World News Briefs -- August 4, 2011 (Evening Edition)

MARKETS OBLITERATED, DOW DOWN 512, EVERYONE FREAKING OUT: Here's What You Need To Know -- Business Insider

After diving for 8 out of the last 9 days, today the market finally "puked" in action that brought back scary memories of the financial crisis.

But first, the scoreboard:

Dow: -512.,53
NASDAQ: -60.23
S&P 500: -135.78

And now, the top stories:

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Activists: 6 Syrians killed in overnight protests. Syrian tanks thrust into Hama, 45 killed: report.

WikiLeaks: Bush, Obama passed on sanctioning Syrian insiders.

Turkey appoints military heads after shock resignations. Turkey appoints new military commanders.

Iraq to open talks with U.S. on troop presence past 2011.


Not only Arab countries are in turmoil; protests wrack Israel.

ASIA

China arrests 2,000 people in food safety crackdown.

Race for oil heats up territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

North Korea demands food, cement from South.

China affected by lingering drought.

Yen slides by most since 2008 as Japan resumes intervention; Franc weakens.

Suspicious device attached to Sydney teenager Madeleine Pulver was part of 'elaborate hoax'.

AFRICA

Gaddafi seeks Islamist alliance, rebels to receive fuel. Gadhafi son: He, militant rebels in talks. Gaddafi camp works with Islamist rebels, son says.

South Africa agrees to Swaziland financial bailout.

Nigeria Ogoniland oil clean-up 'could take 30 years'.

Trial of Mubarak's security chief resumes in Cairo.

US: 29,000 Somali children under 5 dead in famine. Famine spreads to Somali capital.

Building collapse in Darfur kills 20 soldiers: UN.

EUROPE

Belarus rejects Putin's call for unification with Russia.

Italian prosecutors seize documents from Moody's, S&P. Italy probing rating agencies.

Heat on Spanish and Italian bonds.

Italian coast guards rescue 300 on migrant boat.

NATO: Kosovo tensions easing as agreement reached.

Massacre forces new look at security in Europe.

Cyprus could be next for EU bailout.

British arrest 6 and seize 2,600 pounds of cocaine. Southampton cocaine haul 'worth up to £300m'.

French court orders probe of IMF chief Lagarde.

AMERICAS

Barack Obama enjoys 50th birthday with burgers and banter.

Going nowhere: U.S. economy struggles to find footing.

Haitians hunker down as Tropical Storm Emily nears.

Mexico drug suspect 'El Diego' could be extradited to United States.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Murky world of Somalia's Islamist insurgents.

Nigeria hostage "al Qaeda" video being checked.

MI5 and MI6 pay out £12m to Britons held in Guantánamo.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Pressured by White House, Treasury Secretary is expected to stay at post.

Stock markets plunge in worst day since depths of financial crisis. Dow average plunges 513, worst drop since 2008.

Global stock sell-off accelerates.

U.S. eats up most of debt limit in one day.

GM beats expectations with $2.5B Q2 profit.

Google and Microsoft embroiled in public row over smartphone patents.

China falls in love with SUVs.