IBT Staff Reporter

Tens of thousands marched in Hong Kong on Sunday to denounce the Philippines' bungled hostage rescue in which eight Hong Kong tourists were shot dead.

Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said on Sunday it would not make any decision on job cuts this week, after Swiss newspaper Sonntag reported it could be about to cut thousands of positions.

A powerful South African labour leader threatened on Sunday to withdraw support for President Jacob Zuma's African National Congress, ending a long- standing alliance strained by a nearly three-week-old strike.

Thousands of Indonesians were evacuated from the slopes of a volcano on Sunday after it erupted for the first time in more than 400 years, spewing out lava and sending smoke and dust 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) into the air.

Beaten-up investors go into September, historically a weak month for stocks, facing key reports on jobs, manufacturing and services. If those disappoint, the S&P 500 could breach technical support levels, pushing stocks yet lower.

Troubled conglomerate Dubai World has begun talks with small creditors, not included in the coordination committee of banks on its restructuring plan, to avoid any lawsuits, a UAE newspaper said on Sunday.

Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG could decide at a management meeting this week to cut a large number of jobs in its pharma unit, Swiss newspaper Sonntag reported, quoting an unnamed source.

Play began as scheduled on the fourth day of the fourth and final test between England and Pakistan at Lord's on Sunday after a man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

A plan to carve out a substantial good bank from nationalised Anglo Irish Bank is facing opposition from the European Commission and Ireland's smaller governing party, the Sunday Business Post newspaper reported.

South Korea's reformist prime minister-designate and two other ministerial nominees stepped down on Sunday amid allegations of corruption, stymieing President Lee Myung-bak's plans to boost ruling party morale.

Global miner BHP Billiton on Sunday played down any chance of raising its $39 billion (25 billion pound) bid for fertiliser maker Potash Corp , saying it had timed its move to catch out weakened rival bidders.

A plan to carve out a substantial good bank from nationalised Anglo Irish Bank is facing opposition from the European Commission and Ireland's smaller governing party, the Sunday Business Post newspaper reported.

North Korea's ruling party holds its biggest meeting in 30 years early next month to pick a new leadership and likely anoint an heir to the dynasty as Kim Jong-il's health deteriorates.

A month after torrential monsoon rains triggered Pakistan's worst natural disaster on record, flood waters are starting to recede -- but leaving countless survivors at risk of death from hunger and disease.

Troubled conglomerate Dubai World has begun talks with small creditors, not included in the coordination committee of banks on its restructuring plan, to avoid any lawsuits, a UAE newspaper said on Sunday.

A volcano erupted on the Indonesia island of Sumatra on Sunday for the first time in four centuries, sending smoke 1,500 meters (about 5,000 feet) into the air and prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents, officials said.

Many clocks will be ticking during the next year when Washington hopes an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal can be hammered out.

China will continue to curb property speculation regardless of recent changes in housing prices, a senior government advisor said in remarks published in Sunday.

South Korea's reformist Prime minister-designate Kim Tae-ho said on Sunday he would step down as nominee amid opposition criticism of his qualifications and ethics.

Britons can expect no cut in the overall tax burden for an extended period as the coalition government takes tough steps to narrow a gaping budget deficit, a Treasury minister was quoted as saying on Sunday.

England coach Fabio Capello said he regretted the way he announced the end of David Beckham's international career but added he still had a good relationship with the former captain who would make a top manager one day.

Wayne Rooney ended his five-month goal famine for Manchester United while Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season despite their incredible scoring spree being partially stemmed by Stoke City.

Huffington launched the news site more as a commentary outlet and an alternative to other conservative news sites by inviting Arthur Schlesinger Jr. to blog, who would fax his blogs. That's not blogging, Arthur used to criticise her. Now with the takeover by AoL, Arianna will become a boss of the entire editorial content of AoL channels.

The European Union thinks China has made only limited progress in allowing its yuan currency to move more rapidly, and swifter action would help safeguard a fragile economic recovery, according to a draft G20 document obtained by Reuters on Saturday.

The world-famous British Museum was evacuated on Saturday after visitors reported eye irritation from what they thought was a chemical leak, officials said.

The former head of Belgium's Catholic Church suggested to a sexual abuse victim it would be better to delay a public statement on the case until the bishop involved resigned in 2011, a Church spokesman said on Saturday.

Chelsea's goal-rush was staunched by Stoke City but the Premier League champions maintained their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 home victory on Saturday despite a missed penalty by Frank Lampard.

Far-right protesters hurled bricks and smoke bombs on Saturday as riot police kept them apart from anti-racism demonstrators.

China is lobbying neighbours to sign up to a road map for renewed nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong-il is visiting China amid conciliatory words and threats of holy war.