US ambassador to Libya and three staff killed at consulate in Benghazi in response to video critical of Islam; experts say it is tragic diplomat who had done so much to free Benghazi from dictator would be killed by residents; US urges "cooler heads to prevail" in dispute over South China Sea islands; Occupy Hong Kong protesters removed after 11 months; 300 killed in Pakistan factory fires; South African mining protests spread to platinum mine; and more
Read MoreSouth China Sea
World News Brief, Tuesday August 7
Syrian prime minister fired; Beijing wants US to refute accusation it is hampering diplomatic efforts in South China Sea; Japan marks 67th anniversary of first atomic bomb attack; Karzai accepts Afghan parliament's sacking of ministers; NASA rover lands on Mars; 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, Friday September 16
Investors and markets queue up to predict Greece default as bank shares drop; Merkel warns German MPs about predicting Greek collapse while minister explores what would happen if Greece left the eurozone; New Libyan leaders call for democratic state with sharia law; Japan wants better defence relations with China; Religious violence in Nigeria; Republicans reject Obama tax plans; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday August 5
UN talks tough on Syria, but falls short of concrete action; Syrian tanks keep up bombing of Hama (+ analysis); Bank of Japan intervenes to drive down Yen; China calls Japanese criticism of its naval growth "irresponsible"; Somali famine spreads to new areas; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday June 29
Greek workers strike ahead of parliament's decision on austerity (+ analysis: no easy solutions); International court issues warrant for Qaddafi and son; Afghan central banker flees after exposing embezzlement; Obama confident debt deal is close; Japanese PM promises to resign; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday June 24
Obama opts for large Afghanistan troop withdrawl with a promise to "start nation-building at home" (+ analysis); Fears of Taliban takeover as US troops leave; Chinese artist Ai Weiwei released on bail; China warns US to stay out of South China Sea tensions; Relations between Syria and Turkey sour while India and Pakistan hold peace talks; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday June 15
Syrian army take town, round up rebels, but thousands flee to Turkey; Vietnam outlines war policy over South China Sea; North and South Sudan agree demilitarisation of disputed border region; Greek debt downgraded to lowest level; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday June 7
President Saleh leaves Yemen as opposition celebrate and truce holds (+ analysis); China promises peaces in South China Sea; Drones kill 18 militants in Pakistan borders; New Peru president promises more equality but makes markets nervous; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday March 4
Libyan rebels regain oil port of Brega, then face airstrikes (+ analysis); 90,000 refugees pour into Tunisia; Egypt military appoints PM with opposition support; Phillipines air force sees off Chinese boats; Battles flare in South Sudan; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 7
Attacks on NATO convoys bound for Afghanistan intensify as Pakistan washes its hands; Drone strikes linked to Al Qaeda Europe plot; UAE banks cuts off another of Iran's lifelines; China and US militaries learning to just get along; and more
Read More