A roundup of today's other world news in brief
Croatia still has EU hopes for 2012
BRUSSELS – Croatia should wrap up accession talks with the EU in the first half of next year, a few months later than planned, and still hopes to join the bloc in 2012, a senior government official said.
The EU has given the former Yugoslav republic no target entry date but diplomats say it is realistic for Croatia to conclude negotiations next year.
Politicians weighs in on health insurance
BERLIN – A conservative member of Germany’s parliament wants overweight people to pay more for health insurance, arguing that their lifestyle is putting too much of a strain on hospitals.
Marco Wanderwitz of the CDU told Bild newspaper it was not fair for those leading healthier lives to have to pay for those who raised healthcare costs by being overweight. – (Reuters)
Busy week for Mubarak in spite of health fears
CAIRO – President Hosni Mubarak (82) spoke in a televised speech yesterday, appearing in good health in his first public address since rumours that the Egyptian leader, in power since 1981, was dying of cancer.
Speaking on the eve of the 58th anniversary of Egypt’s “July revolution”, days after a US newspaper said he could have less than a year to live, the president had a busy week, meeting heads of state and attending military academy graduations.
– (Reuters)