HIGHLIGHTS:
New: PAKISTAN-JOURNALISTS EXPELLED. Pakistan expels 3 reporters from British newspaper.
New: GEORGIA OPPOSITION. Georgian opposition leader meets with Saakashvili ally.
New: US-BROADWAY-LABOR. Stagehands go on strike, shutting down most Broadway shows.
New: CHINA-ECONOMY. China's central bank raises reserve requirement for banks.
New: IRAN-US-NUCLEAR. Iranians increasingly concerned about military conflict with US.
New: CHILE SUMMIT. Venezuela's Chavez invites Brazil to join his 'Petroamericas' oil initiative.
New: CHILE-ANTARCTICA-UN CHIEF. UN chief visits Antarctica to see global warming effects.
TOP STORIES:
Pakistan will end emergency rule in 1 month, Bhutto out after house arrest
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan _ Pakistan seeks to allay criticism of its moves against government opponents, allowing opposition leader Benazir Bhutto to leave her villa after a day of house arrest and announcing plans to lift its state of emergency within a month. BC-AS-GEN--PAKISTAN. Moved. By Sadaqat Jan. AP Photos.
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BC-AS-GEN--PAKISTAN-JOURNALISTS EXPELLED. PAKISTAN, Islamabad _ Three reporters from British newspaper ordered to leave for an editorial that used an expletive in allusion about President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, an official says.
_BC-NA-ANL--US-PAKISTAN-ANALYSIS. WASHINGTON _ Pakistan's military leader has defied U.S. warnings not to declare emergency rule and has suffered no consequences, but his triumph may be short-lived. Many of his Washington allies think President Pervez Musharraf cannot hold power for long. Moved. An AP News Analysis. By Anne Gearan.
6 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan ambush
KABUL, Afghanistan _ Six U.S. troops were killed when insurgents ambushed their foot patrol in the high mountains of eastern Afghanistan, officials say. The attack, the most lethal against American forces this year, made this the deadliest year for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion. BC-AS-GEN--AFGHAN-VIOLENCE. Moved. By Jason Straziuso.
Writer Norman Mailer, macho prince of American letters, dies at 84
NEW YORK _ Norman Mailer, the macho prince of American letters who for decades reigned as the country's literary conscience and provocateur with such books as "The Naked and the Dead," dies at 84, his executor says. From that classic debut novel to such masterworks of literary journalism as "The Armies of the Night," the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner always got credit for insight, passion and originality. BC-NA-GEN--US-OBIT-MAILER. Moved. By Richard Pyle. AP Photos NY108-109.
MIDDLE EAST:
Iraqi police, insurgent leader say 18 killed in clashes with al-Qaida north of Baghdad
BAGHDAD _ At least 18 people are killed in clashes between al-Qaida fighters and former insurgents who turned against the terror network, Iraqi police and a former insurgent leader says. BC-ME-GEN--IRAQ. Developing. By Sinan Salaheddin. AP Photos.
Lebanese presidential election postponed for third time
BEIRUT, Lebanon _ With two weeks left before the president has to step down, Lebanon's parliament speaker postpones presidential elections for the third time, to give the deadlocked rival factions more time to come up with a compromise candidate. BC-ME-POL--LEBANON-ELECTION. Moved. By Zeina Karam.
Iranians increasingly concerned about military conflict with US
TEHRAN, Iran _ Ordinary Iranians are increasingly worried that escalating tensions with the United States and its allies over Tehran's controversial nuclear program will lead to military conflict. BC-ME-GEN--IRAN-US-NUCLEAR. Moved. By Ali Akbar Dareini.
EUROPE:
Georgian opposition leader meets with Saakashvili ally
TBILISI, Georgia _ President Mikhail Saakashvili repeats his pledge to lift a state of emergency and a ban on independent news broadcasts as his allies meet with opposition leaders to look for a way out of Georgia's worst political crisis in years. BC-EU-GEN--GEORGIA-OPPOSITION. Developing. By Maria Danilova. AP Photos.
Saakashvili's news ban raises questions about his commitment to democracy
TBILISI, Georgia _ The rise to power of Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili was fueled by independent media, and his decision has raised questions about his commitment to democracy. It has also deprived the opposition of a platform to address voters before the Jan. 5 presidential election. BC-EU-GEN--GEORGIA-NEWS BAN. Upcoming. By Maria Danilova. AP Photos.
