Russia: Syria rebels likely behind Aleppo chemical attack
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russian scientific analysis indicates a deadly projectile that hit a suburb of the Syrian city of Aleppo on March 19 contained the nerve agent sarin and was most likely fired by rebels, Russia’s U.N. envoy said on Tuesday.
Kenya seizes more smuggled ivory destined for Malaysia
MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) – Kenyan officials have impounded another large consignment of smuggled elephant ivory barely a week after intercepting a similar haul, highlighting the rise of poaching in Africa.
UAE offers Egypt $3 billion support, Saudis $5 billion
CAIRO (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia approved $5 billion in aid to Egypt on Tuesday and the United Arab Emirates has offered $3 billion in desperately needed support for the economy after the army ousted the Islamist president last week.
Israel warns Arabs against ‘bashing’ it at U.N. nuclear meeting
VIENNA (Reuters) – Arab diplomats signaled on Tuesday they would seek to step up pressure on Israel over its assumed nuclear arsenal but the Jewish state said any attempt to “bash” it would be counterproductive.
Roadside bomb kills 17 civilians in Afghanistan
HERAT (Reuters) – A roadside bomb killed 17 civilians, including four children, in western Afghanistan on Tuesday, police said, just days after a series of similar blasts killed nine people.
Britain’s Cameron leaves some powers with EU after security warnings
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s ruling Conservatives, who want to claw back a host of powers delegated to the EU, opted on Tuesday to leave key justice powers in Brussels after their pro-EU coalition partners and police said national security was at risk….
Saudi Arabia gives Egypt $5 billion in aid
CAIRO (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia approved a $5 billion aid package to Egypt on Tuesday comprising a $2 billion central bank deposit, $2 billion in energy products, and $1 billion in cash, the Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim Alassaf told Reuters.
Rights group presses Morocco on sealing of Islamist homes
RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco should stop “arbitrarily” sealing private homes of Islamists on the grounds that they are used to hold unauthorized meetings, Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent on Tuesday to the interior and justice ministers.
Lights going out on Egypt’s Ramadan joy
CAIRO (Reuters) – The start of Ramadan is a time of joy for Muslims, launching a month of night feasts and parties. But in Cairo this week, Ali Mohamed isn’t stringing up his multicolored lanterns in the street, instead he is taking them down.
Taliban talks likely to continue despite Doha office row
DOHA (Reuters) – Despite a row over the Taliban’s office in Qatar, talks on their future role in Afghanistan are eventually likely to resume in what is expected to be a difficult and unpredictable peace process, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday.
