The rebels hold the castle and the two nearby villages of al-Zara and al-Hosn while much of the rest of this area, 25 miles west of Homs city and just north of the Lebanese border, is inhabited by Christians who support the government. The 13th century castle was damaged by a Syrian air force attack and mortars last year and the Syrian government says it is eager to prevent further damage.
“We launched an operation to retake this area last week,” the governor of Homs, Talal al Barazi, told The Independent. He said that so far the army had taken 50 per cent of al-Zara “and we think the rest of it will be in our hands within a week.” Syrian army officers on the spot were more cautious on how long the fighting was going to last, saying it might be a week or two.
‘French-style Tea Party’ takes to streets
Catholics, Muslims and the extreme right have united to protest at social policies including teaching of ‘gender theory’
Lara Marlowe
An eclectic assortment of extreme right-wing groups, French Catholics and Muslims has shifted the focus of opposition to President François Hollande from economic to social issues in mass demonstrations over the last two Sundays.
Last Sunday, up to several hundred thousand people marched in Paris and Lyon against what they called the government’s “familiphobia”. It was the largest demonstration since protests at the legalisation of same-sex marriage early last year.
Alleged plans by the education ministry to teach “gender theory” in public schools are the demonstrators’ main grievance. According to gender theory, sexuality is a social construct. Many parents appear to believe their children will be taught they are free to change their gender. Education minister
Vincent Peillon has repeatedly denied the rumours but opponents refuse to believe him.
Kenya arrests 129 al Shebaab insurgents after mosque raid
AFP | 04 February, 2014 09:38
More than 100 people arrested after deadly rioting following a police raid on a Kenyan mosque were charged Monday for being members of Somalia's al Qaeda linked al Shebaab insurgents.
"We received information that there was a jihad convention in the mosque and that's when we moved in," said local police chief Robert Kitur.
The men in the mosque then "turned violent and attacked our officers".
Judge James Ombura ordered the 129 men be held in prison until Friday to allow prosecutors to finish their investigations, when the accused are expected to enter a plea.
Four of those charged were not in court as they were receiving treatment for injuries sustained during Sunday's clashes, in which three people, including a police officer, died.
Costa Rica's surprise presidential election outcome (+video)
Solís, who proposed cracking down on corruption and improving infrastructure, came from behind to win 31 percent of votes in Costa Rica's election over the weekend. He's now a frontrunner in the April runoff.
By Zach Dyer, Contributor
An unexpected candidate in
Costa Rica’s presidential race surprised voters and the ruling National Liberation Party (PLN) last night, sprinting to the front of a crowded field of 13 presidential hopefuls, and forcing the country into its second ever runoff election, the first since 2002.
Luis Guillermo Solís of the progressive Citizen Action Party (PAC), was still in a distant fourth place in the polls at the beginning of January, but support surged over the past few weeks following a strong debate performance. Mr. Solís has promised to focus on alleviating inequality, improving public
performance. Mr. Solís has promised to focus on alleviating inequality, improving public infrastructure, and fighting corruption.
“We started this election with 5 percent and we ended with 31 percent of the public’s support,” says Robert Tomás, a Solís supporter at a campaign rally Sunday night.
Olympics controversies mount, from terrorist fears to stray dogs
BY WILLIAM DOUGLAS
McClatchy Foreign Staff
SOCHI, RUSSIA — Amid concerns about terrorism, complaints of unfinished hotels rooms, controversy over Russia’s law targeting gays and reports of a last-minute roundup and killing of stray dogs, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Monday proclaimed the 2014 Winter Olympics ready for competition.
Bach, presiding over his first Olympic Games, said “the Olympic stage is set for the athletes. The Olympic stage is ready for the best winter athletes in the world.”
“We can see it in the Olympic villages, which are all of very high quality and offer excellent conditions for the athletes,” he said.
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