Tuesday, Jun 18th

World News

Putin faces isolation over Syria

Russian president Vladimir Putin faced further isolation on the second day of a G8 summit on Tuesday as world leaders lined up to pressure him into toning down his support for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Bombs and battles hit northern Iraq killing 70

Insurgents attacked cities across Iraq on Monday with car bombs, suicide blasts and gun battles that killed more than 70 people in unrest that has deepened fears of a return to civil war.

Turkish protesters party in square

Hundreds of anti-government demonstrators chanted and sang in Istanbul’s Taksim Square early on Thursday after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s AK party floated the offer of a referendum on development plans that stirred two weeks of protests.

Turkish riot police enter Taksim Square

Hundreds of Turkish riot police entered Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Tuesday, firing water cannon and teargas to scatter small numbers of protesters involved in demonstrations against plans to redevelop a park there, a Reuters witness said.

Egypt says dam dispute not yet a military one

Egypt’s armed forces are not yet involved in a dispute with Ethiopia over a giant dam on the Nile, a spokesperson for the general staff said on Wednesday, playing down bellicose rhetoric between Cairo and Addis Ababa.

Turkish protesters demand police sackings

Turkish demonstrators demanded the sacking of police chiefs on Wednesday over a fierce crackdown on days of unprecedented protest against what they see as Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian rule.

Japan raises economic assessment

Japan’s government raised its assessment on the economy for a second straight month in June as pick-up in exports and industrial output is supporting a steady economic recovery led by its sweeping fiscal and monetary stimulus policies.

Turkish deputy PM seeks to calm protests

Turkey’s deputy prime minister apologised on Tuesday for "excessive violence" by police in an effort to defuse days of unrest, comments which contrasted sharply with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s defiant dismissal of the protesters.

SA union declares wage dispute with De Beers

South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers said on Wednesday it had declared a wage dispute with diamond producer De Beers, a unit of Anglo American , paving the way for possible strike action if mediation fails.

Turkey PM maintains hard stance on protests

Turkey’s president on Monday defended the right of citizens to protest, in strong contrast to the dismissive stance of the prime minister, as police used tear gas for a fourth day in an attempt to disperse demonstrations that grew out of a sit-in to prevent the uprooting of trees at Istanbul’s main square.