US $7bn fails to stop opium growth

Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan hit record levels in 2013 despite counter-narcotics efforts by Washington. The special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction said the US had spent $7.6bn over 13 years trying to eradicate the plant. A number of agencies gave to the funds aimed at supporting narcotics officers and helping farmers change livelihoods.

Ebola serum for Africa 'in weeks'

Treatments to tackle the Ebola outbreak in West Africa should become available in the coming weeks and months, says the World Health Organization.

US editor Ben Bradlee dies at 93

Ben Bradlee, the editor of the Washington Post during the Watergate scandal that toppled President Nixon, has died aged 93. As executive editor from 1968-1991, Bradlee was credited for transforming the Post into one the most respected newspapers in America. "He achieved that goal by combining compelling news stories based on aggressive reporting with engaging feature pieces of a kind previously associated with the best magazines." In 1971, Bradlee decided to publish the so-called Pentagon Papers - a secret study of the Vietnam War broken by The New York Times. Bradlee acted against the advice of lawyers and the entreaties of top government officials. A legal battle then began, with the Supreme Court later upholding the right of newspapers to print the leaked papers. Bradlee played a key role in toppling President Richard Nixon in 1974. He encouraged two journalists - Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein - to pursue relentlessly the unfolding story in which some of Nixon's closest aides became involved in illegal activities, followed by a political cover-up in which the president himself was implicated.

Google invests heavily in Magic Leap's effort to blend illusion and reality

Google is leading a $542 million investment in a little-known firm called Magic Leap, in an investment that is said to value the start-up at about $2 billion. Magic Leap intends to make a device that overlays digital animation on a user's field of vision.

States ease laws that protected poor borrowers

Lenders have come under fire in Washington in recent years. Yet one corner of the financial industry — lending to people with poor credit scores — has found sympathetic audiences in many state capitals. Lawmakers in several states have voted to increase the fees or the interest rates that lenders can charge on personal loans used by millions of poor or financially struggling borrowers.

Total boss plane crash caused by 'criminal negligence'

Russian investigators have said "criminal negligence" caused the crash at a Moscow airport that resulted in the death of Total's chief executive. Christophe de Margerie died along with three crew members when his corporate jet collided with a snow plough. Federal investigators said the driver of the snow plough was drunk, and managers at the airport "negligent".

Will Aceh's Sharia law quash investment?

Indonesia's only province with Islamic Law shows the risks inherent in its uneven application. Aceh is the only province in Indonesia authorized to implement local Islamic (sharia) law. It is a resource-rich province with diverse investment opportunities, including mining (gold, copper, coal and limestone), energy (geothermal power), and agro industries (coffee, rubber and palm oil). The national government granted Aceh authorities the ability to implement sharia in 1999. In 2001, it followed up with another law that granted the province "special autonomy." This allowed Aceh to implement sharia as a formal legal structure, institute a sharia court system, and enact a series of qanuns (local laws) to govern its implementation. Recently, the regional government widened the scope of sharia law to include not only Muslims, but also other religious believers. The regulation, called Qanun Jinayat, was approved by the Aceh House of Representatives on September 27, 2014. Acehnese officials argued that it would be unfair if Muslims are punished according to sharia law, while non-Muslims are not. In addition, the law applies not only to Aceh's citizens but also to visitors. With Aceh's increasing appeal as an investment destination, investors and businesses need to pay careful attention to the intention behind such rules that discriminate against a minority.

Bolivia court confirms third term for Morales

The Bolivian top electoral court on Sunday confirmed the reelection of President Evo Morales, making this the politician's third consecutive term. The president, who will serve in office until January 2020, received 61 percent of the vote. According to the electoral court, a recount will be conducted at select polling stations due to irregularities, but these are not expected to impact the poll result.

Lufthansa strike declared legal

German airline Lufthansa has failed in a court bid to force its pilots to call off their strike. A labor court in Hesse found on Tuesday that there were no grounds to declare the action illegal. On Monday, the pilots began their eighth strike this year in a dispute over Lufthansa's attempt to change retirement and pension arrangements. The union says more action is planned. Lufthansa has warned that the industrial action will hit profits and damage the airline's reputation. Germany's government is expected to produce a draft law later this year aimed at stopping small numbers of employees paralyzing large parts of the country's infrastructure through strike action.

