Wednesday, February 22, 2017

World News Briefs -- February 22, 2017 (Evening Edition)


AFP: UN needs $4.4 bn for famine relief in four countries

UN aid agencies need $4.4 billion in emergency funding to address famine in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday.

More than 20 million people face starvation in the four countries and action is needed now to avert a humanitarian disaster, Guterres told a news conference at UN headquarters.

"We need $4.4 billion by the end of March to avert a catastrophe," he said.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

US forces have come under fire in Mosul fight: official.

Iraqi forces moving toward Mosul Airport after taking strategic hill.

Syria opposition seeks 'direct negotiations' with regime.

Syrian army takes district near Aleppo: monitor, media unit.

Arab and Kurdish fighters close in on 'IS' Syria stronghold Raqqa. US-backed alliance enters Deir Az Zor province.

Syria's Geneva talks: 'Expectations pretty low'.

Lavrov: Russia waiting for US to provide ‘details’ on proposed safe zones in Syria.

Iran ready to give U.S. 'slap in the face': commander.

Second-in-command of Yemen's army killed by Houthi missile attack.

Yemen president says $10 bn Saudi aid for reconstruction.

Benjamin Netanyahu took two-hour flight detour to avoid Indonesian airspace.

Iran sends team to Saudi Arabia for hajj talks.

ASIA

Pakistan launches nationwide anti-militant offensive.

Malaysian police seeking diplomat in connection with Kim Jong-nam murder.

Kim Jong-nam's body targeted in morgue break-in, say police.

China's state tabloid warns South Korean company over THAAD.

Philippines to move forward with investigation of Duterte's ties to 'death squad'.

Australia may not take refugees in Costa Rica in U.S. deal.

‘Trump has a very big personality’: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reflects on heated phone call.

Uzbek journalist Muhammad Bekjanov freed after 18 years.

South Koreans to live longest among developed nations by 2030, researchers project.

AFRICA

Somali president says no quick fix for nation's woes.

Rapes, killings still blight Darfur: UN.

Famine threatens lives of nearly half a million Nigerian children, says Unicef.

Boko Haram recruited 2,000 child soldiers in 2016: UNICEF.

US demands independent probe of alleged civilian massacre in DRC.

Mohamed Abdullahi inaugurated as new Somali president.

North African diplomats seek solution for chaotic Libya.

Growing support for Libya’s powerful army chief amid new peace drive.

Libya's eastern authority freezes women's travel ban.

Gambia dreaded former spy chief Yankuba Badjie arrested and held in custody.

Court rules that South Africa cannot withdraw from ICC.

Uganda gold refinery raises alarm over conflict minerals.

EUROPE

Irish PM says will deal with issue of his leadership next month: sources.

Ukrainian right-wing groups stage anti-government rally in Kiev.

Amnesty International reports warring sides in eastern Ukraine ‘enjoying impunity’.

Russia involved in attempted coup, Montenegro prosecutor says.

Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh holds 'illegal' referendum.

Sweden probes riot in mainly immigrant Stockholm suburb.

French police detain key Le Pen aides over EU 'fake jobs' probe.

Ukrainian billionaire faces extradition to U.S., Austrian court rules.

Bavaria approves ban on full-face veil.

Iceland's president forced to clarify views on pineapple pizza ban.

AMERICAS

Mexico fumes at 'hostile' Trump immigration rules as U.S. talks loom.

Brazil prison slaughter exposes gang war, banality of evil.

US senators say Raul Castro eager to maintain US relations.

Trump to unveil first budget 'mid-March'.

Trump administration expands social media checks to cover Chinese visitors.

Trump administration widens net for immigrant deportation.

Poll: Majority of Americans worried about war, feel favorably toward NATO.

Protests over Morales expose divisions among Bolivians.

Mexican kidnappers pile misery on to Central Americans fleeing violence.

Mexico to extradite cocaine cartel member 'El Gordo' to U.S..

Haitian prison rife with malnutrition and disease.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Blind sheikh buried in Egypt after dying in US jail. Thousands mourn 'blind sheikh' convicted in 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

New trauma unit to help former Islamic State sex slaves.

German intel agency notes dramatic increase in Islamic extremism.

British Isis suicide bomber 'was former Guantanamo Bay inmate paid £1m compensation'.

It's official: Our enemy is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Dow notches another record high helped by DuPont; S&P slips.

US Fed officials say they may need to raise rates 'fairly soon'.

WTO's new global trade deal comes into force.

Saudi Aramco recruits JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley for IPO, HSBC a contender: source.

Russia returns to gold market, buys tons more precious metal.

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