Thursday, February 7, 2013

World News Briefs -- February 7, 2013



Damascus Outskirts 'Rocked By Heavy Fighting' -- Al Jazeera

At least 55 people killed in past 24 hours as rebels and government forces clash near Syrian capital, activists report.


Rebel strongholds around the Syrian capital, Damascus, have been rocked by fighting and heavy shelling for a second straight day as the army launched a major offensive that opposition activists claim killed 55 people in 24 hours.

Among those killed were five civilians, three of them women, who died when mortars hit the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp on the southern outskirts of the capital, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday.

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MIDDLE EAST

Syrian rebels, Assad troops clash for 2nd day.

Iran's supreme leader rejects Joe Biden's offer of direct talks. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejects chance of direct talks with US.

Iran broadcasts footage 'extracted from CIA spy drone'.

Iraqi Kurds press on with oil pipe to Turkey despite U.S. fears.

Hamas and Fatah in unity talks, says Khaled Meshaal.

Palestinian inmates 'sneak sperm out of jail'.

ASIA

North Korea threatens to expand military zone.

S. Korea talks of 'pre-emptive strike'.

Japan says Russia intruded air space; Russia denies accusation. Russian fighter jets 'breach Japan airspace'.

China to conduct 'solemn' probe into Japan radar claim.

Pakistani ambassador to U.S. calls CIA drone strikes a ‘clear violation’.

Burma grants UN access to Kachin territory.

Australian sport rocked by doping inquiry.

AFRICA

As Mali fighting persists, France vows to exit in weeks.

Islamic summit backs Mali government, omits France.

Tunisia's Ennahda rejects dissolving cabinet. Islamists disown PM over move to end Tunisian crisis.

Suspected Congolese rebels charged with plotting coup. South Africa charges DR Congo 'rebels for coup plot'.

Libya must hand over Gaddafi spy chief: Hague judges.

French-owned tanker seized off Ivory Coast freed.

New State Department travel alert is bad news for Egypt.

EUROPE

EU budget summit: Cameron demands further cuts.

Russian police kill terror suspect in Caucasus.

Serbian and Kosovo hold rare talks in Brussels.

Ukraine complains no help from Europe in Russia gas dispute.

Europe’s plan for GPS limps to crossroads.

Promise of visa-free EU travel prompts influx of Chinese to Cyprus.

Russia's Putin sacks official over Olympic delays.

AMERICAS

Rape case in Mexican resort city puts violence back in the spotlight.

Over 90 percent of Americans support gun background checks: poll.

Venezuelan politics heating up in Chavez's absence.

Colombia's Farc proposes legal coca and marijuana crops.

Peru says it has arrested top Colombian narco.

Chile navy investigates 'xenophobia' in video.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

EU pressured to blacklist Hezbollah in wake of Bulgaria bus attack report.

French try to root out would-be jihadists at home.

Leaked US justification for drone killings assailed as rewriting definition of 'imminent threat'.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Sony cuts quarterly losses amid recovery hopes.

Boeing Dreamliner: Battery probe results 'weeks away'.

Irish government to liquidate 'bad bank'.

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