A Turkish court yesterday sentenced a former military chief to life in prison and dozens of others including opposition members of parliament to long terms for plotting against the government, in a trial that has exposed deep divisions in the country.

Syrian rebels battled government troops in the coastal province of Latakia for the second straight day on Monday, making advances in one of President Bashar Assad’s strongholds, activists said.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday, Aug 4, he looked optimistic about the prospects of bilateral relations