SWITZERLAND - The World Economic Forum has ended with a call to rebuild the global economic system. Founder Klaus Schwab announced a "global redesign initiative" to reform banking, regulation and corporate governance.
ISRAEL - During the Cast Lead operation in Gaza, IDF tank fire near a United Nations school in Gaza was blamed for the deaths of dozens of civilians who had taken refuge in the building. The incident became one of the most highly publicized attacks in the war, and led to heavy international criticism.
USA - A new lawsuit is challenging Barack Obama's eligibility to be president, and this one targets Congress as a defendant for its "failure" to uphold the constitutional demand to make sure Obama qualified before approving the Electoral College vote that actually designated him as the occupant of the Oval Office.
UK - More than half of the public believe that the theory of evolution cannot explain the full complexity of life on Earth, and a "designer" must have lent a hand, the findings suggest. And one in three believe that God created the world within the past 10,000 years.
NEW YORK - This may be the week that Wall Street finally realized a golden era of prestige, high pay and perks has ended. Many bankers felt they could hunker down through the economic crisis without transforming their behavior.
SWITZERLAND - Gordon Brown says there is no precedent for the "first financial crisis of the global age". History offered "no clear map" of how to deal with it, the UK prime minister told an audience at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos.
AUSTRALIA - Kevin Rudd has denounced the unfettered capitalism of the past three decades and called for a new era of "social capitalism" in which government intervention and regulation feature heavily.
RUSSIA - Thousands of people have held rallies across Russia protesting against what they describe as the government's mismanagement of the economy.
USA - The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished January down 8.84% on the month. Previously, the worst January for the Dow had been that of 1916, when it fell 8.64%. Friday, the Dow dropped 148.15 points to 8000.86 after briefly dipping below the 8000 mark. The Dow has fallen five straight months and in 12 of the last 15.
USA - The Obama administration is gearing up for a "big bang" announcement next week that will combine a bank clean-up with measures to reduce home foreclosures and probably steps to kick-start credit markets.
AUSTRALIA - The Australian authorities fear about 20 people have died as a result of one of the worst heatwaves in 100 years to hit the south-east of the country.
GERMANY - The closely watched Munich security conference, which starts next week, has become a large-scale summit for world leaders. This year the US is sending a high-ranking delegation, led by Vice President Joe Biden, which may seek informal dialogue with Iran on the event's sidelines.
UK - Hospital managers have called in an exorcist after shaken workers complained they are being terrified by a GHOST. Spooked staff at Derby's new Royal Hospital claimed a black-clad figure wearing a cloak was stalking wards and corridors.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - Hardware stores and auto parts shops scored a post-holiday run of business this week as Anchorage-area residents stocked up on protective eyewear and masks ahead of a possible eruption of Mount Redoubt.
MUNICH/PARIS/MOSCOW - The German Siemens Corporation is planning to extend its nuclear activities in collaboration with Moscow.