| Spains new budget aims at spending cuts not tax rises | | Spain announced a detailed timetable for economic reforms and a tough 2013 budget based mostly on spending cuts on Thursday in what many see as an effort to pre-empt the likely conditions of an international bailout. | | Obama tries to keep slight lead as debate looms | | President Barack Obama tried Thursday to build on the lead he has started to take in the most important battleground states that will decide the November election, promoting what he called a new economic patriotism as Republican challenger Mitt Romney prepared for their crucial first debate next week. | | Myanmar leader praises Suu Kyi at UN | | Myanmars president Thursday said his country has taken irreversible steps toward democracy and paid unprecedented public tribute to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | | UK meets with Ecuador over WikiLeaks Assange | | Ecuador has asked Britain whether fugitive WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could be permitted to leave his London hideout for medical treatment, as the two countries met Thursday to seek to end a deadlock over the activists fate. | | Rowlings novel for adults goes on sale | | British bookshops opened their doors early Thursday and some grown-up Harry Potter fans lined up overnight as J.K. Rowling launched her long-anticipated first book for adults, The Casual Vacancy. | | Pakistan plans bus route to UK | | Authorities in Pakistan are planning to launch a bus route from the Kashmir town of Mirpur to the British city of Birmingham 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) away. | | Two Sudans reach deals on border security, oil | | Sudan and South Sudan inked a series of deals on security and cooperation on Thursday, hailed by their presidents as ending the rivals conflict but falling short of a comprehensive solution. | | Afghan woman wins Swedish rights prize | | Afghan human rights activist and former minister Sima Samar on Thursday won the Swedish Right Livelihood Award honouring those who work to improve the lives of others. | | 100 million to die by 2030 if world fails to act on climate | | More than 100 million people will die and the global economy will miss out on as much as 3.2 percent of its potential output annually by 2030 if the world fails to tackle climate change, a report commissioned by 20 governments said on Wednesday. | |
