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Russia, China step up Syria peace efforts

Russia and China, who twice blocked UN resolutions to condemn ally Syria, were Monday stepping efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, as the Red Cross was again denied access to a battered rebel district. Full story

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Death toll in Yemen attacks rises to 103

More than 100 Yemeni soldiers have been killed in clashes with suspected al-Qaeda gunmen after the extremists attacked military positions in Yemen’s restive south, medics said on Monday. Full story

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‘Afghan child hunger among worst in world’

Children in Afghanistan suffer one of the highest levels of chronic malnutrition in the world, a report said Monday, despite billions of dollars in aid that have poured into the war-torn country. Full story

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Poland mourns victims of train disaster

Poland began two days of mourning Monday for 16 people killed in its worst rail disaster in two decades, as investigators probing the cause of Saturday’s crash detained two station masters. Full story

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Thai charter change ‘not for my return’: Thaksin

Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra has denied that a move by his political allies to amend the kingdom’s constitution is aimed at clearing the way for his return. Full story

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Quake researchers warn of Tokyo’s ‘Big One’

A year on from one of the biggest earthquakes in recorded history, Japanese scientists are warning anew that Tokyo could soon be hit by a quake that will kill thousands and cause untold damage. Full story

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Soldiers recover bodies from Congo blast site

Congo issued a plea for international help Monday as soldiers began recovering bodies from an area devastated by huge explosions at a munitions depot that left more than 150 dead and 1,000 injured. Full story

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‘Bin Laden was not buried at sea’

Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, who was killed on the May 2 last year in US Special Forces operation in Abbottabad, was not buried at sea but his body was shifted to the military mortuary in Dover, claimed a report on Monday, says The Nation (daily newspaper of Pakistan). Full story

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Pakistan test fires short-range ballistic missile

Pakistan said Monday it had successfully test fired a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying atomic warheads. The Hatf II (Abdali) has a range of 180 kilometres and carries nuclear as well as... Full story

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Singapore tops carbon emitter in Asia-Pacific: WWF

Affluent Singapore had the largest carbon footprint per head in the Asia-Pacific in 2010, the World Wildlife Fund said Monday. The environmental advocacy group said Singapore’s 2010 per capita gross domestic product of more Full story

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India unveils anti-beating charter for schools

India on Monday unveiled new guidelines on disciplining children in schools after a survey revealed large-scale corporal punishment meted out by teachers Full story

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Quake shakes north India

A moderate earthquake felt across north India rocked buildings and sent office workers running into the streets in the capital New Delhi at lunchtime on Monday, but there were no immediate reports of damage. Full story

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Sonia ‘fine’ after medical checkup

Sonia Gandhi, the president of India’s ruling Congress party, has returned from a checkup in the United States six months after surgery for an undisclosed condition, a spokesman said Monday. ‘Sonia Gandhi is back in New Delhi. She’s perfectly fine and all her medical reports are up to the mark,’ Congress party spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi said. Full story

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Chavez confirms cancer has returned

The Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, on Sunday admitted publicly for the first time that his cancer had returned and said he faces a new round of radiotherapy treatment after having a second malignant tumour removed in Cuba. Full story

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Putin wins presidency, opponents allege fraud

Vladimir Putin won a resounding victory in Russia’s presidential election on Sunday, exit polls showed, securing a new six-year term in the Kremlin and a mandate to deal with opposition protests after a vote that opponents said was marred by fraud. Full story

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Ex-Iceland PM on trial for role in banking crisis

Former premier Geir Haarde insisted Monday he could not be held responsible for the collapse of Iceland’s banks as he became the first political leader to be tried over the global financial crisis. ‘I reject all accusations, and believe there is no basis for them,’ Haarde, 60, told the court in a calm and confident voice as he took the stand. Full story

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Australian kids think yoghurt grows on trees

Most Australian children in their last year of primary school think cotton socks come from animals while one-quarter believe yoghurt is from plants, a study warning of the growing gap between city and country found Monday. Full story

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Conservatives to dominate new Iran parliament

Iran’s new parliament will be largely dominated by conservatives who support supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to latest results Monday of last week’s election. The parliament, also known as the Majlis, will have about half of its current members replaced by newcomers, many of whom ran on an ‘independent’ ticket. Full story

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