plays for U.S. LA Galaxy, wants to stay fit during the MLS close-season and is set to return to the U.S. in March for the new season.
United States: The Federal Reserve again cut interest rates by a half-point Wednesday, in an attempt to offset the credit crunch that has frozen lending. Economists believe they cut rates because of the current financial turmoil and fears that there might be a prolonged recession. This comes in the wake of news from the Commerce Department that the U.S. economy shrank by 0.3 percent during the third quarter, as consumers reined in their spending.
United States: Alaska Senator Ted Stevens has vowed to keep his Senate seat despite conviction on federal corruption charges. The guilty verdict, which he plans to appeal, convicts him of lying about $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts from a wealthy oil contractor. Many Senate members including Presidential candidate John McCain have called for Stevens to step down.
Spain: A car bomb exploded in Pamplona, northern Spain on Thursday. There were no reports of deaths in the blast, which occurred in a car park at the University of Navarra, but at least 15 people were injured and several cars were set ablaze. The university is near the Basque Country, where Eta separatists are continuing a violent campaign for independence from Spain. The Navarra region is separate from the Basque Country, but nationalists argue that it should also form part of an independent Basque homeland. The blast followed the arrest on Tuesday of four suspected Eta members-three of them in Pamplona. Guns and a large quantity of explosives were also seized in the raids.
Indonesia: Parliament passed an anti-pornography law on Thursday despite fierce opposition. Protests went on across the country, particularly on the predominantly Hindu island of Bali-a favorite destination for tourists. Artists, women’s groups and non-Muslim minorities said they could be victimized under the law and that traditional practices could be banned. The bill, which must be signed by the president before it comes into effect, prohibits images, gestures or talk deemed to be pornographic. Violators would face up to 12 years in prison and hefty fines.
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