EU hosts aid drive for post-Assad Syria

For the first time, the Syrian authorities will be represented at the annual conference in Brussels -- with interim foreign minister Assaad al-Shibani set to attend. Western and regional powers are desperate to steer Syria onto the road to stability after 14 years of civil war that have sent millions of refugees over its borders. But an outbreak of deadly violence this month -- the worst since Assad was toppled in December -- has rocked confidence in the new Islamist-led authorities. "There can...