30 November: European Parliament’s Temporary Committee on illegal CIA activity in Europe report says evidence confirms EU gov'ts complicity in "rendition to torture" scheme; report calls for further investigation, accountability in light of fact EU gov'ts "had knowledge of the programme of extraordinary rendition and secret prisons"... Iran pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written open letter to American people; in letter, he urges US leaders to interpret November elections as repudiation of Bush Iraq policy; letter addressed to "Noble Americans" hails both US and Iranian peoples as "inclined towards the good, and toward extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need," resisting "injustice, the trampling of peoples' rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings"... Mexico tribunal orders arrest of fmr pres. Echevarria, on charges of genocide for role in 1968 Tlatelolco massacre of student demonstrators; military opened fire on protesters, killing at least 30, while non-gov't obserers say death toll was over 300... Iraq PM's cancellation of meeting with US pres. Bush yesterday may be linked to leaked White House memo expressing doubt about al-Maliki's ability, intentions; had been thought linked to al-Sadr lawmakers' walkout, threat of escalation in violence...

29 November: Shi'a lawmakers loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have suspended their participation in Iraqi parliament, in order to protest Iraqi PM meeting with US pres. George Bush... US Supreme Court to hear case brought by 12 states, several cities and other plaintiffs to force federal EPA to regulate carbon emissions; case challenges lower-court ruling that agreed with current EPA policy it has no authority over carbon dioxide as pollutant... Newly chosen Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has promised work with Democrats on getting their agenda passed in the new year, says several points will be "easy stuff" to achieve, including sweeping ethics reforms, constraints on lobbyists' access to lawmakers and a minimum-wage increase... US Congressional investigators reveal citizenship agency has lost 110,000 files, "processed as many as 30,000 citizenship applications last year without the necessary files"... Serious questions remain as to legitimacy of vote tally in Florida's 13th Congressional district; at least 18,000 ballots where votes were cast in other races recorded no vote for the House of Representatives; Republican Vern Buchanan leads by a mere 369, and the count is subject to current litigation...

27 November: Investigation into death of fmr Russian spy and defector Alexandr Litvinenko widens, as 18 people are referred for screening after having possibly been endangered by contact with him during his terminal radiation poisoning; David Davis, spokesman for the Conservative Party told the UK House of Commons that if the Russian state had a role, "given that a British citizen who had been given asylum may have been murdered on British soil, this has enormous implications to the relationship between the U.K. and Russia"... Israeli PM Olmert says he will make concessions to Palestinians in exchange for lasting peace; offer includes reducing the number of military checkpoints, unfreezing Palestinian gov't funds, prisoner release and the dismantling of settlements in the West Bank... NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg says police used excessive force in killing groom on wedding day by firing over 50 bullets in response to apparent car accident, saying the incident was "unacceptable or inexplicable" and violated official police protocol for such circumstances...

26 November: Exit polling in Ecuador shows Rafael Correa winning presidential runoff with 56.8% of vote, opponent Alvaro Noboa with 43.2%... Rep. John Dingell, who will take over House Energy and Commerce Committee when Democrats take leadership in January, says committee will investigate "oversight of Medicare, Iraq reconstruction, energy, the environment, and food and drug safety"; Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) says party will attempt to work on "low-hanging fruit", issues where the White House may not be radically opposed to collaborating with Democratic Congress...

25 November: Business leaders in Lebanon have arranged national economic strike to pressure gov't to resolve political crisis; conflict among factions seen to be more severe, better mobilized than during worst years of violence, in wake of assassination of industry minister Pierre Gemayel... Major US energy firms planning for new era of environmental regulation, recognize need to curb climate change by constraining emissions; Wash. Post reports "These changes come as Democratic leaders prepare to take over key committees on Capitol Hill. Sen. Barbara Boxer (Calif.), who calls global warming 'the greatest challenge of our generation,' will take the place of Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) as chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Inhofe refers to global warming as a 'hoax'"...

