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Mubarak trial in Egypt; Debt crisis averted in US; Increasing violence in Syria The trial of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak began Wednesday in Cairo. Mubarak and his two sons pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and corruption. Mubarak's former interior minister, Habib el-Adly, and six former Mubarak aides were also on trial. Businessman and Mubarak confidant Hussein Salem is being tried in absentia. Hosni Mubarak was brought to the trial in a hospital bed, and lay inside a cage where the defendants were placed during the trial. The charges against Mubarak apply only to alleged abuses that occurred during the 18-day uprising that toppled Mubarak earlier this year. The trial marks the first time in modern history that an Arab leader has been placed on trial by the people he once ruled. The US congress passed a debt ceiling bill, signed by Barack Obama on Tuesday, that will permit the US government to borrow more money, preventing a default on bond payments. The bill passed the House of Representatives by 269-161, and the Senate by 74-26, with opposition from Tea Party Republicans and liberal Democrats. The bill calls for $2.1tn in spending cuts over the next ten years, and stipulates that a 12-member committee that will identify ways to reduce spending by November. No new revenues will be raised. The three major credit ratings agencies maintained their AAA rating on US bonds. But critics worried that the debt plan will not solve the US' economic woes. Syrian troops stormed the restive city of Hama on Sunday, the day before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Tanks have now been shelling the city for three days. A human rights organisation reported 136 people were killed across the country on Sunday. Syrian protestors have vowed to demonstrate every night during Ramadan. Italy recalled its ambassador to Syria to protest what it termed the "horrible repression" of protestors, but other European countries have not yet followed suit. However, the EU added Syrian defence minister Ali Habib and other security officials to a list of people targeted by asset freezes and travel bans. On Thursday the UN Security Council issued a statement condemning the use of force against Syrian protestors, but China and Russia prevented any further measures from passing.

Africa Libyan rebel commander Abdel Fattah Younes was assassinated under mysterious circumstances as he travelled to Benghazi to appear before a judicial inquiry. An African Union summit on the famine in Somalia was postponed; meanwhile, the UN predicted famine would spread across all of Somalia's south in the next four to six weeks.

Americas US President Barack Obama signed a debt ceiling bill into law that will implement $2.1tn in spending cuts and prevent the US from defaulting on its debt. Cuba plans to reform its economic system, eliminating more than a million government jobs and reducing the state's role in several business sectors.

Asia-Pacific Record radiation levels were found at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. China's Xinjiang region saw a surge of violence, after two knife attacks in China's Xinjiang region left 10 dead and police killed four Uighur suspects.

Central & South Asia Violence in Karachi killed 42 as Pakistan's interior minister vows action against the "criminals and militants" he says are responsible. India and Pakistan's foreign ministers met and called for a new spirit of cooperation between them.

Europe As anxiety grew about a potential debt crisis in Italy, interest rates on government bonds soared to a record high and Italy's finance minister began crisis talks with the president of the Euro Group. Turkey's top military leaders resigned en masse, hours after several generals and officers were charged with using an internet campaign to try to undermine the government.

Middle East Syrian tanks stormed Hama and launched attacks in several other cities, leaving at least 142 people dead the day before the start of Ramadan. Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak appeared in court in Cairo on charges of murder and corruption.

The top 1% With 1 per cent of Americans controlling 40 per cent of the country's wealth, we examine the gap between the rich and the rest.

Hard Road Back: A war that never ends? Colombia's former FARC guerrillas must live with the regrets of their past and the deadly temptations of the present.

Norway's mass murder and the mass media Media speculation and guesswork in the aftermath of the Norway attacks; and a one-on-one with Murdoch's biographer.

Anders Breivik's twisted time machine With so much speculation surrounding the issue, what were the real motives behind Breivik's attacks?

America's own Taliban A fast growing right-wing politico-religious presence plans to implement an end-times, Christian theocracy in the US.

The biggest threat to Western values Multiculturalism does not pose a significant danger to Western values - but neoliberalism does.

Pakistani troops aid Bahrain's crackdown Foundation linked to the Pakistani army has been providing Bahrain thousands of soldiers for its crackdown on protests.

Mobile biometrics to hit US streets Despite fuzzy legality, US law enforcement will soon be able to perform mobile iris scans and fingerprinting.

In Pictures: The start of Ramadan Millions of Muslims around the world celebrate the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.