WORLD BRIEFS

SYRIA: Heavy shelling hits Homs

Government forces renewed their assault on the rebellious city of Homs on Tuesday in what activists described as the heaviest shelling in days. For more than a week, troops loyal to President Bashar Assad have been shelling parts of the city captured by rebel forces. Hundreds are believed to have been killed since Saturday. Army defectors are clashing almost daily with soldiers. UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warned on Monday that the Security Council's failure to take action has emboldened the government in its all-out assault.

EGYPT: Tensions with U.S. rising

A cabinet minister has stoked tension with the United States over funding nonprofit groups working for democracy in Egypt, accusing Washington of seeking to create chaos. The comments by International Cooperation Minister Faiza Aboul Naga in October were released Tuesday, suggesting that Egypt is not trying to resolve the worst crisis with its top ally in30 years. The ruling generals have repeatedly accused the pro-democracy groups of following a "foreign agenda."

PAKISTAN: Supplies to troops allowed

Pakistan announced Tuesday it has temporarily allowed NATO to ship perishable food to its troops in Afghanistan, a sign of thawing tensions following American airstrikes last year that accidentally killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Meanwhile, the family of Osama bin Laden's youngest wife has asked the chief justice of Pakistan to order authorities to release her children and her and allow them to return to Yemen.

SOUTH KOREA: China blasted on defectors

Angry demonstrators Tuesday near the Chinese embassy in Seoul to protest the arrest of dozens of North Korean defectors who face torture and even death if returned to their homeland. Beijing's stance has taken on more urgency after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to punish relatives of anyone who tries to leave.