24 November: Alexandr Litvinenko, fmr Russian spy who may have been poisoned, died yesterday in London hospital; Litvinenko was reportedly investigating the apparent contract killing of investigative journalist and fellow Kremlin critic, Anna Politkovskaya; doctors believe the cause of death was exposure to a radioactive substance called polonium; Litvinenko accused Russian pres. Vladimir Putin, saying on his deathbed "You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed. You may succeed in silencing one man, but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life. May God forgive you for what you have done, not only to me, but to beloved Russia and its people"... Death toll for yesterday's deadly attacks in Sadr City rises to over 200, as violence spreads across capital, to Baquba, Shi'a caucus in Parliament threatens to leave gov't; sectarian violence includes civilians shot at mosques, minarets bombed...

23 November: Coordinated bomb attack kills 161 in Shi'a-dominated Sadr City, in Baghdad; blasts involved at least 5 car bombs and two mortar rounds, other mortar attacks also reported around Baghdad...

20 November: HRW reports Iraq's trial of former dictator Saddam Hussein for crimes at Dujail was "fundamentally unfair", frought with serious procedural abuses and failed to rise to the level of legitimacy required for sound justice; the 97-page report says the court "squandered an important opportunity to deliver credible justice to the people of Iraq"... New report suggests thallium poisoning of fmr. Soviet spy Litvinenko was ordered by Kremlin; Litvinenko defected to UK, was considered "obvious enemy", experts say poisoning bears signs of state sponsorship, but Putin gov't denies any involvement... Scientists have found a way to neutralize toxin that makes cotton inedible; production of cotton in such strain could provide means of feeding 500 million hungry worldwide... Online virtual world overwhelmed by "grey goo" of self-replicating code entities; Second Life administrators taking action to "clean the grid" of the infecting code...

19 November: NYT reports "Israel halted an airstrike against the house of a suspected Palestinian militant in Gaza late on Saturday, after the inhabitants ignored a telephoned warning and neighbors flocked to the house in numbers to prevent the bombing, the military said"; Palestinian PM hailed event as breakthrough in peaceful resistance, Israel accused Palestinian leadership of cynically using civilians to protect militants... Democrats' ethics rules overhaul proposals for first month in leadership vary, but leaders say they want to stick to promises made in early stages of campaign...

15 November: Environmental experts say two dam projects planned by Brazil place huge burden on delicate Amazon ecosystems, could imperil some of world's most vital forest habitat, put hundreds of thousands of species at risk, reservoir flooding could spill huge amounts of mining pollutants into river system; nearly 20% of Amazon basin, which covers 1.6 million square miles has already been destroyed by logging or development... Universities in Baghdad closed as roughly 50 people kidnapped yesterday in armed raid are freed, several police officials arrested... South African parliament has approved legal process for same-sex couples to establish civil partnerships, move hailed as first gay marriage law in Africa...

14 November: Center for Constitutional Rights, other human rights groups, file war crimes lawsuit against outgoing Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; suit also implicates AG Alberto Gonzales, fmr. CIA chief Tenet, various top military officials, represents 11 Iraqis held without charge in Abu Grhaib prison and allegedly subjected to torture; one of the groups participating is a group of Republican attorneys... Levin (D-MI) says under his leadership, Senate armed services committee will investigate apparent abuses and illegal activities in the extrajudicial "extraordinary renditions" program, which allegedly included kidnapping of suspects off European streets or from homes, transfer to third countries where they were tortured, several cases of mistaken identity, and undisclosed extralegal CIA prisons... 150 people reported kidnapped in armed raid by estimated 80 gunmen on university in Baghdad, witness report process singling out Sunni men; Interior Ministry admits suspicions elements of police force may be involved... Groundbreaking journalist Ed Bradley has died from leukemia at the age of 65; Bradley was best-known for his role as co-anchor of CBS' 60 Minutes and his tough, probing interviews and dignified style...

13 November: Hamas has agreed to support efforts to organize a peace conference for negotiations with Israel; move is first to show party's willingness to suspend hostilities in accord with negotiated settlement... Arab leaders agree to break freeze in aid to Hamas government in Palestine, over concerns exacerbating economic desperation could fuel more violence... Republicans complain Bush removed Rumsfeld too late, should have done so before elections; White House criticizes Republicans who say move should have been made as calculation about voter opinion... Memorial to those killed in Rwandan genocide to suspend opening, after report from prominent Rwandans says center lacks cultural sensitivity, provides skewed history, "writings that have nothing to do with reality, which do not reflect the truth about history, politics or Rwandese culture", fails to present vision of how atrocities unfolded... Despite mounting domestic criticism, Pres. Bush says he plans to keep Bolton as UN ambassador; Bolton, long an opponent of the UN as an entity, was appointed temporarily in 2005, without the consent of the Senate, and has been criticized as more provocateur than diplomat...

