Greek PM promises referendum on bailout, putting EU on edge; Global markets drop sharply on news; MPs walk out on Greek government, new election likely (+ analysis); Libya's NTC chooses engineer as new PM; Taliban claims it set Kandahar bomb that killed seven; US slams UNESCO on Palestine vote; China launches spacecraft; and more
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World News Brief, Tuesday November 1
Kenyan airstrike intended for Islamist militant group al-Shabaab hits refugee camp in Somalia; Philippine army attacks al-Qaeda-linked stronghold in southern island province of Sulu; Japan takes steps to slow the rise of the yen; Arab League has a plan for Syrians to end seven months of violent unrest against President Bashar al-Assad; centre-right wins election in Bulgaria; Uganda detains Opposition leader Kizza Besigye to stop him joining protest against rising fuel and food prices; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 28
EU leaders reach deal on debt crisis--Asian and European markets rise as a result; Angela Merkel is getting credit for her calm approach to the crisis; US says there is no indication North Korea is serious about ending nuclear weapons programme; Qaddafi's fugitive son gives himself up, asks for flight to The Hague; World Bank offers Peru $3 billion to sustain economic growth; Ireland holds presidential election; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 27
EU leaders meet, under pressure to find comprehensive solution to crisis; Italy's woes – pensions, infrastructure and youth unemployment (+ analysis); Panetta says North Korea a "serious threat" as talks end; Libya wants NATO to stay; New African democracies win import help; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 26
Moderate Islamists hint at unity coalition after winning Tunisia elections (+ analysis and al-Nahda profile); Qaddafi's body buried in desert; New data suggests eurozone falling into recession; Italy fails to settle welfare reform; Suu Kyi says more reform needed in Burma; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 21
Qaddafi is dead: Found in drain after NATO airstrike; Transitional Council claim control of Sirte; So how successful was NATO campaign? How soon should elections be held? In other news: France and Germany haggle over rescue fund; Thailand flooding a "national crisis"; Indigenous protesters march on Bolivian capital; Iran says critical UN report is "exaggerated"; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 20
Small business owners join workers as strikes shutdown Greece; EU leaders to announce expanded rescue fund (+ analysis); Moody's downgrades "vulnerable" Spain by two notches; Turks strike back after Kurdish rebels kill 26 troops; IMF picks six percent growth in sub-Saharan Africa; Chinese scientist admits stealing trade secrets; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 19
Hamas frees Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit after five years, in return for over 1000 Palestinians (+ analysis); Shalit hopes release will "advance peace"; South Korea finally clear to approve US free-trade deal; Germany plays down talk of EU "solution"; Pakistan puts conditions on Taliban talks; Al-Shabab tells Kenyans to leave Somalia or else; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday October 18
Libyan NTC troops enter one of last two Qaddafi strongholds, raise new flag; William Hague holds talks with NTC on elections; Japan warns China against military expansion; Standard & Poors predicts 6.9% growth in Asia Pacific; Fighting breaks out again in Yemen; Occupy Wall St movement reaches round the world; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 14
US approves free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama; trade agreements are expected to generate $13 billion in new exports for US; Julia Gillard drops asylum swap plan--will process asylum seekers onshore; South Korea will create task force to deal with crimes by US soldiers stationed there; Nigerian pleads guilty to US terror plot; Berlusconi calls for confidence vote in Italy; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 13
US Senate passes legislation to target China's currency policy while China warns of potential 'trade war' between the countries; Putin in China for $7 billion trade talks; Australia's lower house passes carbon tax for nation's 500 biggest polluters; US accuses Iranians of plot to kill Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington; Sudanese people hit streets of Khartoum to protest food prices; and more
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We're under attack, but we are doing all we can to put up some walls. Still, I'm taking bets on how long it'll be before some spammer adds a comment to this post...
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 12
UN report finds "systematic" torture of detainees in Afghanistan, including electric shocks, as NATO forces drawdown; After ten years in Afghanistan, US goals for the war remain unclear; Burma to free thousands of prisoners as US claims "dramatic developments" were underway; Investigations into Egypts Coptic clashes; Chinese stockmarket boosted by government intervention; Despite EU warnings, Ukraine jails former Prime Minister; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 7
Libyan rebels finally enter Sirte with the help of air-strikes (+ analysis); Aid agencies warns of growing humanitarian crisis; Apple founder Steve Jobs dies – tributes flow; Merkel wants more capital to protect German banks; Former Japanese party leader on trial for false accounting; UNESCO clears way for Palestine to join; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 5
Eurozone finance ministers refuse to approve more bailout funds to Greece without more austerity cuts (+ analysis on default); Euro bank stocks continue to slide; China warns of trade war with US; Suicide bombing in Somalia kills at least 70; US likely to pass long-awaited free-trade deals; Panetta criticises Congress on Palestine; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday October 4
Greece won't make 7.6 percent deficit target, says prime minister; Greek government approves new austerity measures and a plan to force 30,000 public sector workers into early retirement; tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea leaves 15 people dead; International Criminal Court will investigate last year's election violence in Ivory Coast; US could gain $15 billion injection from trade pacts with South Korea, Panama and Colombia; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 30
German parliament behind EU plan to increase eurozone's rescue fund; Slovakia expected to be biggest obstacle to enacting the eurozone rescue fund expansion plan; experts say Greek debt default is now inevitable; China has warned Asian countries not to hide behind US military backing; two Tibetan monks set fire to themselves to protest Chinese authority; violent incidents in Afghan war up 40 per cent this year; South Africa refuses visitor's visa to Dalai Lama; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 29
EU President says euro debt crisis "greatest challenge", proposes financial transaction tax; German parliament set to vote on second Greece rescue; Pakistan heaps praise on "all-weather friend" – China; Typhoon in Philippines leaves 21 dead; US and EU criticise Israel for 1100 more illegal homes; Second minister resigns over crackdown on Amazon road protests; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 28
Greek and German prime ministers meet to discuss Greek's debt and implications for eurozone; Greek parliament expected to pass a new property tax to reduce budget deficit; Thai rebels target civilians; Australian government to allow women to serve in special forces and frontline combat units in next five years; Ahmadinejad visits Sudan, says like Iran it is victim of "powers of arrogance"; Russian finance minister resigns over Putin's planned return to presidency; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday September 27
New eurozone rescue plan would write down 50 percent of Greece's public debt; Euro itself now under threat, say experts; Islamist militants ambush Filipino soldiers on island of Jolo; suspected suicide bomber attacks church in central Java; World Bank triples aid to Horn of Africa; French Left wins majority in Senate for first time in 50 years, threatening Sarkozy's re-election bid; and more
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