G7 nations have rejected a call by Britain for sanctions against Russia in the wake of a deadly chemical attack they say was carried out by Moscow's ally, Syria. The G7 meeting in the Italian city of Lucca followed last week's chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun that left 89 people dead. Syria denied carrying out the attack but the US then carried out a retaliatory strike, firing 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had proposed sanctions against Syrian and Russian military figures over the chemical attack. The Syrian president is Russia's key military ally in the Middle East.

Source: The Star April 11, 2017 13:07 UTC