The World

10 ESSENTIAL STORIES

By Harriet Barovick, Ishaan Tharoor, Alexandra Silver, Claire Suddath, Frances Romero, Kayla Webley and Josh Sanburn Monday, Sept. 20, 2010

    • (2 of 3)

    Crowds of furious citizens took to the streets on Sept. 7 in 220 cities across France to protest the Sarkozy administration's plan to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 by 2018. The move, along with a proposal to change the pension-entitlement age from 65 to 67, is an attempt to address a big budget deficit. Government estimates put the number of protesters at 1.1 million, while unions contend that nearly 2.5 million people marched in the nation's cities. France has one of the lowest retirement ages in Europe. Unions may continue to hold protests in the coming weeks.

    7 | Iran

    Obstructing Inspections

    In its latest report on Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) fueled already severe concerns about the intent of the nation's nuclear planners. According to the U.N. agency, Tehran continues to produce low-enriched uranium but won't allow the IAEA to confirm the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities. The IAEA says Iran--already facing sanctions--has impeded inspectors and withheld vital information.

    8 | Washington

    Spotlight on Labor Rights

    A recent report by watchdog group Freedom House on the state of workers' rights around the globe found that 40 countries, many in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, have either "repressive" or "very repressive" labor climates. More than half of the 41 countries deemed "free" are in the European Union. The U.S., deemed "mostly free," lost points for the continued weakening of its trade unions.

    Average freedom scores in 2009, by region

    [The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.]

    REPRESSIVE

    1.2 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

    2.1 ASIA-PACIFIC

    2.1 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

    2.5 CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

    2.7 THE AMERICAS

    3.9 WESTERN EUROPE

    FREE

    SOURCE: FREEDOM HOUSE

    9 | Baghdad

    Soldiers Still Dying

    The ambiguity of the American presence in Iraq was underlined by the deaths of two U.S. troops on Sept. 7 following a firefight with a rogue Iraqi soldier. The casualties were the first since President Obama announced the end of combat operations last month. U.S. forces are now serving in an advisory role to the Iraqi military, but insurgent attacks have increased in the past few weeks, with Iraqi forces still reliant on a U.S. presence.

    10 | Spain

    Basque Rebels Cease Fire

    Three masked men, part of the Basque militant group ETA, declared a unilateral cease-fire on Sept. 5, bringing to an end--in theory--decades of armed attacks that have killed more than 800. The Spanish government dismissed the announcement, saying that similar decrees in years past have resulted in more bloodshed. Officials urged the rebel separatists, who want an independent Basque state carved out of northern Spain and southern France, to fully disarm and disband.

    50 Years of Basque Separatism

    3. 1
    4. 2
    5. 3