The Indian government has announced a new penalty of $579 million on the country's largest private company, Reliance Industries, for failing to meet commitments to supply gas for the fourth year in a row.
Britain's William Hague announced his surprise resignation as foreign secretary, as Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron overhauled his government to set the battle-lines for elections next year.
More than one million public sector workers went on strike in Britain Thursday over pay and spending cuts by the government imposed as part of its austerity programme, trade unions said.
Senegal's president sacked Prime Minister Aminata Toure, who has only been in power since September, less than a week after her ruling party was beaten in local elections.
Police used pepper spray to scatter protesters at Hong Kong's government headquarters in an angry rally against plans for a new town development, with 21 arrested, officials said.