North Korea fired two short-range missiles, making six launches in three days, and it condemned South Korea for criticizing what it said were its legitimate military drills.

At least 43 people were killed in car bomb explosions targeting Shi'ite Muslims in Baghdad and the southern oil hub of Basra today, police and medics said.

By Philip Rucker and Peter Wallsten- The Washington Post
President Barack Obama’s professed ignorance of the targeting of conservatives by one government agency and his support of tracking journalists’ sources by another highlight one of the great paradoxes of his presidency.

The upcoming midterm elections on October 27 will define whether the federal government will be able to carry out a constitutional reform. The government’s Victory Front (FpV) risks losing 17 of its current seats in the Senate and 127 in the Lower House.

By Ivan Briscoe.
Seth Pecksniff, despite his name, looms large over the syndrome of today’s Europe. Preaching the highest moral values, Pecksniff is nevertheless unsure whether it would be in the general interest to provide everyone with a sound evening meal.

The social consequences of austerity economics have been most visible in Europe’s southern periphery. In the UK, the coalition government has brought in sharp cutbacks in welfare state provision in the name of dealing with the financial crisis.

July will mark the start of a new era for the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), when it will expand to five full members, if the South American bloc manages to overcome the commotion caused by the admission of Venezuela and the suspension of Paraguay.

Venezuelan authorities have released a dissent ex-general who was jailed on charges of inciting unrest after the country’s disputed presidential election. Retired General Antonio Rivero is also a member of the opposition movement Popular Will.

By David J. Kramer - The Washington Post

Can everyone please stop pretending that Russia can be a partner with the United States and others in solving the crisis in Syria?

Brazil’s Congress approved legislation on Thursday that opens up state-owned ports to private investment and lifts restrictions on the building of private ports in a bid to eliminate serious bottlenecks strangling the country’s export growth.

Syrian President Bashar Assad said in a newspaper interview that he won’t step down and that the US has no right to interfere in his country’s politics.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile today, the US Geological Survey said, but Chilean emergency authorities said they saw no prospect that the tremor would generate a tsunami.

The Buenos Aires province teachers' union announced in a press briefing today they will continue protesting "until the government improves the 22.6 percent wage hike offer."

President Ollanta Humala's approval rating fell 5 points to a six-month low of 46 percent, reflecting the unpopularity of his proposal to buy an oil refinery owned by Spain's Repsol and his support for Venezuela's new government, an Ipsos poll showed.

By Eric Weil
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced last week that one of the national top division matches involving either Boca Juniors or River Plate will in future start at 9.30pm on Sunday evening.

Juan Caicedo scored twice in Independiente’s 3-1 victory against San Martín of San Juan to win essentials three points in their struggle against relegation. River Plate could not cut the distance with leaders Newell’s as they only drew 2-2 with Unión.

Rafa Nadal made short work of his great rival Roger Federer to win the Italian Open, his sixth trophy of the year, 6-1 6-3.

US President Barack Obama voiced concern at Hezbollah's growing role in the Syrian civil war after men from the Lebanese militia fought their biggest battle yet alongside President Bashar al-Assad's army.

The Coen brothers' resurrection of the pre-Dylan folk scene in Greenwich Village serenaded Cannes with its period music and melancholy tale of a self-destructive, feline-toting musician.