Coup attempt at luxury hotel in Manila, foiled; Kasparov free in Russia; 3 arrested in Slovkia and Hungary for uranium peddling...

29 November :: 5-star hotel in Manila taken over by rebel senator, mutinous military faction, declaring coup attempt; elite military unit retakes hotel, detains all involved, within 7 hours, some conspirators reported to be on trial at present for ties to 2003 coup attempt... Chess legend, opposition leader Garry Kasparov freed from Russian jail, after being detained by Putin's gov't for leading an opposition demonstration; he says he expects next time the gov't will impose criminal charges for speaking out against regime... Two Hungarians, one Ukrainian arrested for alleged attempt to sell one pound of Uranium-235 in powder form; investigators say the substance originaed in "former Soviet republics" and was 98.6% Uranium-235, 85% being considered "weapons grade"...

40 nations gather at Annapolis summit; Sarkozy calls for calm as riots strike Paris suburb; Bush, Gore privately discuss climate change...

27 November :: 40 nations to gather at Annapolis summit for Mideast peace negotiations; Israel, Palestinian leaders express hope for progress on comprehensive peace deal, while Hamas leader, ex-Palestinian PM, Haniyeh, says the Palestinian people will not be bound by what his rival Abbas agrees to... French pres. Nicolas Sarkozy has urged calm as riots spread through Paris suburb Villiers-le-Bel in wake of hit and run death allegedly involving police; residents allege the police involved fled on foot after being unable to start their car, damaged by the accident, opposition leader François Hollande, condemning the violence, said it sprung from a "social and political crisis" the gov't was unable to handle; similarity to situation that sparked 2005 riots across France leads some to fear more violence will ensue... In first private meeting since 2000 presidential election, US pres. Bush, fmr. rival Al Gore discussed climate change for 30 min. while Gore attended White House dinner for Nobel laureates... US, Iraq leaders sign non-binding bilateral cooperation agreement, via video conference; document is attempt to "codify" a relationship that would see phase out of US combat mission, conduct parallel security policy to UN mandate for occupation, stabilization troops...