Thursday, May 17, 2012

World News Briefs -- May 17, 2012 (Evening Edition)

Bad news: A long list of negative numbers shows losses on Spain stock exchange in Madrid as the crisis spreads. Daily Mail

Fitch Warns Of Mass Eurozone Downgrades As Frontrunner To Lead Greece Rails At 'Barbaric' Austerity -- The Telegraph

All eurozone countries face downgrades to their debt ratings if the risk of a Greek exit rises following next month's elections, a leading credit agency warned last night.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Greece's sovereign rating to CCC from B- and sounded a wider alert for the rest of the currency bloc. It said it would put the entire zone on downgrade watch if after June 17's poll, "Fitch assesses that the risk of a Greek exit from European Monetary Union is probable in the near term."

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MIDDLE EAST

EU seeks fresh start with Turkey on membership bid.

Syrian National Council head Burhan Ghalioun 'to resign'.

Diplomat: Confidential report finds Iran shipping arms to Syria.

Iran vows never to renounce nuclear 'rights'.

Plans to strike Iran "ready," says U.S. Israel envoy.

Military activities reported near Israel-Gaza border. Israeli troops fire at Palestinians near Gaza border.

Hamas: New, illegal PA cabinet can't hold elections.

Iranian calls for 'Islamic awakening' to destroy Israel.

Turkish jets stop 'Israeli violation' of airspace.

ASIA

US suspends Burma sanctions.

Satellite imagery shows progress in North Korea nuclear reactor construction.

Exclusive: China pushes North Korea to drop nuclear test plan: Sources.

N. Koreans demand ransom for detained Chinese fishermen.

China calls for consistent diplomacy from Philippines.

16 retired Chinese Communist Party officials call for 2 top leaders to step down.

Chen Guangcheng 'to get passport within 15 days'.

AFRICA

Somaliland military court sentences 17 civilians to die.

West African troops start arriving in Guinea-Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau gets Prime Minister under new deal.

West African group mulls intervention in Mali. Rights group: Mali facing 'worst crisis since independence'.

Mbeki heading to Khartoum to push talks.

Rwandan rebels kill 50 in eastern DR Congo: UN.

Military hopes for 'great leader' from Egypt vote.

EUROPE

Eurozone crisis live: Spain's Bankia denies suffering run on deposits. Debt crisis: live.

Poll shows Greece electing pro-bailout government.

Euro falls to four-month low as Spain’s debt costs rise.

Spain could be locked out of the markets, says Mariano Rajoy.

Cameron looks to shield Britain from Euro break-up.

Judge delays Mladic trial due to evidence errors.

After 7 years, no end in sight to phone hacking scandal.

Queen Sofia to snub Diamond Jubilee lunch over Gibraltar row.

London 2012 Olympics: Torch handed over to Britain in ceremony today.

AMERICAS

Emergency law considered in Quebec student protest.

Canada oil sands output seen beating projections.

Brazil truth commission begins rights abuse inquiries.

US census shows majority of babies now from ethnic minorities.

US agents on deadly Honduran military operation. Murder of Honduran reporter blamed on drug gangs.

Two Mexican generals detained over alleged drug links.

Falklands delegation talks oil to Scottish counterparts.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

FBI confirms leak probe on al-Qaida plot.

US scale model of Bin Laden house revealed.

Drone hits an al-Qaeda convoy in Yemen.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Facebook raises $16 billion in I.P.O.

Global demand for gold grows 16pc.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde: Greek euro exit will be 'extremely expensive'.

JPMorgan's trading loss is said to rise at least 50%.

'Royal' diamond Beau Sancy sells for $9.7m.

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