Slain US war reporter's family sues Syrian govt

BEIRUT • The family of American journalist Marie Colvin, who died in Syria in 2012, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in a US court, accusing the Syrian government of deliberately killing her.

Ms Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik were killed in the besieged city of Homs while reporting on the Syrian conflict, now in its sixth year.

The lawsuit, filed in Washington on Saturday, said Syrian officials deliberately targeted rockets at a makeshift broadcast studio where Ms Colvin and other reporters were living and working.

REUTERS

Egypt foreign minister to meet Israeli PM

JERUSALEM • Egypt's foreign minister is to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on reviving peace efforts with the Palestinians. It is the first such visit to Israel in nearly a decade, the latest sign of warming ties between the two countries.

The trip comes amid talk of renewing an Arab peace initiative and with Israel's military having recently saluted "unprecedented" intelligence cooperation with Egypt to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was to hold "lengthy talks" with Mr Netanyahu, aiming to resurrect the peace process with the Palestinians, his office said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Eagle to challenge Corbyn for leadership

LONDON • Mr Jeremy Corbyn, the embattled head of Britain's main opposition Labour Party, is "hiding" and refusing to accept that support for him among colleagues has vanished, leadership challenger Angela Eagle said yesterday.

Ms Eagle, who will today formally launch her bid to take over the left-of-centre party, said Mr Corbyn was "not a leader" and she wanted to "heal" Labour's divisions.

Both Labour and Prime Minister David Cameron's ruling Conservative party have been plunged into turmoil by Britain's shock referendum vote to leave the EU last month.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

'Relentless' fighting in South Sudan

JUBA (South Sudan) • Heavy fighting erupted in South Sudan's capital yesterday as former rebels and government soldiers exchanged fire, two days after gun battles left at least 150 fighters dead.

"Gunshots, heavily armed exchange (in) UN House area once again," the UN Mission in South Sudan said on Twitter, later adding that the fighting was "relentless".

Gunfire was also heard in several other parts of the city throughout the day, including the tinderbox Gudele neighbourhood - where rebel leader turned Vice-President Riek Machar is headquartered.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE