Tag "3"

Egyptian policeman sentenced to 15 years over killing of activist

An Egyptian criminal court sentenced a policeman to 15 years in jail on Thursday over the killing of a woman activist, a judicial source and the state news agency said. The policeman had been charged in March with action that “led to the death” of Shaimaa Sabbagh, a lesser charge than murder, but still a rare action against a member of the security forces. Sabbagh was shot in January at

U.S., allies target Islamic State with 29 air strikes: statement

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S.-led coalition targeting Islamic State forces have launched 29 air strikes against the group since early on Wednesday, the Combined Joint Task Force leading the operations said in a statement on Thursday. The 16 air strikes in Syria and 13 in Iraq hit various Islamic State fighting positions, fighting units, vehicles, buildings and other targets, the task force said in the statement. For a Reuters map

Killings of soldiers and civilians fray Ukraine's ceasefire

Three civilians and two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in eastern Ukraine within 24 hours up to midday on Thursday, Kiev’s military said, further eroding a four-month-old ceasefire in the separatist conflict. The truce brokered by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France has stemmed large-scale fighting but regular skirmishes near Donetsk claim lives almost daily on both sides, and international monitors said they feared a bigger flare-up. The two

Syria rebels seize most of Sweida military airport: spokesman

Syrian rebels seized most of a military airport in regime-controlled Sweida province Thursday and shot down a warplane nearby, a spokesman told AFP. “The Southern Front has liberated Al-Thaala military airport and is carrying out mopping-up operations against remaining forces,” the alliance’s spokesman, Major Essam al-Rayes, told AFP. The Syrian Observatory for Human rights also reported the rebel advance into the airport in the Druze-majority southern province.

Tropical storm Carlos forms off Mexico's Pacific coast

Tropical storm Carlos formed off the southern Pacific coast of Mexico on Thursday and was expected to gain some strength in the coming days, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Carlos was about 230 miles (370 km) south of the beach resort of Acapulco and had maximum winds of 40 miles per hour (65 km/h), the Miami-based NHC said. The center said the storm was expected to move in a