Wednesday, December 14, 2016

World News Briefs -- December 14, 2016



Reuters: Aleppo hit by air strikes and shelling as evacuation stalls

Plans to evacuate besieged rebel districts of Aleppo were under threat on Wednesday as renewed air strikes and shelling rocked the city in a bombardment the United Nations said "most likely constitutes war crimes".

Iran, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main backers in the battle that has all but ended four years of rebel resistance in the city, imposed new conditions, saying it wanted the simultaneous evacuation of wounded from two villages besieged by rebel fighters, according to rebel and U.N. sources.

There was no sign of that happening. Insurgents fired shells at the two majority Shi'ite villages, Foua and Kefraya, in Idlib province west of Aleppo, causing some casualties, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syria conflict: Fierce fighting halts Aleppo evacuation. Aleppo cease-fire collapses, threatening evacuation plans.

Hezbollah, other Shi'ite allies helped Assad win in Aleppo.

As Aleppo falls, Trump faces test on posture toward Russia.

Arms seized by Islamic State in Syria pose threat to U.S.-led forces: general.

Syria's Assad: Trump can be our natural ally.

Under IS rule, Mosul descended into darkness, dread, pain.

Netanyahu to Iran: 'Don't threaten Israel, we're a tiger not a rabbit'.

Thousands rally in Gaza for anniversary of Hamas founding.

Child malnutrition at ‘all-time high’ in Yemen, UNICEF claims in alarming report.

ASIA

Myanmar military burned Rohingya villages, Human Rights Watch says.

China military tells Myanmar to ensure border stability.

China installs weapons systems on artificial islands - U.S. think tank.

Pellets fired to quell protests blind hundreds of Kashmiris.

Philippines' Duterte says he personally killed suspected criminals.

Afghanistan: Refugees sent home from Pakistan face poor prospects and forced marriages, aid group says.

Afghan Vice-President Dostum accused of sex assault.

Chinese Muslim website blocked after Xi Jinping letter.

AFRICA

UN: South Sudan on brink of ethnic civil war. Only swift action can avert South Sudan genocide, says UN human rights chief.

EU leaders seek more vessels for Libyan coastguard.

Cairo conference on Libya concludes with 5 proposals to end crisis.

Congo to suspend pro soccer matches over fears of political unrest.

Gambia troops take over electoral commission offices.

Gambia election crisis: Jammeh risks sanctions, UN envoy says.

South African minister denies censoring state broadcaster.

EUROPE

UK will trigger Article 50 earlier than end of March if can: Brexit minister.

French National Assembly votes to extend state of emergency for fifth time.

French foreign minister says Trump's approach to China is 'not clever'.

Eurozone suspends Greek debt relief plan.

Baltic states urge strong U.S. defense commitment to region.

Sweden tells municipalities to prepare for war.

Strike keeps Eiffel Tower shut for a second day. PM May condemns UK's worst rail strike in two decades.

Russia's Communist Party turns to the Orthodox Church.

Crimean gold artefacts must go back to Ukraine, Dutch court rules.

AMERICAS

Trump invites top tech leaders to NYC.

Brazil Senate approves controversial austerity measures. Protests erupt after Brazil senate passes limit on government spending.

Venezuelans queue to change money as banknote is pulled.

Venezuela power clash resumes after Vatican-led talks falter.

Colombia's FARC rebels expel five commanders opposed to peace deal.

Cuba and Venezuela’s ties of solidarity fray.

Canadian city approves tax to deal with opioid crisis.

Arctic air brings frigid temperatures to Midwest, moves east.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

US airstrikes kill "Islamic State" militants linked to Paris attacks.

Cairo cathedral bombing: IS claims responsibility for attack.

Has Algerian jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar survived a second air strike?

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Trump and Silicon Valley elite seek to smooth over frictions.

China may penalize U.S. automaker over price-fixing; GM, Ford shares off.

Fed expected to raise interest rates: What to watch.

IBM vows to hire 25,000 staff as tech chiefs meet Trump.

G20 task force wants companies to come clean on climate risk.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just read a note that the "rebels" just launched their first successful VBED inside the pocket...please get these people evacuated to Germany as quickly as possible!!!

James said...

These poor people. For those with an interest of how the media "does" their job, please note that the wheelchair (with the blue parasol) in the header photo is also in the BBC footage two posts up at the 2:01 mark.