12 November: Arab leaders meeting in Cairo to plan Israel-Palestine peace conference say Hamas FM has accepted the conference proposal... Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), set to become first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives, promises "most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history", calls for new direction in Iraq in face of "catastrophic" circumstances... After hard-fought campaign, victory giving Senate to Democrats, Jim Webb (D-VA) says he will be an independent thinker and will vote his conscience; Democrats casting new leadership as more populist, more diverse... CNN airs broadcast entitled "Carnage and Chaos in Iraq", report shows civilian casualties, says death toll "just keeps rising", "Iraqis simply cannot continue to live like this", notes plan to pacify Baghdad has seen significant increase in violence there... Iraq Study Group, bipartisan panel of experts appointed to advise Pres. Bush on ways out of crisis, expected to advise Monday that plan for securing democracy in Iraq be abandoned, security and troop withdrawal as main focus; advice seen as opportune upon removal of Sec. of Defense Rumsfeld, who opposed changing course... UK church says some severely disabled premature newborns should have treatment witheld and be allowed to die; position likely to cause controversy amont religious and non-religious advocacy groups...

11 November: In severe departure from campaign rhetoric, Pres. Bush announces passionately that Democratic victory is not sign of weakness, should not send signal of lack of will to combat terrorism, even hails his party's losses in Congress as sign of the strength of American democracy, saying "Whatever your opinion of the outcome, all Americans can take pride in the example our democracy sets for the world"...

8 November: In US midterm elections, Democrats win control of House of Representatives, take 4 of 6 crucial Senate contests needed for upper house to change hands... In NY, Democrats take governorship after 12 years of Republican rule, Sen. Clinton wins re-election by margin of 36.9%, while moderate Republicans like Gov. Arnold Schwazenegger (CA) were able to hold some positions... At least 22 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on West Bank, Gaza; deaths come as Israel announces end of incursion into West Bank...

7 November: Guatemalan court authorizes capture of 6 accused of genocide, for extradition to Spain, where they have been formally charged with crimes against humanity; coup-leading general Ríos Montt is not part of warrant, appears to enjoy legal amnesty at present... Red Cross calls for international ban on cluster bombs, after Israel deployed them widely in civilian areas during July-August war against Hezbollah militia; use of any devices likely to put civilians at increased or prolonged risk is already illegal under international law... Daniel Ortega, leader of Sandinista Front wins presidency in Nicaragua, 16 years after election ended Sandinista revolution, Contra war; Ortega has taken conciliatory posture in recent weeks, moderate position on issues, past; Cardinal Miguel Obanda y Bravo says there are real efforts at reconciliation, paints the day as sign of hope for national unity...

6 November: 3 bombs simultaneously detonated in Mexico City, one destroying entrance to PRI headquarters, one at Electoral Tribunal (TRIFE), one at Canadian bank, Scotiabank; at least one other device was located and defused at another branch of Scotiabank... Human rights activist shot dead in front of church in Philippines; Rodrigo Catayong was president of the local human rights group Latungod and professor at the state university of Samar, he was shot several times by two unidentified gunmen... Spanish prosecutor seeks 230,000 years in prison for accused masterminds of Madrid train bombings; charges against at least 3 of the 29 accused include 191 counts each of terrorist murder, and 1,824 counts each of attempted terrorist murder... Catalán parties PSC, ERC, ICV to renew partnership in "tripartite" coalition; leader of Republican Left (ERC), Carod-Rovira, will be vicepresident of Generalitat, if three parties vote to approve new pact... ENN reports "President George W. Bush's administration is seeking world permission to produce thousands of tons of a pesticide that an international treaty banned nearly two years ago"... US observers denounce "anomalies" tied to Nicaragua elections; specific incidents not mentioned, team of 3 envoys says it received reports of polling stations opening late, unusual delays in process, polling stations closing early, for which reasons impartiality of process cannot yet be judged; according to Supreme Electoral Tribunal preliminary figures, with 14% counted, Daniel Ortega leads with 40.04% of vote, Montealegre second with 33.29%... 12th UN Climate Change Conference opens in Nairobi, Kenya; more than 6,000 delegates will discuss means of planning "adaptation" to climate changes processes currently underway and/or accelerating...

