December 05 News international

Monday 05 December, 2011.

TOP STORY Setback for Putin, returns to power with slashed majority Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suffered a bad dent in his carefully groomed image as his ruling United Russia party returned to power with a sharply slashed majority, winning just 238 seats in the 450-strong sixth State Duma, the country's lower house of Parliament. HEADLINES US may have lost its most advanced RQ-170 drone over Iran  US may have lost one of its most advanced drones over Iran, raising fears among officials in Washington that Tehran may gain partial access to closely guarded American technology. Assange can continue extradition fight in UK: court  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday won the right to petition the UK Supreme Court in his fight against extradition to Sweden on rape allegation. Bonn conference on Afghanistan opens today The Bonn Conference on Afghanistan opens on Monday with 90 delegations and nearly 1000 participants in attendance, the focus is squarely on security, reconciliation and long term help for Afghanistan. Italy's cabinet adopts urgent anti-crisis measures Italy's cabinet adopted a package of tax hikes and pension reforms worth 24 billion euros (USD 32 bn) in a rush to ease a crisis that is threatening the eurozone, government sources said on Sunday. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES New Egypt election results show Islamists dominant Austrlia's Labor votes in favour of uranium sale to India More ...