World

AMMAN, (Reuters) – Syrian forces shot dead at least 13  civilians yesterday in a continued military assault on the  restive city of Homs and in attacks on pro-democracy  demonstrations that erupted after prayers marking the main  Muslim feast, activists said.

BOGOTA, (Reuters) – Colombia’s FARC rebels scorned  the “happy laughter” of their foes and rejected a plea to  demobilize after the killing of their leader Alfonso Cano gave  President Juan Manuel Santos his biggest military victory.

KANO, Nigeria (Reuters) – At least 65 people were killed in the northeast Nigerian city of Damaturu, an aid agency said yesterday, after Islamist insurgents bombed churches, mosques and police stations and fought hours of gun battles with police.

MONROVIA (Reuters) – Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf urged voters yesterday to ignore a poll boycott called for by her rival, saying the move was illegal and intended to intimidate Liberians.

ATHENS (Reuters) – Greeks would prefer a national unity government ruling for several months during the debt crisis to the prospect of an early general election, polls published yesterday found.

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Advisers to Brazil’s Labour Minister Carlos Lupi demanded kickbacks from non-government organizations with government contracts, newsmagazine Veja reported yesterday, citing unnamed lawmakers and officials.

AMMAN (Reuters) – Tank fire killed at least 13 civilians and wounded dozens in the besieged Syrian city of Homs yesterday, activists and residents said, casting doubt on whether an Arab League plan can end months of bloodshed touched off by a popular uprising.

(Reuters) – Andy Rooney, the curmudgeonly commentator who pondered everything from shoelaces to the existence of God on CBS’s “60 Minutes” news show for more than 30 years, died on Friday night at the age of 92, CBS said.

POPAYAN, Colombia (Reuters) – Colombians rejoiced at the killing of top FARC rebel leader Alfonso Cano and hoped the biggest blow yet against Latin America’s longest insurgency could herald an end to nearly five decades of war.

ATHENS,  (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister George  Papandreou survived a parliamentary confidence vote yesterday,  avoiding snap elections which would have torpedoed Greece’s debt  crisis bailout deal and inflamed the euro zone’s economic  crisis.

(Reuters) – Jon Corzine, one of Wall Street’s  best-known stars, stepped down as MF Global Holdings Ltd’s  chairman and chief executive after his bets on European debt  drove the futures brokerage into bankruptcy.

HARDWAR, India, (Reuters) – For centuries, Indian  women were forbidden from chanting Vedic Mantras, especially in  public, out of fear the power of the religious verses might  cause menstrual problems and difficulties in bearing children.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, (Reuters) – A huge asteroid will  pass closer to Earth than the moon on Tuesday, giving  scientists a rare chance for study without having to go through  the time and expense of launching a probe, officials said.

ATHENS, (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister George  Papandreou faces a knife-edge confidence vote today after  his plan for a referendum on a bailout — supposed to save both  Greece and the euro zone from disaster — backfired  disastrously.

OAKLAND, Calif., (Reuters) – Police arrested more  than 80 demonstrators early yesterday in overnight clashes in  downtown Oakland that followed a day of mostly peaceful Occupy  Wall Street protests against economic inequality.

AMMAN, (Reuters) – Syrian troops’ response to  anti-government protests after Friday prayers will be a litmus  test of the president’s agreement with the Arab League to stop  shooting and open talks with the protesters, opposition leaders  said.

BEIJING, (Reuters) – A Tibetan nun burnt herself to  death yesterday in southwest China, Xinhua news agency said,  the eleventh ethnic Tibetan this year known to have set  themselves on fire in a region that has become the centre of  defiance against strict Chinese control.

WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD – With less than 60 days before the  complete withdrawal of U.S.

OAKLAND, California, (Reuters) – Police in riot gear  clashed with protesters in Oakland in the early morning hours  today, firing tear gas to disperse demonstrators  lingering in the streets after a day of mostly peaceful rallies  against economic inequality and police brutality.

CANNES, France – The leaders of Germany and France told  Greece yesterday it would not receive another cent in  European aid until it decides whether it wants to stay in the  euro zone.