Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday the U.S. government is holding the government of Bashar al-Assad responsible for the chemical attack last week.
Nation & World
Oil prices surge as Alaskans stockpile for winter
The state of Alaska wants oil prices high. “Every dollar change in price is close to 100 -150 million dollars in state revenue,” said acting Revenue Commissioner Angela Rodell.
‘Devastated’ Quebec Town Waits For Word About Missing
With 40 people still missing after massive explosions Saturday in the center of their town, the people of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, begin the week “with fears that the death toll from a weekend rail disaster could surge,” CBC News writes.
‘Friends Of Syria’ Countries Meet To Map Out Arming Rebels
Secretary of State John Kerry called the current situation in Syria “unacceptable by anyone’s standard” and lashed out at the government of President Bashar al-Assad for using Hezbollah in the fight against rebels.
‘Suffering On A Huge Scale’: World Refugee Numbers Swell
The United Nations Refugee Commission says more than 45.2 million people were in “situations of displacement” around the world as of last year — the most since 1994.
Afghan Govt. Suspends Talks; Taliban Attack Kills 4 Soldiers
In the hours following an announcement by the Taliban and the United States saying they were ready to begin peace talks, we received reminders of just how tenuous that situation is: On Tuesday night the Taliban said they fired two rockets near Bagram airbase in Kabul.
After Two Violent Days, Protesters In Turkey Return
NPR’s Peter Kenyon reports from Turkey that some 900 people were arrested across the country and several hundred were wounded.
UPDATE: Russian Missiles ‘Months Away’ From Delivery To Syria
Syrian President Bashar Assad has told Al-Manar TV, a channel owned by Lebanon’s Hezbollah, that the first shipment of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles has arrived in Syria
Report: An Angry Russia Will Deliver Missiles To Syria
The European Union’s decision to end its embargo on arming the opposition in Syria has been followed by sharp criticism from Russia’s foreign ministry and word that Russia will follow through on plans to deliver anti-aircraft missiles to President Bashar Assad’s military.
Arctic council adds six observer seats
The Arctic Council – the association of the world’s polar countries – has agreed to grant observer status to six non-Arctic nations.