Thursday, July 28, 2016

World News Briefs -- July 28,. 2016 (Evening Edition)

Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front fighters carry their weapons on the back of a pick-up truck during the release of Lebanese soldiers and policemen in Arsal, eastern Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, in this December 1, 2015 file photo. REUTERS/Stringer

Reuters: Syria's Nusra Front says ending al Qaeda ties; U.S. fears for Aleppo

Al Qaeda's powerful Syrian branch, the Nusra Front, announced on Thursday it was ending its relationship with the global jihadist network founded by Osama bin Laden, to remove a pretext used by world powers to attack Syrians.

The announcement came as Russia and President Bashar al-Assad's government declared a "humanitarian operation" in the besieged rebel-held sector of Aleppo, opening "safe corridors" so people can flee Syria's most important opposition stronghold.

Washington said that appeared to be an attempt to depopulate the city and make fighters surrender. The opposition called it a euphemism for forced displacement.

In the first known video statement ever to show his face, the leader of the Nusra Front, Mohamad al-Golani, announced that the group would re-form under a new name, with "no ties with any foreign party".

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syria conflict: 'Exit corridors' to open for Aleppo, says Russia. "Large-scale humanitarian operation" to start in besieged Aleppo.

US says 6 airstrikes killed 14 civilians in Iraq and Syria.

Yemen government says peace talks 'ended' after rebels form council.

Anti-US rally staged at NATO Incirlik air base in Turkey (VIDEO, PHOTOS).

Saudi Arabia GDP growth to slow to 1.2% in 2016, budget deficit to narrow to 13%.

Fear spreads throughout Turkish press after post-coup crackdown.

Erdogan wants army under president's control after coup: Turkish official.

Turkey creates 'Traitors' Cemetery' for dead coup plotters.

Israel PM says he backs Egypt's peace push.

US envoy Kerry to meet with Palestinian leader Abbas.

ASIA

N. Korea: US has crossed red line, relations on war footing.

Deadline looms for displaced Pakistanis living in Afghanistan.

China says to hold drills with Russia in South China Sea.

Reports: Indonesia executes drug convicts. Indonesia executes three Nigerians, one local, despite protests.

Thailand to try opposition figures in military court.

Japan to spend $120 million on counter-terrorism in Africa.

Over 100 dead in South Asia monsoon flooding. Flash floods kill scores in Nepal, India.

AFRICA

Zimbabwe war veterans' spokesman arrested after Mugabe rebuke.

UN condemns 'barbaric' Boko Haram violence in Nigeria.

Aid agencies call on UN to ensure security for civilians in South Sudan.

Morocco arrests 52 suspected militants, foils several attacks.

South Sudan on the brink of abyss: UN chief.

Aid agencies seek $1.2 billion to fight southern Africa drought.

Little progress made in efforts to dismantle human smuggling rings.

EUROPE

Russia: DNC hacking accusations are 'total stupidity'.

Merkel rules out migrant policy reversal after attacks.

Migrants stranded in Serbian no-man's land.

Italy launches campaign to warn migrants of risks.

Weary Armenians show surprising support for Yerevan gunmen.

Putin reshuffles regional leaders ahead of vote; Russian customs chief out.

Spain's Rajoy accepts mandate to form government, warns he may fail.

IMF 'overly optimistic' about success of EU bailouts.

AMERICAS

In speech of her life, Clinton seeking to dispel doubts.

US election: Obama endorses Clinton as political heir.

WikiLeaks releases hacked Democratic Party voicemails.

Trump: Comments about Russia, Clinton emails were sarcastic.

RIO Readies for worst as terror threat hangs over Olympics.

Brazil's Lula tells U.N. his rights violated in corruption probe.

Guatemalan ex-leader Perez Molina faces new graft probe.

Peru: Pedro Pablo Kuczynski sworn in as president. Peru's Kuczynski takes office with a vow to fight inequality.

Venezuela's opposition-run congress defies government over ban.

Animals go hungry in Venezuela zoos due to shortages.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Syrian Nusra Front announces split from al-Qaeda.

Islamic state posts video of men it says were French church attackers.

Pentagon: More than 4 terabytes of ISIS data shedding light on foreign fighters.

Homeland Security chief: Biggest fear is militants 'radicalized in secret'.

Missing former Gitmo detainee seen in Venezuela.

U.S. board declines to release '20th hijacker' from Guantanamo.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Goldman Sachs says current oil prices are here to stay. Oil down 2 percent; July to be worst month in a year for U.S. crude.

Google's profit soars.

Amazon's 'monster' results as quarterly profit jumps ninefold to $857 million.

Facebook profits beat expectations. Facebook just passed Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway in market value.

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