World News: Gillard wins MPs' support to stay as Australian leader

Gillard will stay as Australia's prime minister after winning the backing of two key independent MPs.

Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott held the balance of power in parliament after a fellow independent MP, Bob Katter, backed opposition leader Tony Abbott.

The dramatic announcement ended more than two weeks of political deadlock following indecisive elections.

Ms Gillard's Labor Party now has a one-seat majority over the Liberal-led coalition in the 150-seat lower house.

The August 21 elections failed to deliver a clear winner.

The conservative opposition controls 74 seats.

Ms Gillard ousted former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as Labor leader in an internal party coup in June. She had been his deputy.

Julia Gillard became Australia's first female prime minister in June 2010. The Welsh-born lawyer served as deputy to Kevin Rudd, but then ousted him in a leadership challenge.

Weeks later she called an election, but a series of missteps on issues such as asylum and tax caused her support to fall.

N Korea in plea for food

North Korea has requested a shipment of rice, cement and heavy equipment days after South Korea offered relief aid to help it recover from recent flooding, the Unification Ministry said.

An overflowing river last month swamped the city of Sinuiju.

Man scales 58-storey building

US police have arrested a man who scaled the outside of a 58-storey skyscraper and unfurled an American flag at the top.

San Francisco police said that the man was veteran skyscraper climber 54-year-old Dan Goodwin.

Greek finance chief remains

Greece's Socialist government retained its finance minister in a cabinet reshuffle announced early today, but changed other key officials involved in the effort to reform the country's troubled economy.

Under the changes, George Papaconstantinou remains finance minister, but the ministers of development, labour and health were replaced.

Greece's governing Socialists face regional elections in November.

Jolie meets Pakistan victims

The United Nations said actress Angelina Jolie is visiting Pakistan today to meet victims of the floods and highlight the need for international help.

Jolie was in the country in her role as a "goodwill ambassador" for the UN.

A FOUR-FACED clock tower currently under construction in Mecca is said to be the largest in the world. Each face measures 43 metres in diameter.

Strike brings France to a standstill

France: The country faces serious disruption as a nationwide strike begins to fight proposals to raise the retirement age.

The 24-hour-strike is set to hit public transport, banks, air traffic and the postal service.

New Zealand: Violent aftershocks have rattled Christchurch following a powerful earthquake.

More than a dozen aftershocks struck overnight - two of magnitude 5.4, officials said.