News
Zimbabwe's MDC holds out on talks deal
Zimbabwe's main opposition party said it would not sign an accord paving the way for talks to end a political crisis until mediator South Africa addressed its concerns, but regional officials on Sunday appeared optimistic a breakthrough was possible.
Barack Obama visits Iraq
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama flew into Iraq on Monday, thrusting U.S. strategy in the country and troop levels to the centre-stage of the November election race.
Trade ministers begin make-or-break WTO talks
Top trade officials begin a make-or-break session of world trade talks on Monday, haunted by failed efforts in 2006 and 2007 and concern over whether the United States can deliver on a deal.
Indian government begins confidence vote debate
India's parliament began debate on a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government on Monday that will decide the fate of a nuclear deal with the United States and could trigger a snap election.
North Korea nuclear talks to take higher profile
Sputtering talks on ending North Korea's nuclear plans will gain a higher profile this week with an unprecedented meeting of ministers, but lingering questions on the North's ambitions threaten to drag the process down.
Rebels clash in southwest Pakistan
At least 36 people were killed in clashes between security forces and militants in a part of southwest Pakistan where nationalist rebels have fought a low-level insurgency for years, paramilitary officials said on Monday.
Israeli army probes shooting of bound Palestinian
Video footage of an Israeli soldier firing what appears to be a rubber bullet at point-blank range at a bound and blindfolded Palestinian detainee has led to an army investigation.
ASEAN tackles border spat, rights and Myanmar
Southeast Asian ministers urged Cambodia and Thailand on Monday to show restraint over a military standoff on their border and took steps to create a regional human rights body.
Kidnapped Turkish engineers freed in Afghanistan
Two Turkish engineers kidnapped in Afghanistan last week have been freed after their employers apparently paid a ransom, police said on Monday.
Squandered oil wealth leaves Nigeria in dark age
With oil prices at record highs, government coffers in the world's eighth biggest oil exporter are swollen to unprecedented levels.
Three die as blasts hit three Chinese buses
Deliberate explosions on three Chinese buses killed at least three people and injured 14 in the southwestern city of Kunming on Monday, media said, amid a security clampdown ahead of next month's Beijing Olympics.
Jobless may have to work for benefits
The long-term unemployed could be forced to work for their benefit payments under plans for the biggest reform of the welfare system in 60 years, the government said on Monday.
Brown warns Iran in nuclear standoff
In the first speech to the Israeli Knesset by a British prime minister, Gordon Brown on Monday will warn Iran it faces growing isolation if it rejects an offer from major powers on its disputed nuclear programme.
Climate report calls for leaders with vision
The world needs leaders with the vision to forge New Deal-type policies to tackle the potentially disastrous combination of climate change, high inflation and economic slowdown, a British think-tank said on Monday.
House prices fall 2 percent in July
Asking prices for homes in England and Wales fell two percent year-on-year in July, a survey by property Web site Rightmove showed on Monday, the first annual fall since the series began six years ago.
UK captive death claim taken seriously
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Saturday he was taking seriously a claim by militants in Iraq that one of five Britons they are holding hostage has killed himself.