Syrian women and girls allege use of sexual violence as weapon of war
Women interviewed for International Rescue Committee report tell of attacks involving kidnap, rape, torture and murder
Rape is a "significant and disturbing" feature of the Syrian civil war, with women and girls citing sexual violence as their main reason for fleeing the country, according to a report published on Monday.
Women and girls told the International Rescue Committee (IRC) of being attacked in public and in their homes, primarily by armed men. The rapes, sometimes by several men, often occurred in front of family members.
"The stories we've heard, talking to Syrian women, are truly horrific," said Sanj Srikanthan, IRC-UK emergency field director. "Many of these women have experienced rape and torture in Syria, but as refugees[they] can't find the support they need to heal their physical and emotional scars – let alone provide food and shelter for their families."
Gunman shoots at the headquarters of Greece's governing centre-right New Democracy party
A gunman sprayed bullets at the headquarters of Greece's governing
centre-right New Democracy party near central Athens early today, with
one hitting an office occasionally used by the country's prime minister,
officials said. No-one was hurt.
centre-right New Democracy party near central Athens early today, with
one hitting an office occasionally used by the country's prime minister,
officials said. No-one was hurt.
Police cordoned off the area where the attacker fired an automatic rifle at the building in the capital's busy Syngrou Avenue, south of the city centre.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred amid a renewed wave of politically-motivated violence by small anarchist and far-left groups.
India's rural rape myth
January 14, 2013 - 5:47PM
Ben Doherty
South Asia correspondent for Fairfax Media
Bharat, the ancient Hindi word for this land, is traditional India. Part myth, part place, it exists in the spirit of the fields and villages of rural India.
It is, Mahatma Gandhi once said, where the soul of the nation resides.
India is the modern, Western-influenced, nation state. It lives in the bright lights of the developing cities, underwritten in the "emerging superpower" appellation the country aspires to.
The conflict between these two places — which have co-existed uneasily for decades — has been thrown into stark relief by the recent Delhi gang-rape case, and the introspection forced upon India in the outrage that has followed it.
France extends Mali bombing campaign
French forces have carried out airstrikes in Mali for a third day and extended their bombing campaign to the northern strongholds.
The strikes, designed to support Malian army efforts to push al-Qaeda-linked groups back to the north of the vast West African state, were reported to have claimed the life of a prominent extremist leader and up to 100 rank-and-file fighters.
Witnesses said French fighter jets on Sunday struck a camp used by extremist militants in Léré, around 150 kilometres north of Konna, a key central town which government troops recaptured with French aerial backing on Friday.
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian acknowledged that the unexpected advances made by the extremists last week had not yet been fully reversed as officials admitted they were proving a tougher adversary than anticipated.
Top Venezuelan leaders head to Havana, Chavez's bedside
Venezuela's vice president, head of congress, and oil minister traveled to Havana, Cuba on Sunday to check on the health of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Chavez has not spoken publicly since he underwent cancer surgery a month ago.
By Andrew Cawthorne, Reuters
Venezuela's three most powerful government figures after President Hugo Chavez were again gathered in Havana on Sunday to check on their ailing leader's condition and meet with Cuban allies.
Vice-President Nicolas Maduro, Congress head Diosdado Cabello, and Oil Minister Rafael Ramirezhave been shuttling to and from Cuba since the 58-year-old socialist president's fourth and most serious cancer surgery a month ago.
Chavez, who missed his own inauguration for a new, six-year term last week, has not been seen or heard from in public since the surgery. Many Venezuelans are assuming his momentous 14-year rule of the South American OPEC nation could be nearing an end.
14 January 2013 Last updated at 08:20 GMT
Cubans set for foreign travel as exit permits abolished
The lines outside Havana's immigration offices have grown longer than ever in recent weeks, as Cubans rush to apply for their first passport.
It is the only Cuban document they need to travel now, as the days of requesting an exit permit to leave the island are finally over.
"I'm dying to see my daughter in the United States," said Navidad as she sheltered beneath a tree from the fierce sun. "I've not seen her in three years and just want to give her a big hug."
Another woman added that the long queues were partly because the price of a passport was doubling on Monday to $100 (£60).
"If they can't get the money off you for exit permits, they'll get it for passports," she remarked, wryly.
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