UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on December 9 stressed that the prevention of genocide is a global responsibility, saying that when States fail to protect their populations, the international community must step in and act.

The Palestinians on December 9 refused to resume the direct peace talks with Israel after the US halted talks with the Israeli government over freezing settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

A Jewish settlers group in the West Bank hailed on December 8 the Obama administration's decision to give up on efforts to stop pushing for a freeze on settlement construction.

The European Commission (EC) on December 8 proposed to revise an important directive concerning financial market regulation in a bid to increase transparency in the market.

At least 21 people were killed in a collision between two passenger trains in Bangladesh's Narsingdi district, 51 kms northeast of capital Dhaka at abount 5 PM local time on December 8.

US House of Representatives on December 8 passed spending freeze legislation which would push back the efforts to close the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba in 2011.

Heavy snow in Paris brought buses to a halt on December 8, suspended flights at Charles de Gaulle airport and prompted the closure of the Eiffel Tower.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas says Middle East peace talks are in crisis following Israel's refusal to stop building in settlements.

A teen-aged suicide bomber killed at least 18 people and wounded 33 others on board a bus on December 8 in northwest Pakistan, officials said.

Fire engulfed a prison in the Chilean capital early on December 8, killing 81 inmates and critically injuring 14 others, the government said, in the country's third-deadliest blaze ever.