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Syria violence rages

Forces loyal to the president, Bashar al-Assad, attacked rebel strongholds in various parts of Syria on Wednesday, intensifying their assault as the uprising entered its second year with a negotiated solution as far off as ever. Full story

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China’s Wen calls for ‘urgent’ political reforms

China could see a repeat of the Cultural Revolution’s deadly chaos without ‘urgent’ political reform, Wen Jiabao warned Wednesday in a dramatic parting shot at his final news conference as premier. Full story

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Obama greets Cameron with Air Force One, hot dogs

The British prime minister, David Cameron, skipped aboard Air Force One Tuesday and chomped on a hot dog alongside the president, Barack Obama, at the start of his official visit to the United States. Full story

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Defence chief in Afghanistan as blast kills one

Defence secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit on Wednesday, as the United States tried to contain fallout from a massacre of 16 Afghan civilians by an American soldier. Full story

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DRC warlord convicted in first ICC verdict

The International Criminal Court on Wednesday convicted Congolese militia boss Thomas Lubanga of war crimes for using children in his rebel army, in the tribunal’s first ever verdict. Full story

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India targets zero deaths on deadly rail system

India’s railway minister said Wednesday he aimed to reduce deaths to zero on the nation’s accident-plagued railways as he announced the annual budget for the crumbling network. Full story

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Suu Kyi calls for ‘freedom from fear’ in TV speech

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called for ‘freedom from fear’ and further moves towards democracy in a leaked video of her first televised campaign speech to be aired Wednesday. Full story

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Imran Khan cancels India trip over Rushdie

Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan on Wednesday abruptly cancelled a visit to India after it emerged British author Salman Rushdie would speak at the same conference. Full story

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Australia to become hotter, drier: climate report

Australia’s climate is warming at an alarming rate and is set to become drier despite recent record floods, scientists said Wednesday in a report that warns of increased drought and fiercer storms. Full story

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Swiss bus crash kills 28 Belgians, most children

A bus carrying a Belgian school party home from a ski trip crashed into the wall of a tunnel in Switzerland late on Tuesday, killing 28 people, including 22 children. Full story

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Russia told to warn Iran of ‘last chance’ before war

United States has asked Russia to warn Iran it has a last chance in negotiations expected in April to avoid military strikes against its nuclear programme, a report said on Wednesday. Full story

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New York police treat Muslims fairly: poll

Two-thirds of New York City residents are happy with the way the city police do their job, and 58 per cent say that police act appropriately in dealing with Muslims, according to a Quinnipiac University poll out Tuesday. Full story

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Santorum wins big in South, grabs conservative banner

Republican Rick Santorum won a pair of crucial Deep South primaries on Tuesday, taking control of the party’s conservative wing in the presidential race and dealing a severe setback to rival Newt Gingrich. Full story

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