by Daily Digest

BP releases report on US oil spill--points finger at Transocean and Halliburton; Japan to lower value of yen; tensions thaw between US and China; two US soldiers killed in Iraq; Obama unwilling to extend Bush-era tax cuts; and more

Top of the Agenda: BP Releases Report on Rig Explosion

 

Obama proposes $50 billion spend to create jobs; $200 billion tax cuts part of Obama's plan; Gillard wins in Australia with the slimmest of margins; Myanmar's military leader visits China; Iran not participating with nuclear inspections; Afghanistan freezes assets of borrowers at Kabul Bank; and more

Top of the Agenda: Obama Plans to Spur Job Creation

 

Middle-East peace talks begin as "partners in peace" meet in Washington; Crucial independent sides with Labor in Australian negotiations; China urges jumpstart of six party talks on North Korea; Recession cuts illegal immigration to US; and more

Top of the Agenda: Israeli-Palestinian Direct Talks Begin

Obama ends Iraq war stressing "huge price" paid by US as al-Maliki hails Iraqi freedom (+ analysis); Greens do deal with Gillard; Chinese manufacturing rebounds, easing Asian economic fears; Four dead as Hamas targets peace talks; and more

Top of the Agenda: Obama Declares End to Iraq Combat

US announces new sanctions against North Korea as Kim Jong-Il talks up six-party talk; Biden in Iraq as combat comes to an end; Japanese "kingpin" to challenge PM; Israelis and Palestinians both promise not to concede too much ahead of peace talks; and more

Top of the Agenda: US Announces New North Korea Sanctions

As Bernanke asks for private sector help, more dismal economic news expected (+ analysis); What will be in Obama's big Iraq speech?; Burma's big leadership reshuffle; US risks losing peace in Sudan; and more

Top of the Agenda: Markets Mull Bernanke Speech, Fed Action

Bernanke to announce new economic plans amid worrying numbers (+ analysis); Leadership bid hits Japanese ruling party; Kim Jong-Il visits China; America's contradiction: Corrupt Karzai aide on CIA payroll; and more

Top of the Agenda: Bernanke to Deliver Economic Outlook

Dozens killed in Iraqi bombings designed to undermine local security forces (+ analysis); Chinese traffic jam could last until mid-September; Carter visit to North Korea set to ease tensions; al-Qaeda in Yemen now ranked top threat; and more

Top of the Agenda: Wave of Bombings Threatens Iraq Pullout

Taliban and warlords scare of candidates, disenfranchise 1.5m in Afghan elections; Zardari: Pakistan will take three years to recover from floods as epidemics threaten; Six Somali MPs killed in terror attack; Philippine government criticised over kidnappings; and more

Top of the Agenda: Anti-Government Attacks Threaten Afghan Election

Netanyahu says peace talks "difficult" but "possible", as pressure goes on settlements (+ analysis); Gillard and Abbott battle to secure independents' support; Iran opens first nuclear plant; Tens of thousands more Pakistanis evacuated as floods hit the south; and more

Top of the Agenda: Netanyahu Outlines Mideast Peace Demands