Days 13-14, Saturday-Sunday 11-12 December
Guardian
• A British ambassador warned that the pope's offer to Anglican opponents of female priests to convert en masse to Catholicism was so inflammatory that it could threaten the safety of British Catholics.
• The pope intervened personally to ensure the Vatican's increased hostility towards Turkey joining the EU.
• The pope intervened personally to help with the release of UK sailors held in Iran.
• The Vatican refused to allow its officials to testify at Irish inquiry into clerical child abuse and was angered when they were summoned from Rome.
New York Times
• President Obama begins diplomatic repair work following damaging WikiLeaks revelations about what the US really thinks about Turkey and Mexico.
• Cable reveals that China and US share a common frustration in dealing with Burma.
Der Spiegel
• There is growing discontent in Africa over China's business practices within the continent.
• The oil-rich Niger Delta is a hotbed of corruption and violence.
El País
• The American embassy in Lima confirms that the Peruvian army helps the US to fight some drug cartels while protecting others for money. It recognises the efforts of President Alan García but sees corruption as still very much present and dangerous.
• The American embassy in Lima asked Washington to help the Peruvian army fight the Shining Path terrorists. The "Sendero Luminoso" group was responsible for the death of 69,000 people in the 80s and 90s but is now linked to drug dealing and extortion.
