International News of the week

Saturday

Washington: Raising concerns over the creditworthiness of the world's largest economy, Standard and Poor's has downgraded sovereign rating of the US from the top-most 'AAA' level for the first time in history -- a move that could make the debt-ridden nation's borrowings costlier.

Beijing: China, the largest holder of US debt demands that the US set itself on a corrective course to cure its "addiction" to debts following an unprecedented downgrade by credit rating agency Standard & Poors.

Sunday

Damascus: Syrian security forces backed by tanks killed at least 27 people today, activists said, as President Bashar al-Assad defended what he termed a crackdown on "outlaws" despite rising condemnation.

London: In one of the worst riots in the UK, a mob torches several vehicles and buildings and clash with security forces in an economically poor area of London overnight, injuring 26 officers, after police shot dead a 29-year-old local man.

Monday

Washington: President Barack Obama strongly defends US credit after a historic debt downgrade by rating agency S&P and said America will always be AAA nation as its economic problems were "imminently solvable", given the political will.

Damascus: President Bashar al-Assad names a new defence minister as he faces regional isolation after three Gulf states recalled their envoys and Sunni Islam's top authority urged an end to Syria's bloodshed.

Tuesday

Islamabad: Pakistan conveys to India its keenness for progress on "doable" issues like Siachen and Sir Creek to create a "conducive" environment to talk about "core issues" and move towards their resolution according to Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

London: With violence spreading to cities across London and other major cities, British Prime Minister David Cameron vows to unleash the full force of law on "thugs" and ordered the deployment of 16,000 police personnel in riot-hit areas to maintain law and order.

Wednesday

United Nations: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "admitted" to a visiting delegation of envoys from India, Brazil and South Africa that "some mistakes had been made" by his security forces in tackling the unrest in his country.

Damascus: Syrian security forces shoot dead 17 people in the protest hub of Homs, while withdrawing from the city of Hama, as Washington turned up the heat on embattled President Bashar al-Assad.

Thursday

Damascus: The United States and Turkey agree on the need for a "transition to democracy" in Syria as President Bashar al-Assad's forces kill at least 14 people after storming two more towns in pursuit of anti-regime protesters.

London: Unveiling vigorous measures to tackle Britain's worst riots in decades, Premier David Cameron promises extra powers to police to quell the violence as a massive clampdown in London and other major cities netted over 1,300 trouble-makers and prevented further chaos.

Friday

Damascus: Syrian security forces open fire killing at least 10 people as thousands of anti-regime protesters rallied in flashpoint cities after the Ramadan weekly prayers.

London: As the death toll from violent riots in England rose to five, a top British police officer has slammed political leaders for finding fault with the cops' handling of the unrest while authorities summoned two social networking sites and makers of BlackBerry to discuss their roles in preventing future outbreaks.

Beijing: China launches a communications satellite for Pakistan, as the two all weather allies opened a "new platform" in space collaboration to further cement their strategic relationship.