Top story: After two weeks of political deadlock following inconclusive parliamentary elections, incumbent Julia Gillard gained enough to support to form a minority government and remain as Australia's prime minister. The announcement came after two independent lawmakers pledged their support to Gillard's Labour party.
The thin majority means that the defection of a single lawmaker could bring down the government. Despite this, Gillard plans to push ahead with Labour's ambitious environmental agenda, including new taxes on iron ore, coal mining profits, and carbon emissions. It was former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's abandonment of these goals that largely led to his ouster in a party coup in June. Gillard has pledged to give Rudd a senior cabinet position.
“I’ve learned some lessons and the Australian government has learned some lessons,” Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister, said of the last two weeks.
Religion: Gen. David Petraeus, top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, condemned a Florida church's plan to host a Koran-burning on Sept. 11, saying it would put U.S. troops in danger.
Asia
- Burmese Junta leader Than Shwe visited China to seek support heading into national elections.
- Indian police fired on pro-independence protesters in Kashmir, killing four.
- North Korea freed the South Korean fishermen it has held since last month.
Middle East
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked the U.S. to settle a dispute with Israel over settlement expansion in the West Bank.
- The IAEA says that three months after a new round of international sanctions, Iran is still refusing to cooperate with nuclear inspectors.
- Egyptian opposition leader Mohammed ElBaredei is calling for a boycott of November's parliamentary elections, saying they are sure to be rigged.
Africa
- South Africa's crippling public sector strikes should come to an end today.
- Nigeria has deployed troops to the north of the country to prevent religious violence.
- A group of exiled Rwandan leaders have written a report calling for the ouster of Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
Americas
- At least 44 people have been killed and thousands more are at risk from mudslides in Guatemala.
- Three suspects in the murder of 72 migrants in Northern Mexico last month were found dead.
- Hurricane Hermine is due to make landfall in Mexico today.
Europe
- Transportation strikes left thousands of commuters stranded in France and Britain today.
- The Spanish government dismissed the Basque separatist group ETA's latest ceasefire announcement as meaningless.
- Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou reshuffled his cabinet.
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