BBC news 2011-12-06 加文本

BBC news 2011-12-06

BBC News with Sue Montgomery

The leaders of France and Germany have reached agreement on measures for tougher budgetary controls to try to ease the eurozone debt crisis. After meeting in Paris, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel set out a programme of reforms to strengthen the rules which govern the eurozone. With the details, Chris Morris.

Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy have set out a series of measures they want to implement as soon as possible. They include automatic sanctions for countries which exceed deficit limits and the requirement for countries to enshrine in law a promise to balance their budgets. There'll also be a role for the European Court of Justice, but no further demands on banks to take a voluntary loss on the money that they are owed. Angela Merkel says they want all EU member states to sign up to this new deal, but they intend to go ahead, come what may.

The Irish government has announced a new round of spending cuts worth $3bn. Health, education and welfare budgets will all be reduced, and there are expected to be thousands of job cuts. Additional measures, including tax rises, will be unveiled on Tuesday.

A series of bomb attacks has targeted Shia pilgrims in Iraq, killing more than 25 people. Three roadside bombs hit pilgrims travelling through Baghdad. A car bomb also exploded in the city of Hillah. The attacks came on the eve of Ashura, the most important Shia religious holiday. Here's Sebastian Usher.

The worst violence in Iraq has been sectarian between Sunni and Shia. It has diminished since the unremitting savagery of its peak, but Shia pilgrims are still regularly targeted by Sunni extremists. Every year, there's renewed anxiety during Ashura when millions of Shia throng to the city of Karbala. This year is only the second that Iraqi forces have been in sole charge of their security. At the end of the month, the American troops still left in Iraq will leave. The Iraqi authorities say they are now capable of protecting their people. But with almost 200 people killed last month, many are unconvinced.

Several thousand protesters have demonstrated in the centre of Moscow after international observers in Russia's parliamentary elections said the vote was slanted in favour of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's party, United Russia. Steve Rosenberg, in Moscow, has more.

At least 2,000 protesters gathered in the centre of Moscow. They demanded honest elections and chanted "Down with Putin". There were scuffles with police and a number of arrests. Earlier, European election observers in Moscow concluded there had been flagrant violations and manipulation during the vote, including the stuffing of ballot boxes. But the Russian authorities reject the criticism. President Medvedev has said the parliamentary election was fair, honest and democratic.

World News from the BBC

A conference on Afghanistan's future hosted by Germany has concluded with promises of tough anti-corruption moves by the Afghans and pledges of sustained aid by the rest of the world. The Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul outlined their commitment.

"Our determination to fight corruption and implement the necessary reform together with today's firm commitment of long support from our international community would be crucial as we take over responsibility for our own security in the framework of the transition process, seek peace, sustained confidence, cooperation and economic communication with our region."

The man who used to lead Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, has become the first former head of state to appear before the International Criminal Court. He's been charged with crimes against humanity following last year's disputed elections. Mr Gbagbo said his transfer to the ICC was illegal.

The European naval force in the Indian Ocean says the number of vessels hijacked at sea by Somali pirates has fallen sharply due to a combination of measures, including ships carrying armed guards. Officials said there had also been an increased number of naval interceptions of pirate boats.

The American space agency Nasa has confirmed the existence of an Earth-like planet beyond our solar system where there could be water in liquid form. Matt McGrath has the details.

Kepler-22b is the most interesting discovery yet made by Nasa's space telescope. It's more than twice as big as the Earth, but its location - neither too near nor too far from its sun - means it's the strongest candidate yet that could harbour liquid water, which Nasa believes to be a key indicator of life. Scientists estimate that the planet's surface temperature might be a rather balmy 22C. But it's not going to be easy to investigate this planet. Travelling at the speed of light, it would take you 600 years to get there.

BBC News