Raid on Syria TV after Assad speaks of ‘war’

An attack on a pro-government television channel’s offices near Damascus killed seven staff on Wednesday, state media said, a day after the president, Bashar al-Assad, said Syria was in a ‘state of war.’ Full story

Maldives ex-leader warns against vote delay

Mohamed Nasheed, the former leader of the Maldives who says he was ousted in a coup, is appealing for new elections to be held this year, warning that a delay would have dire consequences. Full story

Suu Kyi wins French backing for reforms

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, right, is welcomed by the French president, François Hollande, at the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris, on Wednesday. — AFP photo

Myanmar pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will meet with officials in France on Wednesday after winning assurances from president Francois Hollande that Paris will back her reform efforts. On the second day of a three-day visit to France — the last leg... Full story

Foreigners leading field in innovative US patents: study

Foreign students are cooking up a storm at US universities leading cutting-edge innovation, and are behind an overwhelming number of patents for new inventions, a new study said Tuesday. Full story

Refugee boat sinks, Australian PM aims to revive Malaysia plan

The sinking of a second refugee boat between Indonesia and Australia’s Christmas Island in less than a week prompted on Wednesday Australia’s prime minister to try to revive a people-swap deal... Full story

Bombs, ambush killed 10 cops in Afghanistan

Roadside bombs and an ambush have killed at least 10 Afghan policemen over the past 24 hours in Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday. Four policemen were killed in Musa Qala district of the volatile... Full story

Anti-Taliban leader shot dead in Pakistan

The bullet-riddled bodies of an anti-Taliban militia commander and three of his associates were dumped in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar on Wednesday, the police said. Full story

Arsonists attack Microsoft office in Athens

Attackers targeted the Microsoft main office in the Greek capital in a pre-dawn arson attack Wednesday, smashing the entrance with a mini-van and setting off gas canisters, the police said. Full story

Myanmar vows action on child soldiers: UN

Myanmar on Wednesday signed an agreement with the United Nations pledging to prevent the use of child soldiers and allow access to military units to check for underage recruits, the UN said Wednesday. Full story

India says Mumbai attacks suspect confirms Pakistan role

India’s home minister on Wednesday said a key suspect in the 2008 Mumbai attacks had provided information confirming Pakistani ‘state support’ for the deadly assault. Abu Hamza, also known as Sayed Zabiuddin... Full story

Debby hits land as Florida braces for more floods

Tropical storm Debby hit land as it arrived on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Tuesday, threatening to dump another round of heavy rains on areas already reeling from flooding, US forecasters said. Full story

Pakistan frees 315 Indian fishermen

Pakistan on Wednesday released 315 Indian fishermen, including 14 teenagers, who were held in prison for violating territorial waters, officials said. The release, described as a ‘goodwill gesture’, is part of an... Full story

Morsi starts work as court curbs army arrest powers

Egypt’s president-elect Mohamed Morsi pushed ahead on Wednesday with selecting a government, after a court delivered a blow to the ruling military by suspending its powers to arrest civilians. Full story

3 bombings kill 11 in Iraq

Three roadside bombs killed 11 people in Iraq on Wednesday, security and medical officials said, in the latest in a wave of attacks in the country this month. A bomb exploded near the garden of a house in Madain... Full story

US wildfire bursts into residential area

A wildfire in the western US state of Colorado caught fire-fighters by surprise as it burst out of a canyon, swept through a residential area and destroyed several homes. ‘Up until this afternoon this was a wildfire... Full story

Uproar over ‘soft’ penalties in China abortion case

Chinese netizens and supporters of a woman forced to abort seven months into her pregnancy reacted with outrage Wednesday over the ‘soft’ punishment meted out to officials involved in the scandal. Full story