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_BC-NA-GEN--US-GEORGIA. WASHINGTON _ A U.S. diplomat heading to the Republic of Georgia says he will express serious disappointment to President Mikhail Saakashvili about his imposition of a state of emergency. Moved. By Desmond Butler.
Slovenia to choose new president
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia _ Slovenians are choosing a new president this weekend in a traditional battle between left and right, even though both candidates in the runoff vote are running as independents. Neither candidate, however, is expected to change Slovenia's good relations with both Europe and Washington. BC-EU-POL--SLOVENIA-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. Polls open from 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) to 7 p.m. (1800 GMT) Sunday. First results Sunday evening. With: BC-EU-POL--Slovenia-Elections-Glance, BC-EU-GEN--Slovenia-Elections-Tuerk, BC-EU-POL--Slovenia-Elections-Peterle.
NORTH AMERICA:
Bush, German chancellor take on all the global hot spots, from Iran to Afghanistan to Russia
CRAWFORD, Texas _ President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are holed up in a tiny Texas town, but their talks this weekend are spanning the globe, from Iran to Afghanistan to Russia. BC-NA-GEN--US-GERMANY. Developing. Will be updated with Bush-Merkel news conference after 1630GMT. By Deb Riechmann. AP Photos.
Stagehands go on strike, shutting down most Broadway shows
NEW YORK _ Broadway stagehands go on strike, shutting down more than two dozen plays and musicals on what is the most popular theatergoing day of the week. Picket lines went up at theaters throughout the Times Square area. BC-NA-A&E-STG--US-BROADWAY LABOR. Developing. By Michael Kuchwara. AP Photos.
LATIN AMERICA:
Venezuela's Chavez invites Brazil to join his 'Petroamericas' oil initiative
SANTIAGO, Chile _ Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez invites Brazil to join his "Petroamericas" initiative that aims to strengthen a regional energy alliance on the back of surging world oil prices.BC-LA-GEN--CHILE-SUMMIT. Moved. By Eduardo Gallardo. AP Photo.
UN chief visits Antarctica to see global warming effects
CHILEAN PRESIDENTE EDUARDO FREI BASE, Antarctica _ U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits Antarctica to see firsthand the impact of climate change and the melting of glaciers.BC-LA-GEN--Chile-Antarctica-UN Chief. Moved. By Roberto Candia. BC-LA-GEN--CHILE-ANTARCTICA-UN CHIEF.
AFRICA:
Somalia: more than 80 people killed in two days of fighting in Mogadishu
MOGADISHU, Somalia _ At least 80 Somalis have been killed in heavy fighting in the capital within the past 48 hours, witnesses and doctors say. BC-AF-GEN--SOMALIA. Moved. By Mohamed Olad Hassan.
Zanzibar expels 4 radical Muslim clerics
ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA _ Four Muslim clerics have been expelled Zanzibar for preaching hatred against Christianity, a government official says, the first time such an expulsion has been ordered in nearly 15 years. BC-AF-GEN--TANZANIA-IMAMS EXPELLED. Moved. By Ali Sultan.
ASIA:
Malaysian police fire tear gas, water cannon on protesters demanding electoral reforms
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia _ Malaysian police fire tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of activists at an opposition-backed rally demanding electoral reforms in the biggest anti-government street protest in nearly 10 years. BC-AS-GEN--MALAYSIA-ELECTION RALLY. Moved. AP Photos.
Myanmar junta says it's putting energy into reform as Suu Kyi gets rare front-page billing
YANGON, Myanmar _ Detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi receives rare front-page billing in Myanmar's state-controlled press, which says the ruling junta is "putting energy" into democratic reforms demanded by the international community. BC-AS-GEN--MYANMAR. Moved. By Aye Aye Win.
BUSINESS & FINANCE:
China's central bank raises reserve requirement for banks again to try to slow torrid economy
BEIJING _ China's central bank orders commercial banks to keep more money on deposit, raising a reserve requirement yet again to try to rein in the rapid lending that is fueling torrid economic growth. The People's Bank of China said the reserve requirement ratio will be raised half a percentage point, to 13.5 percent, as of Nov. 26. BC-AS-FIN-ECO--CHINA-ECONOMY.
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