Thursday, December 4, 2014

World News Briefs -- December 4, 2014



Al-Qaida in Yemen Threatens to Kill American Hostage -- Voice of America

An al-Qaida group in Yemen released a video Thursday threatening to kill an American hostage.

In the video, a member of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) threatens the life of Luke Somers, 33, an American journalist captured over a year ago.

"'We give the American government a timeframe of three days from the issuance of this statement to meet our demands about which they are aware," says the al-Qaeda member. "Otherwise, the American hostage held by us will meet his inevitable fate."

At the end of the video a man saying he’s Somers says he believes his life is in danger.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

US Ambassador to Iraq: US forces assured immunity.

Islamic State cedes little ground despite air attacks.

Islamic State launches attack on Syrian air base.

Lebanon 'holding IS leader's daughter and ex-wife'.

Car bombs in east Baghdad kill 15 after Green Zone blast.

Iran atom deal seeks to plug any gaps on centrifuge R&D: experts.

Saudi suspends aid to Yemen after Houthi takeover - sources.

Turkish nationalists charged in assault on U.S. sailors, face long jail sentence.

Emirates police make arrest in American's stabbing.

ASIA

Afghan leaders seek support at UK conference.

Afghan police officer who killed US general was not linked to extremist group.

Indian Army kills 6 militants in Kashmir gun battle.

A year after Haiyan's devastation, new super typhoon threatens Philippines.

Hong Kong student protesters consider pulling up stakes.

China to stop using executed prisoners as source of transplant organs.

India to press G20 for deadline to cut remittance costs: sources.

Kim Jong-un's sister 'to visit South Korea for festival'.

AFRICA

More air strikes near Tripoli in struggle between Libya's rival groups.

Somali rebels say shot down Kenyan military plane.

Police repel attack on French factory in Nigeria.

France begins withdrawing Central Africa troops as U.N. deploys.

While diplomats fret, Burkina backs military to drive reform agenda.

Zimbabwe's Mugabe purges 'treacherous' deputy once seen as successor.

Kenya breaks 'Chinese-run cyber crime network'.

EUROPE

Putin: Under no circumstances will Moscow stop cooperating with Europe, US. Putin defends foreign policy in state address.

US calls on Russia to calm turbulence in Ukraine.

Obama: Putin ‘scares heck out of neighbors’ with ‘nationalist, backward-looking’ policy.

Accident at nuclear power plant in Ukraine: Electricity crisis across country worsens after power unit at facility in war-torn east suffers technical fault.

Fleeing war and crumbling economy, Ukrainians flock to Europe.

Putin orders cash from Russia's wealth fund be used to support banks.

10 police killed, 28 injured in Grozny anti-terror operation.

Turkish navy to conduct exercises in the Aegean during talks.

Court tells France to pay damages to Somali pirates.

AMERICAS

Protests after N.Y. cop not indicted in chokehold death; feds reviewing case.

Venezuela cuts spending as oil prices plummet.

Mexico sends federal forces to violence-ridden region.

Private firms filling Latin America's security gap.

NASA scrubs Orion launch after multiple delays.

US birth rate hits all-time low.

The best and worst run states in America: A survey of all 50.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Al-Qaeda releases video threatening to execute British-US hostage.

AFRICOM chief: IS group has training camps in Libya.

Pakistani Taliban squeezed by Afghan revolt, U.S. drone strikes.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Dimon says Europe economy to drag for decade as China hits goals.

Roubini: We're in an asset bubble and it won't pop until 2016.

Spectre to be title of next James Bond film.

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