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West expels Syrian envoys over Houla massacre

Western powers ordered Tuesday the expulsion of Syrian diplomats as they blamed the Houla massacre squarely on president Bashar al-Assad’s regime and warned him that time was running out. Full story

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Obama personally oversees al-Qaeda ‘kill list’: report

The US president, Barack Obama, has personally overseen a top-secret process for determining which al-Qaeda suspects should be placed on a ‘kill list,’ the New York Times reported Tuesday. Full story

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India extends olive branch to Suu Kyi

India’s prime minister on Tuesday invited Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to visit as New Delhi looks to rebuild a relationship damaged by its once close ties with the former junta. Full story

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Runners complete gruelling Everest marathon

More than 150 hardy competitors braved the rarified air and bone-chilling temperatures of Mount Everest on Tuesday to take part in the world’s highest marathon, organisers said. The Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon is part of annual... Full story

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Philippines’ top judge sacked over graft

The Philippines’ top judge was sacked on Tuesday after the Senate found him guilty of hiding millions of dollars, in the biggest win of president Benigno Aquino’s anti-graft campaign. Following an impeachment trial lasting more than... Full story

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Pakistan tests N-capable missile

Pakistan said Tuesday it had successfully test fired a short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile. The Hatf IX has a range of only 60 kilometres and can carry conventional warheads, the military said. Full story

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Pak cleric arrested over dancing death decree

The police in Pakistan on Tuesday arrested a Muslim cleric accused of sentencing six people to death for singing and dancing at a wedding in the north of the country. ‘Police have arrested a cleric and his... Full story

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Arrests after Quebec students hold ‘last chance’ talks

Talks between students and the Quebec government aimed at ending more than three months of protests over tuition fee hikes were set to resume on Tuesday after the arrest of 84 protesters. Full story

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US envoy under fire in Russia after ‘shocking’ speech

Washington’s controversial ambassador to Moscow was forced to defend himself through Twitter on Tuesday after the Russian foreign ministry furiously condemned a speech he made as shocking. Full story

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NATO says senior al-Qaeda militant killed in Afghanistan

NATO said Tuesday that al-Qaeda’s second in command in Afghanistan had been killed in an air strike near the Pakistani border. The US-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said... Full story

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Calls grow for reform of strict Thai royal insult law

A petition signed by almost 27,000 people urging reform of Thailand’s strict royal insult law was submitted to parliament Tuesday, campaigners said, amid growing clamour for the rules to be changed. Full story

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Taiwan’s FM resigns over controversial tax

Taiwan’s finance minister said Tuesday she would resign over a controversial plan to impose a capital gains tax on the trading of stocks, bonds and derivative products. Christina Liu said in a brief statement... Full story

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Tuna in US found with Japan quake radiation

Bluefin tuna caught off the US coast have been found to contain radioactive material from Japan’s quake-struck Fukushima nuclear plant, according to a new study. Researchers found ‘modestly elevated... Full story

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Attack on candidate’s HQ as vote polarises Egypt

An arson attack on the headquarters of one of the two candidates in Egypt’s presidential election has marred campaigning for the second round in a vote that has polarised the nation with the choice of an Islamist... Full story

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Sanctions threat jeopardises N-talks: Iran

Iran on Tuesday warned Western countries that pressuring Tehran with sanctions while engaging in nuclear talks would jeopardise chances of reaching an agreement. ‘This approach of pressure concurrent with negotiations... Full story

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Russia could build new nuclear plant for Iran

Russia is ready to help Iran build a new nuclear power plant alongside the first one Moscow helped construct in the city of Bushehr, a top official at the state nuclear firm Rosatom said on Tuesday. Full story

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500 ‘witches’ lynched every year in Tanzania

Some 3,000 people suspected of witchcraft, mainly old women, were lynched in Tanzania from 2005 to 2011, a leading local rights group said Tuesday. ‘Between 2005 and 2011 around 3,000 people were lynched... Full story

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Conference on Micro-Credit held today

The Credit and Development Forum will hold a conference today, focusing on the micro-credit sector’s achievements and future challenges in Bangladesh. The day-long National Microfinance Conference... Full story

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