Rebels, foreign fighters step up crimes in Syria: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Hardline Syrian rebels and foreign fighters invoking jihad, or holy war, have stepped up killings, executions and other abuses in the north since July, U.N. human rights investigators said on Monday.
Western powers say Syria must face consequences for non-compliance
PARIS (Reuters) – France, Britain and the United States called on Monday for a swift U.N. resolution committing Syria to remove its chemical weapons, but Russia introduced a note of caution about imposing strong consequences if President Bashar al-Assa…
Belgium investigates suspected cyber spying by foreign state
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgium said on Monday it was investigating suspected foreign state espionage against its main telecoms company, which is the top carrier of voice traffic in Africa and the Middle East, and a newspaper pointed the finger at the Uni…
U.N. Syria warcrimes team checking 14 alleged chemical attacks
GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria is investigating 14 alleged attacks with chemical weapons or chemical agents in Syria since it began monitoring Syrian human rights abuses in Sept 2011, the commission’s chairman Paulo Pinheiro…
U.S. Iran sanctions force closure of opposition leader’s website
DUBAI (Reuters) – A U.S. web-hosting company has shut the website of an Iranian opposition leader held under house arrest in Tehran to comply with U.S. sanctions, underscoring the unintended impacts of some of the curbs imposed on the Islamic Republic….
Nine Egyptian policemen wounded in Sinai blast
CAIRO (Reuters) – Nine Egyptian policemen were injured on Monday when a bomb detonated on a road in North Sinai, scene of a surge in Islamist militancy, near the border with the Gaza Strip, security sources said.
Philippine aircraft attack rebels in bid to end standoff in city
By Erik de Castro ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Reuters) – Philippine forces launched air strikes on Monday to root out rogue Muslim rebels from a southern city, stepping up efforts to end more than a week of clashes that have killed scores of people.
Merkel coalition doubts grow despite strong Bavaria result
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chances of preserving her center-right coalition were in doubt less than a week before a federal election, with a new anti-euro party rising in the polls and her current partner reeling from a regional setb…
Belgium investigates suspected cyber spying by foreign state
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgium said on Monday it was investigating suspected foreign state espionage against its main telecoms company, which is the top carrier of voice traffic in Africa and the Middle East, and a newspaper pointed the finger at the Uni…
China rejects interference in Hong Kong, ‘thoughtless’ British remarks
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China said on Monday it would not tolerate outside interference in the affairs of Hong Kong, rejecting as “thoughtless” a call from a British minister for people in the former British territory to have a genuine political choice.