Missouri Governor announces creation of 'Ferguson Commission'

The panel will study the social and economic conditions that fueled violent protests over the killing of an unarmed teenager this summer. “Legitimate issues have been raised by thoughtful voices on all sides. Shouting past one another will not move us to where we need to go.” The commission will be empowered to call on experts to address topics ranging from governance, poverty, education and law enforcement.

Italy 'violated rights of migrants'

The ECHR said that Italy had violated several clauses of the European Convention on Human Rights, including a failure to provide access to the asylum procedure in Ancona. The court said it was concerned that the Italian border authorities in the Adriatic Sea ports had largely handed over migrants to ferry captains to be sent back to Greece. While singling out Italy for three separate violations of the European Convention, the court also said Greece had failed to provide an asylum procedure for people who risked deportation to Afghanistan and possible maltreatment there. Under EU law, asylum-seekers cannot be refused entrance or be returned to a third country if there is a risk of harm.

Oscar Pistorius gets 5 years in prison for killing girlfriend

The Olympian was convicted of culpable homicide last month — rather than a more serious charge of premeditated murder — for the 2013 fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp in his home.

Panama Supreme Court judge suspended over corruption charges

Panama officials on Monday suspended a justice of the Supreme Court over corruption charges in a landmark case. Alejandro Moncada has been battling accusations that he profited from his ties with former president Ricardo Martinelli. Documents emerged that Moncada had paid mostly cash for two luxury apartments worth over USD $1.7 million, properties that seem incompatible with his judicial salary. Lawmakers leading an impeachment probe ruled that Moncada's assets must be temporarily frozen, his passport must be turned in and he shall remain confined to his residence. Moncada denies any wrongdoing and claims to be the victim of a campaign by Martinelli's political foe and successor, President Juan Carlos Varela, to reshape the high court.

Brazil's first I.P.O. for 2014 ends first day up slightly

A veterinary medicine company, Ouro Fino Saúde Animal Participações, made its debut on Tuesday amid a weak economy and political uncertainty in Brazil. The offering comes as Brazil's economy continues to sputter. The country recently entered a recession after posting negative growth in the first and second quarters of this year. It also comes amid political uncertainty for Brazil.

• Daily Press Review

US weighs 'Iraqi request for more advisers'
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar

Watergate-era Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee dies at 93
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel

UK 'not deporting enough criminals'
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

What Pistorius faces in prison
CNN International, London, England

Julianne Moore lightens her red locks for role opposite Ellen Page in Freeheld †
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England

Jewish fury after Ukip's Nigel Farage forms a pact with Holocaust deniers to secure funding from the EU
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England

Ukraine-Russia: No deal on gas in Brussels
EuroNews, International news, Ecully Cedex, France

Shock and awe as Paris art scene comes alive
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France

Archaeology workshop in Istanbul
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey

Postcard from... Mexico City
Independent The, London, England

Airstrikes 'have failed to reduce imminent threat' to US of little known al-Qaeda off-shoot
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England

A list of the 91 best movies on Netflix UK
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England

Wei indicted over fraud, food safety violations, forgery
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan

Chinese Couples Fly to Korea for Wedding Photos
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea

Pak Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai honoured in Philadelphia
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India

Muslim youth get free coaching for IB officers' exam in Kozhikode
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India

Japan orders travelers from Ebola nations to report twice daily
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan

S. Korea dismantles border Christmas tree
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand

Ukraine President cancels trip over protests in eastern Ukraine
Straits Times, Pro-government, Singapore

'She doesn't deserve this'
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia

AP PHOTOS: Small Paraguay soccer team hits it big
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan

Daimler sees $780 million windfall from sale of Tesla stake
The Economic Times, Business, Mumbai, India

U.S. to funnel travelers from Ebola-hit region through 5 airports
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario

Close election race for Uruguay's president
Globe and Mail The, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada

Liberty Reserve Brought Down By 'Joe Bogus': How The Feds Arrested Arthur Budovsky
International Business Times, Business news organization, New York, U.S

Panama's Indigenous People Want to Harness the Riches of Their Forests
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy

Yahoo ekes out third quarter revenue gain despite display ad weakness
Reuters, Business News, New York, U.S

Hong Kong protesters plan march after fruitless talks with government
Reuters, World News, New York, U.S

Canadian Tire suspends hydrogen project after Star story
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario

Ebola serum for Africa 'in weeks'
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England


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