Top news: After weeks of siege, forces loyal to Libya's transitional government have moved on the last major bastions of support for Muammar al-Qaddafi. Government forces stormed into the town of Bani Walid, more than 100 miles south of Tripoli, and are also advancing toward the former leader's hometown of Sirte. The Transitional National Council reports that at least 13 anti-Qaddafi fighters have been killed so far.
The assault on Sirte involves scores of trucks mounted with machine guns as well as tanks and support from NATO aircraft. NTC forces have reportedly taken the airport, just 6 miles from the city. There is reportedly stiff resistance from pro-Qaddafi fighters in Bani Walid. More than 100,000 residents have fled the town in the past week.
Economy: Stock markets in Asia and Europe are up following announcement of new interventions by central banks.
Middle East
- The Palestinian authority rebuffed a last-ditch U.S. effort to convince them to avoid seeking a statehood vote at the U.N. next week.
- Syrian forces shot dead six villagers near the city of Hama.
- An Egyptian steel tycoon with links to Hosni Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison.
Asia
- China sentenced four Uighur men to death for fomenting this year's violent protests in Western China.
- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is canceling a trip to the U.N. General Assembly because of extensive flooding in Sindh province.
- Nuclear envoys from the two Koreas are meeting in Beijing next week.
Americas
- Cuba is accusing former governor Bill Richardson of slander for suggesting they had promised to release jailed U.S. contractor Alan Gross.
- With the addition of El Salvador and Belize, all of Central America is now on the U.S. drug transit watch list.
- Police in Haiti used tear gas to disperse an anti-U.N. protest.
Europe
- Denmark is on course to electing its first female prime minister after an election victory by the Social Democratic Party.
- Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov attacked Russia's party system after being ousted from the Right Cause party.
- Kosovo is preparing to take over the last two border posts on its frontier with Serbia.
Africa
- Two Ugandans have been jailed after pleading guilty to the 2010 World Cup bombings in Kampala.
- Ethiopia arrested four opposition members and a journalists on terrorism charges.
- The IMF says it has agreed in principle to a $600 million loan to the Ivory Coast.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
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