Mr Papademos said the measures would enable Greece to stay in the euro

The Greek PM has warned the nation of a collapse in living standards if MPs fail to pass an unpopular austerity bill demanded in return for a 130bn-euro ($170bn; £110bn) bailout.

In a TV address, Lucas Papademos said Greece was “just a breath away from Ground Zero”.

The cabinet has approved the measures but five government ministers resigned.

Unions are holding a 48-hour strike, and thousands of protesters rallied in central Athens against the measures.

Riot police were on standby after clashes on Friday, but the demonstrations were mostly peaceful.

The austerity measures are being demanded by the eurozone and IMF – they must

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-16998157

Mr Papademos said the measures would enable Greece to stay in the euro

The Greek PM has warned the nation of a collapse in living standards if MPs fail to pass an unpopular austerity bill demanded in return for a 130bn-euro ($170bn; £110bn) bailout.

In a TV address, Lucas Papademos said Greece was “just a breath away from Ground Zero”.

The cabinet has approved the measures but five government ministers resigned.

Unions are holding a 48-hour strike, and thousands of protesters rallied in central Athens against the measures.

Riot police were on standby after clashes on Friday, but the demonstrations were mostly peaceful.

The austerity measures are being demanded by the eurozone and IMF – they must

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-16998157

Many analysts said a win in Maine was crucial for Mr Romney’s campaign

Officials in Maine say Mitt Romney has won the state’s primary caucuses in the race for the Republican presidential nomination with 39% of the vote.

With most of the votes counted, libertarian outsider Ron Paul is in second place with 36%.

Mr Romney’s camp is hoping victory in Maine can help his campaign recover after conservative rival Rick Santorum won polls in three states on Tuesday.

The fourth candidate, Newt Gingrich, did not campaign hard in Maine.

Mr Santorum, now viewed as Mr Romney’s main rival nationally, also had only limited campaign activity in the state.

Mr Paul told his supporters not to be discouraged and said the outcome had been

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-17001011

Basic supplies are said to be running low in Homs

Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo on Sunday to decide their next move after a resolution on Syria failed in the UN Security Council last week.

Officials say the ministers could discuss a joint observer mission with the UN and recognition of the main opposition group.

Syrian government forces have continued to bombard Homs and entered the town of Zabadani on Saturday.

Activists say at least 35 people died, while a general was killed in Damascus.

Brig-Gen Dr Isa al-Kholi , the head of a Syrian military hospital, was shot dead by members of an “armed

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-17001032

Mr Papademos said the measures would enable Greece to stay in the euro

The Greek PM has warned the nation of a collapse in living standards if MPs fail to pass an unpopular austerity bill demanded in return for a 130bn-euro ($170bn; £110bn) bailout.

In a TV address, Lucas Papademos said Greece was “just a breath away from Ground Zero”.

The cabinet has approved the measures but five government ministers resigned.

Unions are holding a 48-hour strike, and thousands of protesters rallied in central Athens against the measures.

Riot police were on standby after clashes on Friday, but the demonstrations were mostly peaceful.

The austerity measures are being demanded by the eurozone and IMF – they must

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-16998157

Many analysts said a win in Maine was crucial for Mr Romney’s campaign

Officials in Maine say Mitt Romney has won the state’s primary caucuses in the race for the Republican presidential nomination with 39% of the vote.

With most of the votes counted, libertarian outsider Ron Paul is in second place with 36%.

Mr Romney’s camp is hoping victory in Maine can help his campaign recover after conservative rival Rick Santorum won polls in three states on Tuesday.

The fourth candidate, Newt Gingrich, did not campaign hard in Maine.

Mr Santorum, now viewed as Mr Romney’s main rival nationally, also had only limited campaign activity in the state.

Mr Paul told his supporters not to be discouraged and said the outcome had been

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-17001011

American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48, her publicist Kristen Foster has said.

The cause and the location of her death were unclear, Ms Foster told the Associated Press news agency.

Regarded as one of the most celebrated female acts of all time, she also enjoyed success acting in films such as The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.

Her career was at times overshadowed by drug use and her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown.

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-17001548

Basic supplies are said to be running low in Homs

Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo on Sunday to decide their next move after a resolution on Syria failed in the UN Security Council last week.

Officials say the ministers could discuss a joint observer mission with the UN and recognition of the main opposition group.

Syrian government forces have continued to bombard Homs and entered the town of Zabadani on Saturday.

Activists say at least 35 people died, while a general was killed in Damascus.

Brig-Gen Dr Isa al-Kholi , the head of a Syrian military hospital, was shot dead by members of an “armed

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-17001032

Many analysts said a win in Maine was crucial for Mr Romney’s campaign

Officials in Maine say Mitt Romney has won the state’s primary caucuses in the race for the Republican presidential nomination with 39% of the vote.

With most of the votes counted, libertarian outsider Ron Paul is in second place with 36%.

Mr Romney’s camp is hoping victory in Maine can help his campaign recover after conservative rival Rick Santorum won polls in three states on Tuesday.

The fourth candidate, Newt Gingrich, did not campaign hard in Maine.

Mr Santorum, now viewed as Mr Romney’s main rival nationally, also had only limited campaign activity in the state.

Mr Paul told his supporters not to be discouraged and said the outcome had been

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-17001011

Basic supplies are said to be running low in Homs

Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo on Sunday to decide their next move after a resolution on Syria failed in the UN Security Council last week.

Officials say the ministers could discuss a joint observer mission with the UN and recognition of the main opposition group.

Syrian government forces have continued to bombard Homs and entered the town of Zabadani on Saturday.

Activists say at least 35 people died, while a general was killed in Damascus.

Brig-Gen Dr Isa al-Kholi , the head of a Syrian military hospital, was shot dead by members of an “armed

Read More from the Article Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-17001032