Frustrated by a “clear lack of unity” in the United Nations, special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan has quit his post. He had been working to bring to hostilities in the country to an end. He predicted president Bashar al-Assad would eventually resign.
Al Qaeda arrests
Police in Spain have arrested three suspected members of Al Qaeda planning a terrorist attack somewhere in Europe. Two men were detained before a police raid in a unit in a southern town where explosives and the third man was found.
Deadly typhoon
Typhoon Saola has killed dozens of people in two Asian countries with winds reaching 155km/h. The storm system, which triggered flooding, landslides and mass evacuations, killed 37 in the Philippines and at least six in Taiwan.
Iraq’s deadly days
Iraq endured its deadliest day in two years in July. Government statistics indicate violence killed 325 people, including 241 civilians and 88 police and soldiers, died. Almost 700 were wounded. There were attacks in 27 of the month’s 31 days.
Former leader jailed
Former Fijian prime minister Laisenia Qarase has been jailed for 12 months, after being convicted in corruption. The 71-year-old was deposed by a 2006 military coup lead by Commodore Frank Bainimarama who has refused to hold elections.
Gun crackdown
Honduras lawmakers have passed a law banning the carrying of weapons in a region struggling with land disputes and drug violence. The move cancels gun permits and prohibits weapons from being carried by vehicles through the region.
New cabinet
Egypt’s new cabinet has been sworn in by its newly elected president in Cairo after being selected by prime minister Hashim Qandil. Only two women and four members of the main Muslim Brotherhood party were given ministries.
Leniency call
Russian president Vladimir Putin has backed a lenient sentence for three members of female punk rock band Pussy Riot. The women, in their twenties, charged with hooliganism, face years in jail for an anti-Putin protest in a Moscow cathedral.
Dissident troubles
A Swedish politician has left Cuba after being detained, without charge, over a car crash which killed one of the country’s most high-profile dissidents. While in custody, Jens Aron Modig told media he had passed money to opposition groups.
Low confidence
The boss of European Central Bank’s refusal to outline the bank’s plans to help struggling European economies has failed to boost confidence in markets. President Mario Draghi’s comments saw Spain and Italy’s stocks drop 5 per cent Thursday.
Adultery killings
Islamists controlling northern Mali forced a man and woman accused of adultery into a hole before they were stoned to death. It is the first reported execution under traditional Muslim law in the country since rebels threw the country into chaos.
Massive drug haul
Australian police say they have uncovered a drug haul worth more than half a billion dollars in Sydney. Seven Hong Kong nationals have been detained over the shipment of more than a tonne of heroin and methamphetamines in clay pots.
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