Ukraine Ukraine's central government moved firmly to quash talk of separatism in the Russian-speaking east of the country, as European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana headed to Kiev to mediate in the country's deadlock over disputed presidential elections. Iraq A US soldier and four Iraqi civilians died in a spate of attacks, capping one of the deadliest months since the war and setting a bloody backdrop for efforts to keep landmark January polls on schedule. Iraq An international legal team filed a criminal complaint in Germany against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top US officials over the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq. Iraq A conference on improving security in Iraq opened in Tehran, with Baghdad looking for more than just words of support in its efforts to stem the infiltration of insurgents and hold elections on time. Italy Italy ground to a halt as millions of workers observed a general strike in protest against the economic policies of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right government. Northern Ireland British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern met Northern Ireland's main Protestant and Catholic leaders as efforts intensified to seal a comprehensive power-sharing deal in the province. Romania The main opposition candidate in the Romanian elections, Traian Basescu, called for weekend polls to be declared null and void amid fraud allegations. Iran The EU hailed a "new chapter" in ties with Iran and confirmed plans for a rapid resumption of trade talks, after a UN-brokered deal under which Tehran pledged to freeze uranium enrichment activities, as Iran boasted it had humiliated the United States through the agreement. US A videotape of the late princess Diana talking frankly about her sex life with Prince Charles and suggesting that a lover on her royal staff was "bumped off" was broadcast on US television. Philippines Rescuers were desperately searching for survivors after floods and landslides unleashed by a tropical storm in the Philippines killed more than 300 people and left at least 150 others missing, many buried alive under tonnes of debris. Myanmar Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains in good spirits despite facing another year under house arrest while the military regime tries to secure its goal of long-term control, a source close to her party said.