AMERICA: From the US to South Korea, the eyes of the world turned skyward today for the rare sight of the transit of Venus.

The next time the planet travels across the sun will be in another 105 years.

EUROPE: The head of the European Central Bank is staying with his forecast for a gradual economic recovery this year in the 17 countries that use the euro.

However, Mario Draghi said that Europe’s debt crisis means increased “downside risk” to growth.

EUROPE: The European Central Bank has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged as it pushes eurozone governments to take stronger action to tackle their debt crisis.

The decision by the bank’s 23-member governing council left the refinancing rate at a record low 1%.

WORLD: World stock markets have perked up as a meeting of the European Central Bank raised hopes for some type of action to ease the continent’s debt and banking crisis.

GERMANY: Ratings agency Moody’s has downgraded seven banks in Germany, citing risks from the eurozone debt crisis and prospects of weaker global economic growth.

AFGHANISTAN: At least 22 people were killed when three suicide bombers blew themselves up in a marketplace in the largest city in southern Afghanistan, authorities have said.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said they carried out the attack in Kandahar that injured an estimated 50 civilians.