Wednesday, May 24, 2017

World News Briefs -- May 24, 2017



Daily Mail: Britain on lockdown: Army sends 1,000 soldiers to guard Buckingham Palace, Parliament is closed to the public and Changing of the Guard is cancelled

* Armed troops will guard key locations in London including Buckingham Palace, Scotland Yard says
* The Changing of the Guard ceremony has been cancelled in London and Parliament is on lockdown
* It comes after Theresa May warned a further terror attack may be 'imminent' following Manchester bombing
* Decision, taken at meeting of Government's emergency Cobra committee, will see 984 troops deployed
* It is the first time the military has been sent out to patrol British streets since a similar threat in 2003
* It follows a terror attack on Ariana Grande concert in Manchester which killed 22 people and injured 119 more

Britain took the unprecedented step of deploying hundreds of soldiers to patrol the streets of London today as the country woke up to a heightened terror threat following the Manchester suicide bombing.

Around 1,000 heavily-armed military personnel are guarding the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and other landmarks around the country after Theresa May warned that a fresh terror attack on the UK may be 'imminent'.

Officers in camouflage combat fatigues carrying the SA-80 rifles usually only fired in war zones walked beside Metropolitan Police officers through the streets of Whitehall this afternoon.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Mosul now 90 percent liberated, Pentagon says.


Iraq orders investigation into abuses reported in Mosul battle.

Activists: Fighting, airstrikes target southern Syrian city.

16 civilians dead in coalition strikes near Raqa: monitor.

Syrian army says senior Islamic State militant killed.

Bahrain unrest: Death toll from raid on cleric's home rises to five.

Israeli defence minister says uneasy over US-Saudi arms deal.

ASIA

Philippines president returns to tackle attacks, declares military law in south. Defiant Duterte threatens harsh measures as thousands flee Philippines unrest.

Duterte mulls putting entire Philippines under military rule. Duterte considers martial law for entire Philippines.

Afghan forces continue to suffer battlefield casualties.

China’s imports from North Korea fall as sanctions start to bite.

China and Japan differ on tactics to halt North Korea’s nuclear programme.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi opens fresh round of peace talks.

Balochistan govt claims arrest of 'mastermind' behind high-profile terrorist incidents.

China to expand its presence in Antarctica.

AFRICA

‘In turmoil again’: Central African Republic unrest spreads.

Egypt denies Sudan claims of providing vehicles to rebels.

Algeria president replaces PM in wake of polls.

Refugees, 'mostly toddlers,' drown off Libyan coast.

Kenya: Police officers killed in al-Shabab bomb attack. Eight police killed in two Kenya roadside bombings.

Ethiopian court convicts journalist for incitement of violence.

400,000 DR Congo children at risk in violence-hit Kasai: UNICEF.

EUROPE

British police say military to guard key London sites.

Manchester attack: Police hunt 'network' behind bomber.

Manchester attack: US leaks about bomber irritating - Rudd.

Pope Francis and President Trump meet despite deep divide.

Macron seeks to extend state of emergency to November.

UN envoy: aim for final Cyprus summit deal by week’s end.

Germany spent 20 billion euros on refugees in 2016.

Stalin's grandson who rejected dictator's name dies at 75.

AMERICAS

Trump budget cut bid would make it 'impossible' for U.N.: spokesman.

Breaking down Trump's budget [Infographic].

Brazilian president drops bid to suspend own corruption probe.

As Venezuela unrest spreads, Maduro presses on with plans to rewrite charter.

Barricades, protests spread over Venezuela 'sham' elections.

Landslide on California highway part of $1 billion in damage.

Woman arrested for smuggling US space technology to China.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Islamic State-loyal forces battle Filipino troops inside provincial capital.

IS claims first suicide attack in Somalia.

Trump budget proposal kills Obama's counterterrorism partnerships fund.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Moody's China downgrade rattles Asian markets.

OPEC meeting puts oil at the crossroads with another production cut the likely direction. OPEC nearing deal to extend oil output cut to March 2018.

Bitcoin soars above $2,400 to all-time high.

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