Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, April 24, 2013

24 Apr Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, April 24, 2013

• Clashes have escalated on the Syria-Lebanon border, causing worries that Lebanon will be pulled further into the Syrian conflict.  
• The French Parliament passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage and extended the right to adopt children to same-sex couples as well, making France the 14th country in the world to do so.
• India is alleging that a Chinese platoon has entered its Ladakh region, but China contends its troops remain on its side of their contested border.
• Israel’s top intelligence official has alleged that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons, but the US is still waiting for independent confirmation before taking further steps.
• In talks with the emir of Qatar, President Obama has repeated his goal of a political transition in Syria and called on President Assad to resign.
• 21 people have been killed in Western China in what the authorities say were clashes between officials and suspected terrorists.
• The United States has refused North Korea’s demand that it be recognized as a nuclear state.
• Yesterday the US Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on accountability for drone strikes by the US, and though compelling testimony (video here) was given, and both Republican and Democratic Senators pushed for answers, no official from the Obama Administration was present to answer any of the questions posed.

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