Wikinews Shorts: January 28, 2012

If you believe any of these stories deserves more in-depth coverage, feel free to write a full article on the issues raised.

EU official resigns over anti-piracy treaty
to the European Parliament has resigned yesterday in protest over the signing of the  (ACTA) by 22 members of the European Union on Thursday. He said "I will not participate in this masquerade."

Reaction to the signing treaty, which has still to be ratified, was strong in Poland; thousands protested in and, and in the Polish Parliament members of the  donned  in protest.

The website maintains that "Anything you can do legally today is still legal after the ratification of ACTA."



French troops to end Afghan combat role a year early in 2013
Speaking yesterday after a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced France will end its Afghan combat missions in 2013 &mdash; a year earlier than planned.

Following the death of four French soldiers at the hands of an Afghan soldier last week, Sarkozy had threatened early withdrawal of French troops.



United States and Philippines discuss enhanced defense cooperation
The United States and the Philippines are discussing the possibility of enhanced defense cooperation, according to officials of both countries. However, there are no plans for bases along the lines of the former United States bases at and.

The talks come in the context of a shift of United States strategic focus toward Asia, and Chinese claims in the.



