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Syria accused of fresh ‘massacre’

Syrian forces were accused Wednesday of having ‘executed’ 15 civilians, as the office of envoy Kofi Annan said members of a UN observer team were evacuated a day after a bomb blast hit their convoy. Full story

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Pakistan clears way for NATO summit

Pakistan’s cabinet met Wednesday, expected to endorse the country’s attendance at key talks on Afghanistan in Chicago and edge towards lifting a blockade on overland NATO supplies to its war-torn neighbour. Full story

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Suu Kyi in cautious nod to US sanctions freeze

Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Tuesday she would not oppose a freeze on US sanctions but urged caution, warning that her country could backtrack after dramatic reforms. Full story

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France’s unwed first lady seeks her own path

Twice married and twice divorced, she covered French politics as a journalist for more than 20 years with no inkling that she would one day become France’s first lady, certainly not when she fell for... Full story

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Police probe alleged sculpture scam of Mayawati

The police in northern India are probing alleged fraud in the construction of giant sculptures of elephants and low-caste political heroes that were the $1.2-billion pet projects of former leader Mayawati. Full story

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13 more killed in Yemen clashes

An all-out army offensive against militants in south Yemen raged into a fifth straight day on Wednesday with battles around the restive town of Loder leaving another 13 people dead, most of them jihadists, sources said. Full story

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Lanka could free Fonseka ‘within days’

Sarath Fonseka could be free ‘within days’ after the Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapakse, held talks on Wednesday with the jailed former army chief’s political party, officials said. Full story

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Serb Mladic’s war crimes trial opens

Former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic went on trial Wednesday accused of carrying out a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing, including Europe’s worst atrocity since World War II. Full story

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Jean-Marc Ayrault becomes new French PM

French president Francois Hollande’s new prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, arrived at the Matignon Palace in Paris on his first day of work Wednesday and began drawing up a cabinet list. Full story

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NATO leaders eye final 2 years of troubled Afghan war

After a decade in Afghanistan, NATO leaders gather for a key summit Sunday hoping for a show of unity in the final two years of combat — even though allies are eager to bring troops home. Full story

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China, Japan, US to witness ‘ring’ solar eclipse

At sunrise in some parts of China and Japan and by sunset in the western United States, a partial solar eclipse is set to slink across a narrow swath of the Earth on May 20 and 21. Full story

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Japan enters commercial space race

Japan will put a commercial satellite into space on Friday, officials said, in its first foray into the European-and-Russian-dominated world of contract launches. The H-IIA rocket, which was developed... Full story

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Fresh Greek election June 17

Greece will go to the polls for the second time in less than two months on June 17, the Athens News Agency said on Wednesday, as fears grew of more instability over the country’s eurozone future. Full story

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Algerian women claw their way into parliament

Algeria’s legislative election saw women take almost a third of the seats, making the national assembly the most gender-balanced in the region but activists say the battle is far from won. Full story

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South says Sudan stalls on UN talks deadline

A UN deadline for Sudan and South Sudan to resume talks on oil and other critical issues looked likely to pass without action on Wednesday, as South Sudan accused Khartoum of stalling. Full story

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Australia pledges $300m for Afghan transition

Australia pledged on Wednesday to contribute US$300 million to Afghanistan in the years following the withdrawal of foreign troops to assist local forces with the transition. Prime minister Julia Gillard said... Full story

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Paralysed woman drinks coffee with thought-guided robot arm

Scientists in the United States have enabled a paralysed woman to lift a drink to her lips with a thought-controlled robotic arm, boosting hopes that tetraplegics may regain their independence. Full story

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