Thursday, December 15, 2016

World News Briefs -- December 15, 2016



Washington Post: In Syria’s shattered Aleppo, convoys carry the devastated and defeated from last rebel zones

BEIRUT — Buses and ambulances rolled out of the last rebel districts in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Thursday as part of a major evacuation that ended the opposition's battle for its greatest stronghold.

They left behind one of the world’s great ancient cities, now shattered by brutal government-allied air strikes that have killed thousands of people and reduced infrastructure to rubble.

Reports from aid groups and the Turkish government suggested that more than 3,000 people — including hundreds of rebel fighters — had left in the early waves, monitored by the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian allies.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Russian General Staff: Militants driven out of all Aleppo quarters. Bloodied and demoralized Syrians evacuate Aleppo. Buses evacuate thousands of exhausted Aleppo residents in ceasefire deal.

Evacuations begin in Aleppo as Kerry decries Assad regime's 'massacre'.

Syrian army stabilizes situation near Palmyra with Russian air group support.

U.N. Syria envoy says rebel city Idlib risks Aleppo fate if no peace talks.

Gulf states rebuke Assad over violence in Aleppo.

Erdogan says discussed Syria with Putin, Obama.

Freed from Mosul, Iraqi brothers carry scars of Islamic State rule.

King Salman challenges foreign 'menace' in Yemen.

Iranian leadership trust in 'pragmatic' Trump.

ASIA

China says deployment of defensive facilities on South China Sea islands legitimate.

China should plan to take Taiwan by force after Trump call, state media says.

Donald Trump: Chinese ambassador tells US 'sovereignty is not a bargaining chip'.

Duterte's drug war: Death toll goes past 6,000.

Shocking footage shows children as young as FIVE forced to work in chain gangs in North Korea.

YouTube blocks North Korean state television channel.

No planned changes to U.S. missile defense in South Korea: White House.

Vladimir Putin and Japan's Shinzo Abe hold security talks amid ongoing territorial dispute. Putin, Abe agree on joint Russia-Japan activities on Kuril Islands.

DEA: Heroin haul largest ever in Afghanistan, 'if not the world'.

AFRICA

Traces of explosives found on EgyptAir crash victims, say authorities. EgyptAir crash: Explosives found on victims, say investigators. Explosive traces found on victims of EgyptAir crash.

War with Boko Haram is won, says Nigerian state governor.

Bomb kills six Somalis in capital Mogadishu.

Pipeline from two Libyan oil fields 'reopens' but output hampered.

Central African Republic violence worsening despite vote: U.N..

Kenya cites progress in building fence to keep al-Shabab out.

Hatred spills beyond South Sudan along with refugees.

Gambia election row: Adama Barrow to declare himself president.

EU offers 610 million euros to Niger to curb migration.

EUROPE

EU fatigue over Russia sanctions shows as Putin reset looms. EU leaders agree on extension of anti-Russian sanctions — source. EU leaders agree to extend Russia sanctions until mid-2017.

Ukraine will not join EU, Dutch are promised in effort to save treaty.

Brexit trade deal could take 10 years, says UK's ambassador.

Romanian leftists win parliamentary majority: final poll results.

Greece passes pension deal in defiance of bailout creditors. Greece's anti-austerity measures incur creditors' wrath.

Military, church & media top Russians’ trust rating.

Austrian MPs vote to seize Hitler's birthplace house.


AMERICAS

U.S. officials: Putin personally involved in U.S. election hack. White House supports claim Putin directed US election hack. White House suggests Putin was involved in US hacking. Putin turned Russia election hacks in Trump's favor: U.S. officials.

U.S. election agency breached by hackers after vote.

Donald Trump: US celebrities urge Electoral College to vote against President-elect.

White House says Obama to hold news conference Friday .

Some poor Venezuelan parents give away children amid deep crisis.

Venezuela Mercosur: Battle of rooms at Latin American summit.

Brazil's Lula accused of corruption in Petrobras scandal. Brazil prosecutors hit ex-president Lula with more corruption charges.

Mexico braces for fresh flood of Central American asylum seekers.

Colombia's president, opposition rival to meet with Pope Francis.

Trudeau to be questioned by ethics watchdog over reports of cash for access.

Plunging temperatures, powerful winds reach Northeast US.

Cuba offers rum to pay off $276m Czech debt.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

ISIS is making its own ammunition almost as fast as it can fire it, report finds.

Lawyer: France train attack was ordered by Paris IS attacker.

US military: 250 al Qaeda operatives killed or captured in Afghanistan this year.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

White House says FBI is investigating hack of 1bn Yahoo user accounts.

Sky and 21st Century Fox agree £18.5bn takeover deal.

Fake news: Facebook rolls out new tools to tackle false stories. Facebook to flag fake news with help of its users and fact-checkers.

Galileo navigation satellite system goes live.

5 comments:

Jac said...

China:
* It's legitimate for them to built military defense in their South Sea islands because "they are at home and they can do what they want" but that's not good for South Korea to do the same with Thaad defensive missiles.
* China can take Taiwan "by force". Yes they can and I think they are two fingers to do it. But it will be a disaster for China. It will be "the proof" and "excuse" for the next President to take any measure in South China Sea to eradicate their bases in their islands. And the exchange is not good for China.
* "sovereignty is not a bargaining chip" Well, that's true. But international law are not either. They have to bow on it if they want we bow on there's.

Unknown said...

'...They can do what they want" but that's not good for South Korea to do the same with Thaad defensive missiles.'

Yup.

Unknown said...

Vietnam needs THAAD too.

Ditto India.

Jac said...

Yes there is a lot of countries which needs THAAD

Unknown said...

Countries on china's periphery need THAAD so China is less able to bully them.