5 November: Tens of thousands of citizens march in Oaxaca, Mexico, demanding resignation of state governor Ulises Ruiz, withdrawal of federal troops stationed in city center; march reportedly extended 2 kilometers... Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein sentenced to death by hanging for crimes against humanity, involved in the killing of at least 148 Shi'a men, women and children in the village of Dujail, after an assassination attempt in 1982; gun battles reportedly broke out nearly immediately after the verdict was announced, bewteen Sunni loyalist factions and Iraqi police in areas of north Baghdad; Guardian reports "In Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, 1,000 people defied a curfew and carried pictures of the former leader through the streets"; sentence triggers automatic appeals process... Wash. Post predicts Democrats will win control of House of Representatives, classifies Senate as possible second victory, suggests Democratics will also hold majority of governorships for first time in 12 years; Post-ABC poll shows 46% of respondents "strongly disapprove" of president's handling of office...

4 November: Politically motivated attacks on scientists appear to be mounting in US, especially where issue of global warming is involved; New Scientist reports efforts by officials to alter Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report content by intimidating or ousting top scientists... US Sec. of State Rice breaks tradition, makes ideologically targetted appearances to push Republican party agenda in media as election nears... Speculation after Catalán elections as to whether nationalist Convergencia will form pact with nationalist Republican Left to win majority, or whether Republican Left will repeat coalition with Socialists, green Iniciativa parties...

3 November: MediaMatters reports CNN failed to object to Falwell's comparison between Foley sexual predation scandal, having "lived through Clinton", on basis of gravity, criminal element of crimes; some criticize Falwell for suggesting Foley pursuit of underage boys, alleged cover-up morally insignificant... Israeli troops have fired on women acting as "human shields" at mosque in Gaza; women reportedly answered call to rush to mosque to protect men hiding inside... US congressman Bob Ney has officially resigned his seat in the House of Representatives, after being convicted on bribery charges; Ney was responsible for changing French fries served in Capitol to "freedom fries" on menu, after French opposed Iraq war, has not made public statement about resignation but said in letter he had "completed all outstanding work in my congressional office"... US nat'l intel. director orders nuclear-related documents removed from gov't website, after NYT raises questions as to whether they provided information that might facilitate manufacture of nuclear weapons... CNN reporters, anchors allegedly claim Kerry Iraq remark likely to alter outcome of election, despite polls clearly showing evidence they will not...

2 November: London Metropolitan police involved in killing of Brazilian citizen Jean Charles de Menezes in summer 2005, have shot and killed armed suspect in southern England; suspect reportedly aimed weapon, officers form part of special corps of "armed police"... German officials report confusion as to how thousands of Euro bank notes disintegrated, apparently on contact with hands of those withdrawing them from ATMs; bills disintegrated within minutes of being withdrawn; chemical analysis showed the affected bills had been coated with sulfur salt, which when moistened, causes paper to disintegrate... US Air Force to establish new "cyber command" to defend against attacks on military, civilian information technology infrastructure... Head of New Life Church resigns after admitting to allegations he had paid for homosexual sex; conservative Christian minister had been one of nation's leading opponents of gay marriage...

1 November: LRA rebels in northern Uganda ready to sign new truce, in hopes of promoting process to end 20 years of conflict in region... China appeals court rules against gov't, frees "blind activist" who brought to light political corruption in provinces, orders new trial... Reports suggest depleted uranium continued to be used in Iraq, despite evidence showing significant increased risk of cancer, birth defects, from both radiation and chemical toxicity, including evidence accumulated from Pentagon's own studies; while DU is "less radioactive" than other isotopes, its half-life —the time it takes for that radioactivity to lessen by half— is extraordinarily long, as much as 4.5 billion years... Al-Jazeera to launch English-language news service 15 November, aiming to reach 40 million households across Europe, Africa, southeast Asia...