Extreme heat fuelled damaging bushfires across southern Australia. They came after about 100 properties were destroyed on the island of Tasmania. The continent recorded a record average temperature of 40.33 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
Controversial trip
The head of internet giant Google has been criticised for visiting the secretive state of North Korea. Eric Schmidt arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday with former US governor Bill Richardson who will seek the release of a detained American citizen.
Inauguration protest
Ghanaian president John Mahama has dismissed accusations he rigged recent elections. The main opposition, the New Patriotic Party, boycotted his inauguration this week, claiming last month’s poll was marred by voting irregularities.
Pope’s plea
Pope Benedict XVI has renewed his call for action to stop violence in Syria. He urged all diplomats to formulate a strategy to halt the “endless slaughter”. The US and Europe have disagreed with China and Russia on how to address the unrest.
Trouble flares
Northern Ireland police have fired rubber bullets during an effort to crackdown on riots in Belfast. There has been anger after the local council voted to remove the union flag from city hall. Discontent escalated into demonstrations last week.
Epic footage
Japanese scientists have captured footage of the elusive Giant Squid. They filmed the three-metre creature for around 10 minutes at a depth of about 630 metres, off the coast of Japan. It is the first video if the animal in its natural habitat.
New Russian
Iconic French actor Gerard Depardieu has collected his new Russian passport during a meeting with president Vladimir Putin. Depardieu publicly quit France after a disagreement with the French government over tax increases for the rich.
Rape outrage
The trial against five men accused of a brutal rape and murder – which has outraged Indians and fuelled weeks of protest – has begun. The last month’s attack on the unnamed 23-year-old student raised calls for harsher penalties for rapists.
Chavez in limbo
Venezuela is in the midst of a constitutional crisis with president Hugo Chavez unfit to attend his inauguration scheduled for Thursday. There are calls for fresh elections because the 57-year-old is “seriously” ill in Cuba battling cancer.
Budget hole
Iran is facing a financial crisis with oil revenues down 45 per cent over the last nine months. It has left businesses unable to pay their bills. Many western countries have imposed sanctions to deter it from pursuing its nuclear program.
New defence chiefs
United States president Barack Obama has named republican Senator Chuck Hagel as his next defence secretary and counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan as the head on the CIA. Obama will begin his second term later this month.
New leader
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will not return to the post even if his party wins upcoming elections. An ally of the billionaire, Robert Maroni, says he expects 76-year-old would become finance minister if they win government.
Post published in: World News