ECN 12/3/07

No Surprises as Pro-Putin Party Sweeps Russian Election
By Sergei BlagovCNSNews.com CorrespondentDecember 03, 2007Moscow (CNSNews.com) - With President Vladimir Putin as its top candidate, the United Russia party won an overwhelming majority in Sunday's parliamentary elections, and together with its allies, it will have enough seats in the Duma to change the constitution.

Venezuelans Deny Chávez Additional Authority
President Concedes Defeat in 51-49 Vote
By Juan Forero
Washington Post Foreign Service Monday, December 3, 2007; Page A01
CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 3 -- Venezuelan voters delivered a stinging defeat to President Hugo Chávez on Sunday, blocking proposed constitutional changes that would have given him political supremacy and accelerated the transformation of this oil-rich country into a socialist state.

50/50 for future dictators. Putin still has work to do and Chavez has plenty of time to get what he wants (2013).

EU to push for concrete talks on new climate deal in Bali
International talks on how to fight global warming begin on the Indonesian island of Bali today with the EU hoping to push other countries to sign up to negotiations on another climate change treaty after the current one expires in 2012.

Peace Talks Back from the Dead
Peace in the Middle East has been but a faint glimmer on the horizon since the 2000 Camp David talks failed. But now, both the Israelis and Palestinians say they are once again committed to reaching an agreement. But it might depend on their neighbors. By Ralf Beste, Christoph Schult and Bernhard Zand more...