Monday, November 11, 2013

World News Briefs -- November 9, 2013



Typhoon That Smashed Houses To Smithereens: Full Horror Of Destruction In Philippines Revealed As Rescue Workers Says Two Thirds Of Dead Are Children -- Daily Mail

* Typhoon Haiyan was a maximum category-five storm with gusts of up to 235mph
* Authorities say in the city of Tacloban, Leyte, alone, 10,000 could be dead
* Up to 4.3 million people have been affected, Filipino national disaster agency say
* Bodies were seen floating in flooded streets in reminder of 2004 Tsunami
* Filipino government now considering introducing martial law to combat looting
* Britain has pledged more than £6million in aid and support for the Philippines
* UN says 2.5m people need of food aid and UNICEF estimate 1.5 m children affected
* A team of about 90 US Marines and sailors have been dispatched to the nation
* Hundreds of thousands of people in South-East Asia have been evacuated
* Vietnam authorities have moved 883,000 people in 11 central provinces to safe zones
* Typhoon has now made landfall in Sanya in south China's Hainan province

A survivor of the devastating Philippines typhoon has described the grim scenes in the city of Tacloban saying 'Two out of every five corpses I saw were kids.'

Lynette Lim, the Asia communications manager for Save the Children said: 'The water was knee high and there were bodies floating in the streets. I saw several dead children.'

In the worst-hit areas, 235mph winds created 20ft waves that are thought to have killed between 10,000 and 15,000 and left 500,000 homeless after their houses were reduced to splinters.

Super-typhoon Haiyan struck with such force on Friday that entire villages were flattened, ships were swept inland and corpses were left hanging from trees.

Desperate survivors of the devastating Philippines typhoon told how they had to steal from the dead to eat.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Kerry: Iran walked away from nuclear deal. Deal struck on U.N. inspections of Iran nuclear sites but Kerry says wider deal falls through.

Iran balked at language of draft nuclear deal, Western diplomats say.

Kerry: Talks with Iran won't imperil Gulf security.

Syrian opposition and government sign up for conditional Geneva peace talks.

Rights group: Syria has used incendiary bombs dozens of times.

Yemen opens trial over Hadi 'assassination plot'.

Two killed as Saudi police clash with foreigners in Riyadh.

Regional instability threatens Gulf food security-report.

Israel girds for battle against Obama diplomatic agenda.

ASIA

Philippines declares state of calamity.

Typhoon Haiyan: Philippines' survivors appeal for food and water.

UN: More than 10,000 feared dead in Philippines.

Haiyan storm surges caught Philippines by surprise.

Afghan review panel to release 80 percent of high-security detainees, Pentagon says.

Removing fuel rods poses new risks at crippled nuclear plant in Japan.

Nepal opposition-called strike turns violent.

North Korea publicly executes 80, some for videos or Bibles, report says.

Preah Vihear temple: Disputed land Cambodian, court rules. Thailand braces for trouble as U.N. court backs Cambodia in border row.

Taiwan’s ‘White Shirt Army,’ spurred by Facebook, takes on political parties.

AFRICA

Libya PM warns of foreign intervention.

Libyan autonomy group forms oil firm, challenges government.

Kenya to repatriate Somali refugees.

Storms kills about 100 in Somalia's Puntland, more missing.

Sudan devalues currency amid economic crisis.

DR Congo, M23 rebels fail to sign peace deal.

DRC envoy ‘excited’ about peace deal with M23.

Insight: Rebel defeat boosts Kabila but peace in Congo a distant prospect.

Libyan Berbers shut gas pipeline to Italy.

EUROPE

In Belgium at Ypres, ceremonies mark end of WWI.

Italy and Malta say EU must press Libya to stop boat migration.

Polish riot police use rubber bullets on far-right protesters in Warsaw. Far-right rioters leave trail of destruction in Polish capital.

Greek coalition survives no-confidence vote.

Greenpeace protest detainees moved to St Petersburg.

France's Hollande booed at tribute to fallen WWI soldiers.

Germany to quickly catalogue Nazi art hoard.

Capt Schettino did abandon ship before all passengers were evacuated, court hears.

AMERICAS

Veterans Day 2013.

President, nation honor military veterans for 'highest service'.

Venezuelan military seizes major retail chain. Venezuelan President Maduro 'to expand price controls'.

Venezuela to toughen price controls, set profits.

Local fight with Mexican cartel a small victory. Vigilantes, weary of crime gangs, seize control of towns in Mexico’s Michoacan.

Obama says U.S. needs to update policies on Cuba.

U.S. says Suriname president's son wanted to host Hezbollah.

Fitch downgrades Chicago bond ratings.

Migrant smuggling on boats is on the rise.

International students up 40 percent over past decade at U.S. schools.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

CIA warily watches for threats to U.S. now that 87 nations possess drones.

Al-Qaeda teaches on Twitter how to ‘kindly’ cut off human head.

Senior leader of Haqqani militant network shot dead in Islamabad.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Dow hits another record close.

Shadow banks reap Fed rate reward.

Romania gov't rejects Canadian gold mine project.

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