STORY HIGHLIGHTS Syrian regime forces are battling rebels for control of suburbs surrounding Damascus Battle for control of southern, eastern areas of capital could be key to outcome of civil war Rebel leader says “genocidal” government siege is taking suburbs “back to stone age” Regime says rebels are blocking aid convoys from reaching civilians in contested areas Syria’s brutal conflict between regime and rebel forces is creeping closer and closer […]

  Demonstrators are blockading government buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, as they step up their campaign for the resignation of the government. Protesters have put up barricades on Independence Square, while others are entrenched inside city hall. The unrest was triggered in November by President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign a deal on closer EU ties. Opposition leaders have renewed demands that he stand down, and urged him to […]

Four people have been killed and more than 60 injured in a passenger train crash in the Bronx area of New York. Eleven of the injured are believed to be in a critical condition in hospital. They have to be guided by attorneys for car accident injuries to claim compensation and continue advanced treatment. The Metro-North train’s locomotive and carriages derailed as the train went into a bend in the […]

Vladimir Putin’s legendary lateness is back in the spotlight after he kept Pope Francis waiting during a recent visit to the Vatican. What lies behind his chronic tardiness? The Russian president was 50 minutes late to meet the Pope on Monday. And papal courtiers were left “shivering” outside as they waited to welcome the Russian president, who was held up by women protesting outside his hotel in support of punk […]