Saturday, June 24, 2017

World News Briefs -- June 24, 2017



Reuters: Iraqi forces free hundreds of civilians in Mosul Old City battles as death toll mounts

Iraqi forces opened exit routes for hundreds of civilians to flee the Old City of Mosul on Saturday as they battled to retake the quarter from Islamic State militants mounting a last stand in what was the de facto capital of their self-declared caliphate.

U.S.-trained urban warfare units were channeling their onslaught along two perpendicular streets that converge in the heart of the Old City, aiming to isolate the jihadist insurgents in four pockets.

The week-old battle in the Old City is turning into the deadliest of the eight-month U.S.-backed campaign to take back the northern city, which fell to the militants in June 2014.

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MIDDLE EAST

Hundreds of civilians flee Mosul as IS loses grip on city. In Mosul, ghostly civilians emerge from Old City hell.

Raqqa: The desperate fight for Islamic State group's 'capital'.

Israel strikes Syrian positions after fire toward it.

Attack on Grand Mosque in Mecca is foiled as suspect blows himself up after a gunfight with Saudi security forces as Ramadan nears climax.

Iran, Qatar send Saudis support after bombing near Mecca.

Qatar protests 'unreasonable' ultimatum from neighbors. Qatar says list of demands by Arab states not realistic.

Qatar given 10 days to meet 13 sweeping demands by Saudi Arabia.

UAE: Arab states don’t seek ‘regime change’ in Qatar.

Yemen to probe alleged interrogation abuses by UAE, US.

UN: 1,310 dead in Yemen cholera epidemic. Cholera cases in Yemen may rise up to 300,000 - UN.

ASIA

Death toll from Pakistan attacks climbs to 85. Dozens killed in two separate attacks in Pakistan on eve of Eid.

Afghans suffer deadliest Ramadan since 2001.

China, U.S. agree on aim of 'complete, irreversible' Korean denuclearization.

Second North Korean soldier defects to South in a month.

Otto Warmbier: North Korea dismiss 'groundless' accusations US man died from torture.

China worried Modi-Trump talks might cover South China Sea.

South China Sea: Former CIA director David Petraeus says Australia must 'be firm' with China.

China landslide: Fears more than 120 people buried, sparking massive rescue effort.

AFRICA

Egypt's Sisi ratifies handover of islands to Saudi Arabia.

Turkey's military training camp in Somalia to open soon.

Food insecurity threatens children in Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria and Somalia – UNICEF.

EU leaders boost support for Libya to halt migrant exodus.

UN to send experts to investigate DR Congo violence.

Mali relaunches beleaguered peace process.

South Sudan cancels independence day events.

EUROPE

Shhh...EU leaders try to take migration feud off table, for now.

Norway-Russia relations to deteriorate following U.S. Marines' base extension: Russian embassy.

Was Russian hacking of Ukraine's power grid a test run for U.S. attack?.

London tower blocks evacuated as 27 buildings fail fire tests. UK fire safety crisis expands; Hundreds evacuated in London.

UK Parliament hit by cyber-attack.

EU nations including Germany and France refuse to back Britain over island row.


Schwarzenegger and Macron join forces in swipe at Trump.

AMERICAS

Number of refugees admitted in US drops by 50 percent under Trump.

Poll: Trump approval rating rebounds.

Congress ignores White House pressure to tweak Russia sanctions bill.

Dems push leaders to talk less about Russia.

US Marines will meet a 'swift response' if they dare intervene, says Venezuelan official.

Venezuela faces food and medical supply shortage.

Colombia's ELN rebels announce release of kidnapped Dutch journalists.

Corruption charges against Brazil's Temer expected to come in waves: source.

Illinois could be 1st state with 'junk' credit due to budget.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Trump considering Camp David-style summit to unite Arab leaders to fight terrorism.

Bali bombing: Guantánamo inmate Hambali charged over 2002 attack.

US most wanted terror leader may have fled Philippine city: army.

Counterterrorism Director: Al Qaeda remains No. 1 terrorism concern to U.S..

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Global financial crisis a decade ago still casts shadow over Singaporean investors: Survey.

9.5 trillion reasons gold and silver are looking more lustrous than ever.

Russia's fighter jet makers 'not afraid' of U.S. competition in India.

Mark Zuckerberg's snub of White House could backfire as Europe goes after U.S. Internet giants.

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