A compilation of brief news reports for Saturday, January 28, 2012 .
If you believe any of these stories deserves more in-depth coverage, feel free to write a full article on the issues raised.
EU official resigns over anti-piracy treaty
Rapporteur to the European Parliament Kader Arif has resigned yesterday in protest over the signing of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) by 22 members of the European Union on Thursday. He said “I will not participate in this masquerade.”
Reaction to the signing treaty, which has still to be ratified, was strong in Poland; thousands protested in Poznan and Lublin, and in the Polish Parliament members of the Palikot’s Movement donned Guy Fawkes masks in protest.
The European Commission website maintains that “Anything you can do legally today is still legal after the ratification of ACTA.”
- David Lee. “European Parliament rapporteur quits in Acta protest” — BBC News Online, January 27, 2012
- Charles Arthur. “Acta protests break out as EU states sign up to treaty” — The Guardian, January 27, 2012
- “ACTA : un accord qui ne respecte pas le droit européen, signé par l’UE” — L’Humanité, January 27, 2012 <span title="Language: French troops to end Afghan combat role a year early in 2013
Speaking yesterday after a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced France will end its Afghan combat missions in 2013 — a year earlier than planned.
Following the death of four French soldiers at the hands of an Afghan soldier last week, Sarkozy had threatened early withdrawal of French troops.
- “France to resume Afghan troop training despite attack” — BBC News Online, January 27, 2012
- “French Troops to Resume Training in Afghanistan” — Voice of America, January 27, 2012
United States and Philippines discuss enhanced defense cooperation
The United States and the Philippines are discussing the possibility of enhanced defense cooperation, according to officials of both countries. However, there are no plans for bases along the lines of the former United States bases at Subic Bay and Clark Air Base.
The talks come in the context of a shift of United States strategic focus toward Asia, and Chinese claims in the South China Sea.
- “Manila not to bring back U.S. military bases in Philippines” — Xinhua News Agency, January 27, 2012
- “Philippines seeks to strengthen US defence ties” — BBC News Online, January 27, 2012
- “No return of US bases” — Tempo (Philippine newspaper), January 27, 2012
Source Article from http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews_Shorts:_January_28,_2012
