World News Briefs -- January 5, 2013



Syria Fights Off Rebel Advance On Damascus -- Al Jazeera

Government bombards opposition strongholds in Damascus suburbs to fend off fierce rebel campaign to take the capital.

Syrian government forces have bombarded several rebel strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus to quell the fighters battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad from reaching the capital.

Activists on Saturday said troops leveled their bombardment campaign on the districts of Hajar al-Aswad and Qaboun in southern Damascus while they continued to shell the suburbs of Daraya, Beit Hahm, Zibdeen, Maadamiya and Jisteen.

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MIDDLE EAST

Syria rebels' arms supplies and finances drying up despite western pledges.

Explosions rock Damascus neighborhoods.

Key source for Syrian death toll questions accuracy of recent UN-sponsored report.

Turkey: Military will keep fighting rebel Kurds.

Iraq's Sunnis protest by the thousands. Fugitive Saddam deputy lends support to Iraq Sunni protesters.

Sectarianism will prolong instability in Iraq: Saudi Arabia.

Poll: Spike in Palestinian support for military operations against Israel.

Yemeni tribesmen protest against drone strikes.

Office of Iraq's president says he's recovering from stroke.

UAE refuses to free detained Egyptians: reports.

ASIA

Japan sends fighter jets after a second ever Chinese invasion of its airspace.

Pakistan violates ceasefire again.

Myanmar refugees fearful after fighting escalates.

Thousands flee wildfires in southern Australia.

UK court charges Nepali colonel with torture.

Friend of rape victim blasts Indian police.

AFRICA

Mali Islamist group 'suspends' ceasefire.

U.N. Security Council voices worry about Central African Republic rebels.

UN concerned over child soldier rise in CAR.

Central African rebels seize one more town.

Sudans hold summit to work out security issues.

Egypt's Mursi to meet IMF aide on $4.8 billion loan request: newspaper. Egypt fights to prop up ailing currency as anxiety grows.

EUROPE

Merkel highlights economy in German election year.

Italy's Monti unveils alliance, rules out minister role.

Ukraine leader cautious on Russian customs union plans.

Northern Irish fighting rages on as rioters branded "a disgrace".

Why do HIV cases keep rising in Russia?

Spain's King Juan Carlos admits 'hurt' at economic fate.

AMERICAS

Obama warns debt ceiling fight could be 'catastrophic'. Obama says U.S. can't afford more showdowns over debt, deficits.

Puerto Rico to activate National Guard.

Hugo Chavez mentor says he doubts ailing president will rule Venezuela again.

U.S. workers making $30,000 will take a bigger hit on their pay than those earning $500,000 under new fiscal deal.

Canada meets key aboriginal demand amid blockades.

Quake measuring 7.5 strikes off Alaska. Tsunami warning canceled for Alaska, Canada.

Worst drought in decades hits Brazil's Northeast.

Brazilian crack addicts to be forcibly committed.

It's official: Obama wins presidency.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Renditions continue under Obama, despite due-process concerns.

Defense bill’s Guantanamo Bay provisions have human rights groups upset with Obama.

Intel chairman: Reports of civilian deaths from US drone strikes ‘wildly wrong’.

Killing the 'Good Taliban' (commentary).

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Irish newspapers on defence over sharing links.

Is Twitter really worth £7BILLION? New valuation revealed amid claims firm will go public next year.

Google antitrust settlement reshapes patent disputes.

Central banks still hold all the cards.

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