Two bomb blasts in Damascus kill 55 and wound over 300; Chinese have detained two relatives of Chen Guangcheng; US has approved plans for three Chinese banks to expand presence in US; Sudan launches air strikes over South Sudan, violates UN resolution; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief
Banks, Whaleoil and two corpses
As they say, a week is a long time in politics
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday May 1
Fears over military stoush between US and nuclear-ambitious Iran lessen; US and China plan talks over Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, now in US custody in Beijing; Japan and US to discuss further economic and defense ties; Sudan declares state of emergency; Spain's economy continues to contract; French journalist missing in Colombia, thought to have been abducted by FARC; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday March 29
Assad accepts peace plan to end crackdown as death toll hits 9000; Annan's diplomacy a convenient way out, but will it stick?; Australian government calls for criminal investigation into claims Rupert Murdoch's News Corp engaged in "high-tech piracy" in the 90s; damaged reactor at Fukushima Daiichi plant contains radiation up to 10 times the lethal dose; Iran nuclear talks could start in a fortnight; Cuba rejects Pope's call for reform; angry Greeks to vote for fringe parties in coming elections; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday March 22
French police in armed standoff with man suspected of killings at Jewish school; Obama to visit Korean border ahead of nuclear summit in Seoul; Myanmar invites US and EU to send observers for parliamentary byelections; Somali pirates free British hostage; Peru cancels UK Royal Navy visit; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday March 20
Syrian forces clash with non-violent protesters in Damascus, after further car bombing; East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta defeated in election; five men suspected of terrorist links killed by police in Bali; four shot dead in Toulouse; dozens arrested as Occupy Wall Street movement reaches six months; Pakistan PM refuses to write letter on graft charges; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday March 16
US and Britain affirm special relationship and commitment to diplomatic solution over Iran; US-UK foreign policy established after 9/11 about to end; Assad emails reveal advice from Iran, shopping sprees; South Korea-US free trade deal comes into effect; Britain may lose AAA credit rating; Ugandan victims react angrily after seeing Kony 2012; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday March 13
US Army sergeant kills 16 in Kandahar, provoking outrage in Afghanistan and retaliation threats; Personal revenge likely motivation, theorizes Pentagon; Bodies found in street after Homs masscare – but who's to blame? Japan struggling to rebuild one year on from tsunami and quake; Signs of weakness in Chinese economy; Pakistan wants to talk to terrorists; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday March 9
Syria's deputy oil minister defects from President Bashar al-Assad's regime and joins opposition; Chinese official accuses Uighur militants of having ties to Pakistan; Myanmar's military-backed government is holding peace talks with rebels; US investigates alleged drug running in Afghan air force; video on Ugandan rebel Joseph Kony goes viral; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday March 7
Netanayahu insists Iran is developing nuclear weapons, therefore Israel is justified in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities; Asian markets drop in response to China's slowing economic growth; Tibetan teen is latest to set fire to himself as protest against Beijing's Tibet policy; Syria consents to United Nations visit; thousands protest in Russia after Putin's win; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday February 28
Taliban launch suicide attack outside NATO air base in Afghanistan--nine Afghans killed; Julia Gillard defeats Kevin Rudd in leadership battle; US and South Korea launch joint military exercises on Korean peninsula; North Korea says it is ready for war; Saleh hands over power in Yemen; Bin Laden's Pakistan compound destroyed; G20 defer decision on Greece
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday February 23
Homs crackdown continues for 20th day, as two foreign journalists killed; Analysis: the role of business owners and questions about military intervention; Rudd resigns prefacing battle for leadership of Australian Labor party; Iran denies nuclear inspectors access to plant; UN council to vote on more peacekeepers for Somalia; Cameron declares al-Shabab a "substatial" threat; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 22
Greece gets its next bailout – but do the same problems remain? Greek debt to drop from 160% to 120.5% of GDP; Iran warns of pre-emptive strike is national interests threatened; Americans see Iran as 'top enemy'; Whole classrooms of school children forced to fight in Somalia; South Korea conducts provoctive military drill; Burma junta lifts campaigning restrictions; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 17
US and Afghanistan in peace talks with Taliban; Xi says US should respect China's core interests; Thai police say Iranians arrested for attempted bomb attack were targeting Israeli diplomats; Iran offers to return to international nuclear talks for first time in a year; Greek finance minister says Greece is being forced out of euro; horrific scenes at Honduras prison fire scene; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday February 16
Greek austerity package doesn't go far enough, says head of eurozone finance ministers group; Joe Biden criticises China's Xi Jinping over human rights abuses, intellectual property theft and devalued currency; Iranians arrested and charged over attempted bomb attack in Bangkok; Pakistan's Musharraf accused of knowing Osama bin Laden's hideout; UN asks for aid access to Sudan; economy remains biggest US election issue; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 15
Claims Syrian troops have killed 500 in Homs in past ten days; UN to consider Arab Laegue plan for Assad to hand over power to vice president; Moody's downgrades six Euro countries; Bipartisan US group urges China to back Iran sanctions; Obama unveils new Budget; Maldives leader wants peace, former president demands new elections; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 10
Dozens killed in sixth day of Homs crackdown; Arab League to return to Syria, perhaps with UN observers; Analysis – so what should be done with Syria?; Greeks government parties reach austerity deal, EU ministers meeting to discuss; Israel and US disgree on Iran threat; Amensty claims Russia & China breaking arms embargo in Darfur; Further improvements in Burma?; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday February 9
Euro Bank makes US$14 billion concession – if Greece agrees to austerity deal (+ analysis); Argentina accuses UK of "militarising" south Atlantic and takes Falkland's claim to UN; South Korea to make weapons for Saudis in new deal; CIA boss considers Burma trip; Protesters back Maldives' first democratically elected PM
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday February 2
International pressure builds on Russia to back Syria sanctions as violence continues; US opens door to North Korea – if it mends ties with the south; NATO report claims Pakistani link to Afghan Taliban; Romey regains lead in primary race with Florida win; Julian Assange goes to court; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 1
West and Arabs unite to force al-Assad to step down – Russia says no (+ analysis); EU leaders agree to cede Budget powers to Brussels – UK and Czech Republic say no; Who wants to talk to the Taliban now?; Atomic Energy Agency approves Japanese stress tests; China crackdown on Buddhist monastries; and more
Read More