International envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, says embattled president Bashar al-Assad has agreed there needs to be a “political approach” to end unrest in the country. Assad also backed Annan’s plan to end violence but blamed the US for interfering.
Bull carnage
Dozens of thrill-seekers have been injured during the annual running of the bulls festival in northern Spain. However, one was seriously harmed when several half-ton bulls raced through the 850-metre course of narrow streets in 3.5 minutes.
Suu Kyi arrives
Burmese democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi has finally taken her seat in the national parliament. After more than a decade of house detention she was released last year and in April her National League for Democracy won elections.
Mars panorama
US space agency NASA has released a high-definition image of Mars. It stitches together 817 individual images to improve the image’s definition. A camera loaded onto its Mars Exploration Rover took the shots.
Chile deaths
Freezing temperatures in central and southern Chile have been blamed for the deaths of 16 homeless people. The country has an estimated 12,000 homeless people. The president said the community should ensure they are sheltered.
Flood deaths
Unprecedented deluges and landslides were blamed for the deaths of more than 170 people in south-western Russia last weekend. The national government also blamed local officials for failing to give the community adequate warnings.
Afghan pay-day
An international donor’s conference in Japan has secured $16 billion in aid for Afghanistan over the next four years. About 80 nations attended. The meeting came as world leaders condemned a video showing the public execution of a young woman.
Egypt’s new Parly
Egypt’s new president Mohammed Mursi has officially reinstated an Islamist-dominated parliament which was dissolved last month by the then military rulers. He said the parliament will sit until fresh elections can be held.
Spain’s pain
Spain’s borrowing costs have risen to dangerously-high levels. Eurozone finance ministers will meet this week as it was revealed bond yields in Spain had rise to unsustainable levels and surpassed those in long-struggling Italy.
Outcome wait
Libya’s former interim prime minister has called for civility and unity between political parties ahead of the release of results from the country’s first national election in more than 50 years. Almost 3 million Libyans voted on Saturday.
Sea discussion tipped
Disputes over land rights in the South China Sea look set to dominate talks at the annual ASEAN conference in Cambodia this week. Ten countries claim territory. In recent months China has had disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam.
Pakistan attack
Masked gunmen have attacked an army camp in Pakistan, killing several soldiers and a policeman. The attack happened in the affluent Punjab province which rarely witnesses violence plaguing the country. Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility.
Post published in: World News