Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia
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Although this year so far has been a time of challenges for the Australian prime minister - who recently saw off her Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd in a leadership struggle for the Labor Party - the nation of Australia is firmly under the watchful eye of Julia Gillard, the first female Prime Minister of Australia.
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The International Criminal Court on Thursday postponed until November 12 Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's crimes against humanity trial in connection with deadly post-election violence.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to field against Sri Lanka in the second Champions Trophy semi-final at Cardiff on Thursday.
European stock markets tumbled on Thursday and gold slumped close to a three-year low after the US Federal Reserve signalled it would wind down its massive stimulus programme this year, dealers said.
European stock markets fell sharply in opening deals on Thursday, in line with a global retreat after the US Federal Reserve signalled it would wind down its massive quantitative easing stimulus programme later this year.
A Chinese astronaut orbiting more than 300 kilometres (186 miles) above the Earth's surface delivered a video class to children across the country on Thursday, state television showed in a live broadcast.
China's manufacturing activity shrank again in June, HSBC said on Thursday, hitting a nine-month low and adding to concerns about the strength of the world's second biggest economy.
