Panetta Airs Frustration Over Iraq

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's first war-zone tour as Pentagon chief has been punctuated by frequent moments of remarkable candor, as well as by some statements that the defense secretary himself or his spokesman sought to clarify or retract soon after Mr. Panetta said them.

Euro Zone Still Seeks Private Solution

European finance ministers were holding fresh talks late Monday on finding an acceptable way to involve private creditors in a new Greek aid package.

• Heard: Ratings Gag Is No Joke

EU Calls Top Officials to Meet on Greece Aid

EU President Herman Van Rompuy has called a meeting of top EU policy makers Monday to discuss plans for a second bailout package for Greece.

• Heard: Euro-Zone Bonds Are the Only Answer
• Markets Hub: Will the EU Let Greece Default?
• Sovereign Debt Watch

Medvedev Orders Ship Inspections

President Dmitry Medvedev ordered sweeping inspections of Russia's aging fleet of civilian ships after more than 100 people were feared dead when an allegedly overloaded Volga River cruise ship sank in a thunderstorm on Sunday.

• Photos: Russia's Deadly Marine Disaster

Medvedev Approves Plan to Double Moscow's Size

President Dmitry Medvedev gave initial approval Monday to an ambitious plan to more than double the size of the Russian capital, making space to move legions of bureaucrats and bankers out of the traffic-clogged center into surrounding suburbs.

China, U.S. Spar Over Sea Disputes

The top military leaders of the U.S. and China sparred publicly over the issue of the South China Sea following a meeting in which they appeared to have made little progress toward defusing future confrontations.

U.S. Envoy Visits Yemen in Power-Transfer Push

The White House counterterrorism chief briefed Yemen's vice president on Washington's push for a swift transfer of power in Yemen, which has been rattled by five months of antigovernment protests.

Spain Region Uncovers Larger Deficit

The new leader of Castilla La Mancha said the Spanish region has a budget deficit more than twice as large as previously thought, raising new concerns over the true state of regional finances.

Buenos Aires Election Headed To Runoff

Preliminary results from Sunday's mayoral election in Argentina's capital city indicate that incumbent Mauricio Macri and his main challenger, Daniel Filmus of the ruling coalition, will compete in a runoff election.

Guatemalan President: Organized Crime Killed Singer

Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom said organized criminals are behind the attack that killed beloved Argentine folk singer Facundo Cabral.

Turkish Opposition Lawmakers Take Oath

Lawmakers from Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party were sworn in to the country's parliament, ending a near two-week boycott.

Dozens of Students Killed in Bangladesh

A vehicle packed with schoolchildren returning home from a soccer tournament crashed into a canal in southeastern Bangladesh, killing at least 40.

India Allows Rice Exports

An Indian ministerial panel allowed private traders to export one million metric tons of rice, but deferred a decision on permitting wheat shipments, two food ministry officials said.

Afghan Villagers Flee Border Shelling

As many as 12,000 Afghan civilians have fled villages along the border with Pakistan since mid-June, seeking refuge from frequent artillery barrages fired by Pakistani security forces, displaced families and the United Nations say.

Spain Shuffles Cabinet

Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero reshuffled his cabinet, appointing a new interior minister and a government spokesman after the departure of Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba.

Blast Rocks Cyprus Naval Base

A huge explosion tore through a Cypriot National Guard naval base, causing widespread damage, the Defense Ministry said. At least 10 people were feared dead.

• Photos: Cyprus Blast

Japan Rolls Out Tests for Nuclear Plants

The Japanese government will launch a two-stage safety review of the nation's nuclear plants, seeking to end confusion over its intentions after Prime Minister Kan announced that he would order "stress tests" on all of Japan's nuclear facilities.

Australia's Gillard Rallies Support for Carbon Tax

Prime Minister Julia Gillard sought to counter industry opposition to her planned carbon tax, a gamble that could help decide her political survival.

Rescue Work at Wrecked Train Ends

Railway workers began clearing the mangled wreckage of a derailed passenger train in northern India after ending a rescue operation that found 68 bodies.

• Photos|Video
• IRT: Train Mishaps Derail Cabinet Reshuffling