HOMS – The Syrian regime says it has taken over a rebel stronghold in Homs, inflicting a strategic and psychological blow to rebels in the country’s two-year-long crisis. Government forces took control of the Khalidiya neighborhood of Homs, Syrian state-run TV reported Monday. The area had been under rebel control for about a year. Controlling…
PHNOM PENH – Cambodia’s opposition has rejected the result of Sunday’s elections, citing “serious irregularities”. Names were missing from voter lists and some voters found others had used their ballot, reports said. Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party says it has won by 68 seats to the opposition’s 55. However, Cambodia’s opposition appears…
MOSCOW – Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden will be given an official pass to leave Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, Russian reports say. Russia’s Federal Migration Service is said to have issued a document, which he is due to receive shortly. He has been staying in transit since arriving from Hong Kong on 23 June. Wanted…
WASHINGTON – The top US military officer has outlined the costs, risks and benefits of possible American military involvement in the Syrian conflict. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen Martin Dempsey offered five military options, including limited strikes and establishing a no-fly zone. But he said using force in Syria would be “no less than…
DETROIT – Detroit has become the largest US city ever to file for bankruptcy, with debts of at least $18bn (£12bn). The city, once a symbol of US industrial power, is seeking protection from creditors who include public-sector workers and their pension funds. Unions described the bankruptcy filing as a power grab. Detroit has faced…
SANTIAGO – Chile’s conservative presidential candidate, Pablo Longueira, has withdrawn from the election campaign. His son, Juan Pablo Longueira, told reporters the politician had been suffering from depression since winning the primary elections. President Sebastian Pinera’s governing alliance is expected to choose Mr Longueira’s replacement on Thursday. Former left wing president Michelle Bachelet is favourite…
WASHINGTON – The US has accused Russia of giving fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden a “propaganda platform”. President Barack Obama called Vladimir Putin after Mr Snowden met human rights groups at a Moscow airport – his first appearance since fleeing there from Hong Kong three weeks ago. Mr Snowden has been charged with leaking…
LONDON – Ecuador has asked the UK to help an investigation over alleged spying at its embassy in London where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is living.Ecuador named a British company it claimed planted a listening device in their ambassador’s office but this was denied. Mr Assange has been staying at the embassy to avoid extradition…
AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Julia Gillard has resigned, after the Australian Labour Party voted her out of its leadership yesterday. She had called for the vote herself after months of inner-party friction ahead of a general election in September. Her rival, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, takes her place as party leader, after winning the internal…
MILAN – A Milan court sentenced Italian former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi on Monday to seven years in prison after convicting him of paying for sex with a minor but he will not have to serve any jail time before he has exhausted appeals. With two appeals possible, it could be years before a verdict…
