State of the Union: Barack Obama wants economy "built to last", takes on inequality; Analysis: Speech begins Obama's re-election campaign and how Washington is broken; Japan reports rare trade deficit for 2011; Egyptians return to Tahrir for first anniversary of anti-Mubarak uprising; US Navy Seals op in Somalia rescues aid workers, kills pirates; At least two dead in China-Tibet clash; and more
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World News Brief, Wednesday January 25
Saudi Arabia withdraws from Gulf Cooperation Council--Arab League to meet today to decide whether to abandon the mission; Chinese open fire on Tibetan protesters; EU to ease sanctions on Burma; EU finance ministers reject Greek private debt deal; US defends NATO bombing mistake; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 20
Iran helping Syria get around oil embargo, says report; Analysis – Removing Assad would weaken Iran and strengthen US, but military intervention perilous; Arab League to decide on Sunday whether to extend Syria mission; Indonesia gets rare credit rating upgrade; Italy plan major overhauls to create growth; Obama says nada to vast oil pipeline; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday January 18
Credit-rating downgrades EU rescue fund, yet investors show confidence; Rating agencies critiqued as "neither accurate nor merely observers"; Chinese economy slows; South Korea latest to feel US pressure on Iran sanctions; Pakistani Supreme Court orders PM to appear, South Carolina debate draws fire at Romney; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 13
Hillary Clinton denies US involvement in a car bombing that killed an Iranian nuclear scientist; Japan will reduce Iranian oil imports as part of US-led sanction; Myanmar government has negotiated ceasefire with Karen National Union; US Marines to investigate video of soldiers urinating on Taliban corpses; Mexico's drug war increasingly unpopular
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday January 12
US and Israel accused of assination after Iranian nuclear scientist killed in mysterious motorcycle bomb attack; Should America resort of bombing?; Geithner tells China to cool relationship with Iran; North Korea condemns US for "politicising" food aid; Mitt Romney close to line in race for Republican nomination after NH win; Italy's government looks to end monopolies and vested interests; Arab League mission to Syria labelled "a farce"
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday January 11
Bashar al-Assad lashes out at Arab League in rare TV address, refuses to step down; Arab League key to getting Syria sanctions through UN; Aung San Suu Kyi to run for parliament in Burmese elections; China and South Korea agree aim of "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula"; Greece pressured to settle private debt deals or miss EU bailout; Iran's latest uranium enrichment is "further escalation" says US; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday January 10
Iran sentences 28 year-old American to death; Iran appears to be bracing for war and driving up oil prices; Merkel & Sarkozy have 976th summit to discuss debt limits and tobin tax; IMF leak says Greece still unable to pay debts; EU running out of patience with Greece as Euro slides; Malaysian opposition leader found not guilty of sodomy; Despite global mockery, Arab League plans to grow observer mission in Syria; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 6
EU agrees in principle to oil embargo that would ban member states from buying Iranian oil; EU move follows US sanctions on Iran's central bank, as Western countries call for Iran to stop work on nuclear programme; North Korea chides Japan for holding a security meeting in the wake of Kim Jong-Il's death; Australia says it will not pay $2 million ransom for Australian man taken hostage in southern Philippines; Taliban say they are responsible for deaths of 15 Pakistani soldiers; Rwandan militia kill 26 civilians in Democratic Republic of Congo; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 28
Arab League observers met by protesters in Homs as Syrian peace deal begins; At least 30 killed in clashes the day before (+ analysis); North Korea calls for for economic investment; World leaders label Nigeria Christmas bombings "cowardly" and "senseless"; More Russian protests draw out Putin; Brazil's economy now bigger than Britain's; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday December 20
Kim Jong-un announced as North Korea's leader after Jong-Il dies; US and South Korea "monitoring" events (+ analysis); Mass burial for 650 Filipino flood victims, hundreds still missing; Pakistan military tensions prompt Zadari return from Dubai; 13 dead after four days of Cairo crackdown; Playwright and President – Czech leader Havel dies; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday December 16
US declares Iraq war officially over, prepares to open largest US embassy in world; Over 100,000 Iraqis and 4,5000 US soldiers killed in conflict (+ timeline and analysis); Govt promises "punishment" after revolt in China over land seizures; Mexico tells off US and Europe as it takes over G20 rule; Human Rights Watch says Syrian commanders ordered "shoot to kill"; DRC opposition wants protect to protect election win; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday December 15
US and Russia at odds over ongoing conflict in Syria; more than 30 killed in Syria yesterday; Papua New Guinea has reinstated deposed Prime Minister Michael Somare--but he is not expected to survive a parliamentary vote of confidence; Chinese villagers in southern Guangdong province protest against local government over land grab; Egyptians vote in second stage of parliamentary elections; EU criticises election in Democratic Republic of Congo; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 14
US and Iraq negotiate post-war partnership just weeks from withdrawal; Obama warns Iran to respect Iraq's sovereignty; China has been cyber-spying, US intelligence claims; Over 5000 dead in Syria since Assad crackdown; "Holiday Man" working presidential bid in Russia; Canada pulls out of Kyoto after years of complaint; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday December 13
Medvedev submits to formal probe into Russian elections, but rejects new vote; Protesters call for Putin to stand down; India and China to join US in climate treaty; Cameron defends EU veto in parliament, but where's Nick Clegg?; Elections in Syria, but no-one shows up; South Korea starts 'Christmas tree war' against North Korea; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday December 9
Merkel & Sarkozy call for "new common legal framework" as crucial EU summit convenes; Leaders divided on "quick fix" vs long-term reforms; European Central Banks cuts rates to all-time low; US insists China a partner not "adversary"; Syria imposes blockade on Turkey border, while South Sudan responds to Sudanese bombing; Australia refuses to sell uranium to Pakistan; Putin blames Clinton for fomenting protest after Russian elections; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, December 8
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denies ordering crackdown against protesters; UN says 4000 people have been killed during the nine-month government crackdown; China to make "extended preparations" for warfare amid ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea; US and South Korea in talks to revise 1974 nuclear power treaty; Pakistan's Zardari receives treatment for heart condition in Dubai; Greek parliament passes austerity budget; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday December 6
Merkel and Sarkozy meet over Euro crisis; US asks South Korea to cut trade ties with Iran; former Khmer Rouge official denies responsibility for killing two million during 1970s; Islamist parties win majority in Egypt; China commits to climate pledge; Peru declares state of emergency following protests at US-owned gold mine; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday December 2
Hillary Clinton pledges support for Myanmar's democratisation during visit--but says steps taken so far have been "insufficient"; Chinese manufacturing down markedly; UK downgrades diplomatic ties with Iran, considers sanctions; Obama will not apologise for Pakistani deaths after NATO air raid; a second Mexico-US drug tunnel found; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday December 1
Tit for tat between Britain and Iran after students raid British embassy in Tehran; International community condemns incident (+ analysis); Clinton arrives in Burma after vieled dig at China; EU to expand rescue fund, but may struggle to raise money; Turkey says Assad "at the end of the road", imposes sanctions; One million on strike in Britain; and more
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