Berlusconi moves on rebels
Italy appeared to be heading for early elections or a government shake-up after Silvio Berlusconi moved to expel dissidents from his People of Liberty party, reducing his parliamentary majority to a thread
Move to block BP from US drilling
BP would be blocked from winning future drilling permits in the US because of its safety record under energy legislation passed by the House of Representatives
US growth slows in second quarter
US growth slowed to an annualised rate of 2.4 per cent in the second quarter but robust business demand suggested that the economy would avoid a feared “double dip” that could drag the world back into recession
Indian police open fire on Kashmir demonstrators
Indian paramilitary forces opened fire on angry anti-India protestors in several different parts of the troubled Muslim-majority state of Kashmir, killing at least three people
Leaks highlight Pakistan’s Afghan quest
US relief at Islamabad’s retention of its powerful army chief will be tempered by documents on WikiLeaks that allege the ISI backed Afghan militants while he was in charge
China closer to becoming second-largest economy
A senior Beijing official’s reference to China as the ‘world’s second-largest economy’ has sparked excited speculation that Asia’s new powerhouse may have already reached a long-looming milestone by surpassing Japan
Russia calls in army as fires escalate
Russia called in the army to combat fires sweeping across the drought-stricken European part of the country and forcing thousands of people to flee
US team to visit Iraq amid political impasse
Senior US officials are expected to visit Iraq in August amid mounting concern that Washington will complete a significant troop withdrawal from the fragile country with no new government in office
Nadir to return to UK as warrant is quashed
Asil Nadir, the tycoon and alleged fraudster, is due to return to Britain after almost 20 years, but will not face punishment for fleeing the country because his bail was never properly set, a court has ruled