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Syrian army pounds rebel zones near Damascus

Syria’s army sent shells smashing into rebel zones on the outskirts of Damascus Sunday while a Palestinian camp south of the capital was rocked by fresh fighting, a watchdog said. ‘Regime troops shelled Daraya, Beit Sahm, Mleha and... Full story

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NATO-Taliban clash kills 7 Afghan civilians

Seven Afghan civilians were killed Sunday after a NATO operation against insurgents in a central province which is a flashpoint for Taliban activity, officials said. The US-led NATO force said it was investigating... Full story

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Myanmar army, rebels trade claims over helicopter crash

Myanmar’s state media said Sunday three army personnel were killed when a helicopter crashed in conflict-torn northern Kachin state, rebutting rebel claims that the aircraft had been shot down. Full story

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Cleric leads thousands in Pakistan protest march

An influential Pakistani religious leader led thousands of supporters out of Lahore on Sunday, kicking off a protest march on the capital to demand key reforms before looming elections. Full story

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Israel evicts Palestinians from W Bank protest site

The Israeli police evicted dozens of Palestinian activists early Sunday from a first-of-its-kind protest camp they set up in a West Bank area slated for Jewish settlement. Police and activists confirmed that hundreds of Israeli police... Full story

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Egypt court orders retrial for ex-president Mubarak

An Egyptian court on Sunday ordered a retrial for former president Hosni Mubarak after accepting an appeal against the life sentence handed him for his involvement in the deaths of protesters in 2011. Full story

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Roadside bomb kills 14 Pakistani soldiers

At least 14 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 25 others injured Sunday when a roadside bomb hit a military convoy in a lawless tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said. The improvised explosive device... Full story

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Jackie Chan calls US ‘most corrupt’ country in the world

Hong Kong action hero Jackie Chan has once again provoked criticism, this time from an American blogger, after suggesting on Chinese television that the US is the ‘most corrupt’ country in the world. Full story

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Netanyahu denies wasting money on Iran attack plans

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday dismissed allegations by predecessor Ehud Olmert that he wasted billions of dollars preparing for a strike on Iran that did not take place. Full story

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Thousands rally against Ma in Taiwan

Tens of thousands of slogan-chanting Taiwanese took to Taipei’s streets Sunday to protest at the government’s economic record in one of the biggest rallies organised by the main opposition in recent years. Full story

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Beijing choked by third day of hazardous smog

Mask-wearing Beijing residents endured a third day of pollution at hazardous levels on Sunday, as authorities warned that a thick cloud of smog may not lift from the Chinese capital until midweek. Full story

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Chavez not in coma, responding well to treatment: brother

The brother of Hugo Chavez has denied that the ailing Venezuelan president is in coma, saying the Venezuelan leader is responding well to cancer treatment in Cuba and making progress on a daily basis. Full story

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France on alert as Mali campaign triggers backlash fears

France was in a state of high alert on Sunday as military action against Islamic radicals in Mali and Somalia triggered fears of a backlash on home soil. Armed troops patrolled rail and subway stations in... Full story

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Russians march against anti-US adoption law

At least 20,000 Russians marched on Sunday through Moscow to protest a Kremlin law that banned US adoptions of Russian orphans and led to a further split in an already polarised society. Full story

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NY declares flu emergency

New York’s governor has declared a health emergency over a flu epidemic that has hit more than 19,000 people in the state, and in an exceptional measure cleared pharmacists to immunize infants and children. Full story

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Fire hits top Australian telescope site

Australia’s top research observatory, which houses telescopes used by scientists from around the world, was damaged by a large wildfire Sunday as hot weather and storms stoked dozens of new blazes. Full story

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