World
China Gang Members Charged in Sex Video Blackmail Case
Beijing / China (Weltexpress). Six gang members have been charged with blackmailing Chinese officials by recording videos of them having sex, the country’s official Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday, citing prosecutors.[more]
North Korea Fires Missiles for Third Day
Pyongyang / North Korea (Weltexpress). North Korea launched another two short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan on Monday, marking the third straight day of firings, South Korea's defense ministry said, Yonhap reported.[more]
Conference on Syria Settlement to Take Place ‘Very Soon’ – UN Chief
Moscow / Russia (Weltexpress). After consultations with UN Security Council permanent members, a conference on the Syrian settlement will take place “very soon,” possibly, at the beginning of June, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday.[more]
Obama Keeps Diplomatic, Military Options Open in Syria
Washington / USA (Weltexpress). Against the backdrop of a violent civil war in Syria and the possible use of chemical weapons by government forces, US President Barack Obama said Thursday he is open to a “whole range” of options in Syria, but that a peaceful resolution will come from the combined ef[more]
EU Provides Additional $85 Mln Humanitarian Aid to Syria
Brussels / Belgium (Weltexpress). The European Commission announced on Sunday the allocation of an additional 65 million euros ($84.5 million) in humanitarian aid to war-torn Syria.[more]
Pakistani Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif’s Party Leading in Parliamentary Poll
Islamabad / Pakistan (Weltexpress). The opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML- N), led by former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is leading in the country’s parliamentary elections, the local media reported on Sunday, referring to preliminary results.[more]
Syria Denies Responsibility for Turkey Blasts
Damascus / Syria (Weltexpress). Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi on Sunday rejected Turkey's allegations that Damascus was responsible for two car bombings that killed over 40 people in a Turkish town near the Syrian border and wounded dozens of others.[more]
Brahimi Calls Russia-US Deal on Syria ‘Significant Step’
New York / USA, Moscow / Russia (Weltexpress). The UN and Arab League's special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, “warmly welcomed” on Wednesday an agreement between Russia and the United States to convene international talks on Syria that will include both representatives of the Syrian government an[more]
US ‘Highly Skeptical’ Syrian Rebels Used Chemical Weapons
Washington / USA (Weltexpress). US officials are “highly skeptical” of claims that Syrian rebels had deployed chemical weapons in their war with forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday.[more]
UN Has Testimony of Syrian Rebels Using Sarin Gas - Official
Zurich / Switzerland (Weltexpress). The United Nations commission to investigate alleged human rights abuses in Syria has heard testimony that the rebels have used chemical weapons, a leading UN official on Syria said in a recent interview with a Swiss-Italian TV network.[more]
Syria Will Defend Itself By Any Means Necessary - Minister
Damascus / Syria, Tel Aviv / Israel (Weltexpress). Syria reserves the right to defend itself by all possible methods, the country’s deputy foreign minister said on Sunday, in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on the capital, Damascus.[more]
Israeli Officials Confirm Air Strike on Syria – News Agency
Tel Aviv / Israel (Weltexpress). Israeli officials confirmed Saturday that their country had carried out an air strike against neighboring Syria, the Associated Press reported.[more]
Barack Obama Pledges New Push to Close Guantanamo
Washington, Guantanamo, Cuba / USA (Weltexpress). US President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday to make a new push to close the American military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the US military sent extra medical personnel there to deal with prisoners on a hunger strike, protesting conditio[more]
US Calls for Release of Jailed Ukrainian Ex-Premier
Washington / USA (Weltexpress). The United States on Tuesday called on Ukraine to release Yulia Tymoshenko, the jailed former prime minister and a leader of the ex-Soviet republic’s 2004 “Orange Revolution” who became a strident opponent of the current government.[more]
Deadly Blast Hits Damascus – Reports
Damascus / Syria (Weltexpress). At least 10 people have been killed in an explosion in the center of the Syrian capital of Damascus, reports said on Tuesday.[more]
