MIDDLE EAST

On Friday, Switzerland confirmed that that the Palestinian authority has formally signed up to the Geneva Conventions. Switzerland is the international guardian of the treaty, which sets down all regulations on humanitarian operation and warfare in conflict zones in the world. Spokesman for the Swiss Foreign Ministry Pierre-Alain Eltschinger has said that the Palestinian Authority had declared itself a part …

On Tuesday, the Syrian army backed by pro-regime militia entered rebel-held neighbourhoods in the city of Homs after laying siege to them for almost two years. The assault comes a day after the regime had regained control of the Christian town Maalula in Qalamun. Earlier this year, a UN operation had evacuated over 1,400 people trapped in the besieged neighbourhoods …