Wednesday, June 25, 2008

06/25/08

* Middle East violence roils Berlin donors meet World powers called for calm in the Middle East on Tuesday after violence in the region shook a Gaza truce.

* Israel's Olmert averts early poll Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has struck a last-minute deal with the Labour party to save his coalition and avert fresh elections.

* Sarkozy moves to boost Palestinian economy French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signed an agreement on Tuesday to establish an industrial zone.

* Medvedev wants "serious" pact with EU Russia seeks a "serious" pact with the European Union reaffirming it as part of Europe.

* Israel closes Gaza after rockets Israel says it has closed its border crossings with Gaza in response to a Palestinian rocket attack on southern Israel that breached a ceasefire.

* Top Saudi official: Ball in Israel's court if it wants peace with us Prince Tourki M. Saud al-Kabeer, Saudi Arabia's assistant deputy minister for political affairs, said Wednesday that "the ball is in Israel's court".

* Majority of French pessimistic about their country's EU presidency No more than one French person in three believes Paris will be able to boost Europe after Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon treaty.

* Dubai 'shape-shifting skyscraper' unveiled Ambitious plans to build a revolutionary 420-meter shape-shifting skyscraper in Dubai have been unveiled by architects.

* Conservative Anglicans aim to avoid split A new organisation for traditionalists wishing to remain within the Anglican Church is being developed at a breakaway summit.

* MEPs move to make EU enlargement harder MEPs in the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee on Tuesday (24 June) approved an enlargement report.