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Damascus bombed, clashes in north

Syrian troops bombarded rebel bastions on the outskirts of Damascus before dawn on Tuesday while fighting had erupted for control of the northwestern town of Mastuma, a watchdog said. Troops shelled the towns of Maliha and Beit Saham to the... Full story

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Japan to raise military budget amid China row

Japan will raise military spending this year for the first time in over a decade under a ruling party plan, an official said Tuesday, as Tokyo summoned Beijing’s envoy in a territorial row. Full story

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US drone attacks kill 8 in Pakistan

At least eight militants were killed and four others wounded Tuesday when US drones fired missiles at militant compounds in a lawless Pakistani tribal area, security officials said. Full story

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Shias hold counter-demos in southern Iraq

Thousands took to the streets in predominantly Shia southern Iraq on Tuesday in a show of support for the Shia premier after more than two weeks of protests in the mainly Sunni Arab north and west. Full story

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China press freedom campaign swells with new rally

Protesters mounted a second day of rallies calling for press freedom in China Tuesday, as social media users and celebrities backed a campaign which poses a test for the nation’s new leaders. Scores of people, some carrying mourning flowers... Full story

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Hillary returns to applause and a football helmet

The secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, received a standing ovation from her staff and an American football helmet to protect her from Washington’s hard knocks as she returned to work after a health scare. A month to the day since she was last seen on... Full story

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Maoists kill seven cops in eastern India

Indian Maoist rebels have shot dead seven policemen in the eastern state of Jharkhand, a hotbed of left-wing extremism, the police said on Tuesday. Acting on a tip-off by state intelligence authorities on Monday, local police... Full story

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Maldives court should treat rape girl as victim

The Maldives government urged leniency Tuesday for a teenager who could face public flogging for having pre-marital sex, saying she had been traumatised by earlier repeated rapes by her stepfather. Full story

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Indian guru blames Delhi rape victim, sparks outrage

A popular Indian spiritual guru sparked a backlash Tuesday after saying a 23-year-old student could have averted a murderous gang-rape by begging for mercy from her attackers. Full story

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Egypt’s Morsi to urge Obama to free blind sheikh

The Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, has said he will urge the US president, Barack Obama, to free the blind sheikh jailed for the 1993 World Trade Center attack. Morsi told CNN in an interview aired Monday... Full story

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Hagel draws fire as Obama’s Pentagon pick

The US president, Barack Obama, named Chuck Hagel on Monday to lead the Pentagon, setting up an ugly confirmation battle as Republican opponents said he was too hard on Israel and too soft on Iran. Full story

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British soldier shot dead in Afghan ‘insider attack’

A member of the Afghan army shot dead a British soldier, officials said Tuesday, in the latest ‘insider attack’ to undermine the US-led mission training Afghans to take over from NATO troops next year. Full story

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Australia bushfires rage in ‘catastrophic’ conditions

Bushfires raged out of control across Australia’s most populous state on Tuesday, fanned by intense heat and high winds in ‘catastrophic’ conditions that threatened homes and triggered evacuations. Full story

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C African government, opposition head for talks with rebels

Central African Republic government and opposition delegations left on Tuesday to join rebels for talks later in the week in the Gabonese capital Libreville to end the conflict in their volatile nation. Full story

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