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UK British forces officially handed over control of the Basra region to the Iraqi government Dec. 16. Basra was the last area under the control of the British, who joined the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. Basra holds most of Iraq’s proven petroleum reserves, according to The New York Times (NYT).

RUSSIA President Vladimir Putin announced Dec. 17 that he will assume the role of prime minister if United Russia Party candidate Dmitry Medvedev wins the March presidential election, the BBC reported. Mr. Medvedev is expected to win, predominantly due to Mr. Putin’s support and popularity.
FRANCE French Journalist Gwen Le Gouil was abducted by gunmen in the Puntland region of Somalia Dec. 16 while researching a story on human trafficking, the BBC reported. Puntland officials have said Le Gouil is “safe,” and his abductors are demanding a ransom of £35,000 ($70,000).
SWITZERLAND The far-right Swiss People’s Party withdrew from the government coalition, ending almost 50 years of consensus government, Dec. 13 after their leader, Christoph Blocher, was ousted from the Federal Council the previous day, according to the NYT.
EU Leaders from the 27 European Union countries signed a treaty Dec. 13 that changes the presidential post from a rotating, six-month system, to a position held for two and a half years, The New York Times reported. The new treaty also allows for some decisions to be made by majority vote instead of unanimity. It would need to be ratified by all members.
SPAIN A bomb exploded in northern Spain Dec. 16, two days after Basque separatists announced that they would continue to fight Spanish rule, according to a Reuters report. The separatists called police to warn about the explosion, which later happened outside of a courthouse but did not cause any injuries.
THE NETHERLANDS Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen announced Dec. 17 plans to clean up the city’s red light district by clamping down on organized criminals, Reuters reported. The decision is intended to fight activities such as human trafficking, money laundering and drug abuse.
RUSSIA A first shipment of nuclear fuel left Russia Dec. 16 for a power plant at Bushehr in Iran, according to the NYT. Iran claims the power plant is part of a civilian nuclear program. Critics, however, suspect Tehran of developing a nuclear bomb.
TURKEY Catholic priest Andriano Franchini was stabbed Dec. 16 after celebrating a mass in the city of Izmir, The International Herald Tribune reported. An unidentified suspect was detained. The attack is believed to be the latest in a series of affronts against Christians in the predominantly Muslim country.
UK British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s government announced Dec. 17 that a contractor had lost the personal information of 3 million learner drivers, Reuters reported. The incident comes shortly after the government admitted it had lost the names and bank account details of 25 million citizens in November.
UKRAINE Yulia Tymoshenko was restored as prime minister Dec. 18 after winning 226 votes, the exact number required in parliament. Tymoshenko, a leading figure in the 2004 “Orange Revolution,” pledged to move Ukraine closer to the West and seek European Union membership, according to a Reuters report.


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