Conflicting reports suggest Mubarak's death

Egypt's official MENA news agency says the former president Hosni Mubarak has "clinically" died after being treated in a military hospital.
Reports say Mubarak was defibrillated many times but did not respond.
However, the country's military government has denied the report.
A doctor is also refuting the report, saying Mubarak is in a coma, but not dead.
Mubarak's health is said to have deteriorated rapidly on Tuesday evening when he suffered a cardiac arrest requiring electro-shock treatment.
The 84 year old is also reported to have suffered a stroke.
The former Egyptian leader was sentenced to life in jail for his role in the killing of civilian protesters a year ago.
Thousands protest in Egypt against army 'coup'

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square to protest against the Egyptian military council's decision to assume new powers.
The protest was called by the main Islamist faction, the Muslim Brotherhood. Although official results have not yet been released, the party is claiming that the weekend's presidential election was won by its candidate,Mohamed Mursi.
His opponent, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq is also claiming victory.
Situation in Syria "getting worse": chief UN observer

The head of the UN observer mission in Syria, General Robert Mood, says the situation in the country is getting worse.
Mood made the comments while briefing the United Nationas Security Council Tuesday.
The briefing came just three days after Mood announced the suspension of the UN observer mission amid increased violence across Syria.
Syria's UN ambassador is calling for the early resumption of the monitoring mission, saying it is important to the Syrian people.
Bus overturn kills 17 in S China

A bus has plunged 50 meters into a ravine in Southern China's Fujian province, killing 17 people.
Local officials say at least 3 others were seriously injured.
The bus with 45 people on board was en route to the southern port city of Xiamen.
Rescue work and a full investigation are under way.
Hu meets Obama

Chinese President Hu Jintao has met with his US counterpart Barack Obama on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Mexico.
The two leaders have exchanged views on variety of issues including global recovery and bilateral ties.
It is the twelfth meeting between the two leaders since Obama took office in 2009.
Securing growth, promoting stability top priority of G20 members, says Chinese president

Earlier in a speech to the G20 summit, Hu Jintao urged leaders to strengthen cooperation, saying the global economy is facing significant risks to growth and stability.
Hu Jintao has cited the prolonged eurozone debt crisis, slowdowns in major developed and emerging economies, and high unemployment in certain parts of the world as some of the biggest threats to a fragile global recovery.
At the 2-day meeting, G20 leaders have been focusing on the global economic situation, the strengthening of the international financial system as well as development, trade and employment.
Pakistani PM barred from public office

Two months after he was convicted from continuing in office.
The Supreme Court in Islamabad disqualified Gilani Tuesday from holding public office, stating that he had ceased to be the country's Prime Minister.
The decision relates to Gilani's conviction in April of failing to pursue corruption charges against the Pakistani president Asif Ali Zadari.
The court ruling was backdated to the date of his original contempt conviction, thereby raising questions over the validity of executive decisions made by Gilani since that time.
Rio+20 negotiators agree on text

Environmental negotiators in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro have agreed on a text intended to put the world on a more sustainable path.
The agreement is expected to be approved by world leaders later this week.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu says the text is positive and balanced.
Representative from over 190 countries are set to attend the Rio +20 summit later this week, making it the largest UN conference ever held.
Body parts suspect to be charged in Canada

The man accused of the grizzly murder of a Chinese national is back in Canada.
Luka Magnotta is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Montreal on charges of the first-degree murder of 33-year old Lin Jun.
The native of Wuhan was murdered last month before some of his body parts were of were mailed to Canadian political parties.
A video of the murder was allegedly posted on-line by Magnotta, who then fled Canada before his eventual arrest in Germany.
Assange seeks asylum at Ecuador Embassy

The founder of the Wikileaks website Julian Assange has filed a request for political asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
Last week, Britain's High Court dismissed a bid by Mr. Assange to reopen his appeal against extradition to Sweden,where he is wanted in connection with sex crime allegations. Assange claims the allegations against him are politically motivated.
The Ecuadorian consulate in London is said to be reviewing Assange's request.
Assange's Wikileaks website has published a series of highly sensitive diplomatic cables that have embarrassed several governments and multi-national companies.