US calls on Germany to send ground troops to Syria
AFP, Berlin
The United States on Sunday called for Germany to send ground troops to northern Syria, pushing Berlin to ramp up its military involvement in the fight against the Islamic State group as Washington looks to withdraw from the region.
“We want ground troops from Germany to partly replace our soldiers” in the area as part of the anti-IS coalition, US special representative on Syria James Jeffrey told German media including the Die Welt newspaper.
Afghan foes meet in bid to secure peace
AFP, Doha
Dozens of powerful Afghans including bitter rivals met with the Taliban in Doha on Sunday, amid separate talks between the US and the insurgents seeking to end 18 years of war.
Stakes are high for both sets of talks. Washington has said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw.
Malaria surges back in crisis-hit Venezuela
AFP, Venezuela
The sweltering heat of the Venezuelan forest makes no difference to Jose Gregorio, who trembles with a cold chill. “I have pain everywhere, fever,” he stammers.
Gregorio has the classic symptoms of malaria, a disease eradicated years ago among his Yukpa indigenous people, but it’s back with a vengeance all across crisis-struck Venezuela.
“He had sore joints and then started vomiting, and it’s been four or five days since he’s eaten anything,” says his worried wife Marisol.
21 injured in US mall gas explosion
AFP, Miami
A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said.
The explosion sent debris flying across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping center, damaging an LA Fitness gym, numerous cars and blowing holes in neighboring buildings in the city of Plantation, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Miami.
“We got our workout in, picked up the kids, walked out, got in the car, drove away and as we drove away everything exploded. It was a pretty crazy scene,” said Jessi Walasheck, who witnessed the explosion.
