Beirut / AFP Syria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate and allied rebels pushed offensives around northern, central and coastal Syria on Monday, triggering a spike in violence that could threaten a truce ahead of peace talks, a monitoring group said. The IS group also took back control of the town of Al-Rai near Turkey, which rival rebels had captured last week, the Syrian …

United Nations / AFP The next United Nations secretary general must commit to a new global deal for refugees and to end the death penalty during his or her tenure, the world’s leading human rights groups said on Monday. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and four other groups also said the next UN chief should be prepared to invoke the …

Kollam / AFP Indian police said on Monday they have filed initial charges against six people over a massive explosion during a banned fireworks display that killed more than 100 people and left many more with horrific burns. Thousands had packed into a Hindu temple in the southern state of Kerala on Saturday night for the show when a stray …