AP, Ankara
An official says 17 Syrians have drowned after their boat sank off the Turkish coast on its way to the Greek island of Leros.
Gov. Amir Cicek of Mugla province told the state-run Anadolu Agency that the Turkish Coast Guard rescued 20 other Syrian refugees early on Sunday. No one was missing or unaccounted for.
Nepal imposes vehicle curbs due to fuel shortage fears
AFP, Kathmandu
Nepal on Sunday imposed nationwide restrictions on vehicle use due to growing fears of a fuel shortage after protesters seeking changes to a new constitution blocked a major border trade route.
Drivers are allowed on the road only on alternate days, depending on whether their licence plates end in odd or even numbers, as a result of the blockade on the India-Nepal border since Thursday night. “The government has decided to limit the number of vehicles moving across the country due to the fuel shortage,” home ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal told AFP.
Marine general sworn in as US military’s
top officer
AFP, Washington
Marine General Joseph Dunford became the US military’s highest-ranking officer Friday, chosen by President Barack Obama as America’s armed forces face an array of global crises and combat challenges.
Dunford, 59, replaces General Martin Dempsey as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Though the position has no direct operational authority, he acts as the main military advisor to the president and the defense secretary, and holds massive sway on matters of war and peace.
New clashes at Jerusalem holy site
AP, Jerusalem
Israeli riot police briefly clashed with young Palestinian protesters at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site early Sunday, raising tensions ahead of a major Jewish holiday. No injuries or arrests were reported.
The clashes occurred at a hilltop compound in Jerusalem’s Old City that is revered by Jews and Muslims. The site is a frequent flashpoint of violence, and Israel has beefed up security around the area following several rounds of clashes in recent weeks.
