Monday, December 19, 2016

World News Briefs -- December 19, 2016



Daily Mail: Horror as Russian ambassador to Turkey is shot dead in art exhibition in Ankara by well-dressed gunman screaming: 'Allahu Akbar... We die in Aleppo, you die here'

* GRAPHIC CONTENT
* Andrei Karlov, 62, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, was shot dead tonight at a gallery in Ankara
* Gunman Mevlüt Mert Altintas, 22, was a member of the Ankara special forces police department
* The killer shouted: 'Allahu Akbar (God is Great). We die in Aleppo, you die here!' as he brandished the gun
* The assassination follows days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in the bombing of Aleppo, Syria

The Russian ambassador to Turkey was tonight shot dead by a Turkish police officer at an art gallery in Ankara.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was repeatedly shot in the back at close range by a gunman shouting: 'Allahu Akbar (God is Great). We die in Aleppo, you die here!' He also screamed: 'Only death will take me out of here.'

Gunman Mevlüt Mert Altintas, 22, an off-duty member of the Ankara special forces police department, fired into the air before taking aim at the ambassador. Three others were also injured, according to local media.

A video of the horrific attack shows Altintas, dressed in a suit and tie, pacing the gallery while brandishing a gun in one hand. The killer was shot dead after a 15-minute standoff with police.

Putin has declared the assassination a 'provocation' while a Kremlin spokeswoman called it a 'terror attack'.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Gunman kills Russian ambassador to Turkey at photo exhibit.

Leaders of Russia, Turkey say killing of Russian ambassador aimed at derailing ties. Putin: Russian ambassador's murder provocation aimed at undermining Syria peace process.

Shooting near US Embassy in Ankara after Russian ambassador to Turkey shot, killed ‒ reports.

Thousands evacuated from Aleppo after deal over besieged villages. UN approves Aleppo monitors as evacuations from city proceed.

Syria talks to go ahead in Moscow on Tuesday despite ambassador's murder: Ifax.

Fight for a Mosul district shows Iraqis' slow, painful slog.

Jordan: Karak attackers planned further assaults Canada, UK tourists hid in Jordan castle during gun fight.

UK-made cluster bombs used in Yemen, Michael Fallon confirms.

Washington presses Riyadh for Yemen peace.

Saudi Arabia, U.S. play down reports of curbs on military support.

Iran's Rouhani unveils landmark bill of rights.

ASIA

U.S. sees China returning drone as early as Tuesday in South China Sea.

Amnesty accuses Myanmar military of 'crimes against humanity'. ASEAN meeting on Rohingya 'genocide' ends with humanitarian access promise.

Duterte executions plan is barbaric: Philippine critics. Duterte defends China, says unfair to blame Beijing for Philippines' drug problem.

HRW: Indian police responsible for hundreds of prisoner deaths.

Taliban 'kill woman who divorced husband and remarried'.

Fiji floods: Days of torrential rain cause severe flooding and landslides, with more rain forecast.

Pollution in north China exceeds WHO guideline by 100 times; flights grounded, cars ordered off the road.

China's 2017 growth to slow to 6.5 pct: study.

AFRICA

AU mission in Somalia says troops killed 6 at checkpoint.

IS suicide bomber kills 8 Libyan troops near Benghazi.

Islamic State returnees constitute new threat for Egypt.

Protesters, military on Congo streets as Kabila's mandate expires. Tension high in DRC as President Kabila's mandate ends.

Rebels kill South African peacekeeper and policeman in Congo.

US seeks UN Security Council vote on South Sudan arms embargo.

Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF confirms Mugabe as 2018 election candidate.

Mali denies agreement on failed EU asylum seekers.

EUROPE

Berlin: suspect arrested, nine dead after truck crashes into Christmas market. Truck plows into crowd at Berlin Christmas market one dead.

Ukraine army 'repulsed rebel attack' near Debaltseve in east.

Ukraine's biggest lender PrivatBank nationalised.

Three wounded in shooting near Zurich Islamic center, target unclear.

Christine Lagarde: IMF chief convicted over payout. IMF's Lagarde guilty, but not punished, in French negligence trial.

Macedonia: Ex-PM threatens foreign ambassadors, NGOs.

Siberian city declares emergency as dozens die from drinking alcoholic bath tincture.

AMERICAS

Electors start voting to officially pick Donald Trump as President.

Democrats turn 'faithless electors' in U.S. Electoral College surprise.

Bill Clinton bashes Trump, blames 'angry white men' and Comey for wife's loss.

McCain sees Russia hacking as threat, at odds with Trump.

Obama announces record wave of pardons, commutations.

Venezuela's Maduro defends withdrawal of major banknote.

Troops, vigilantes patrol after Venezuela unrest, three dead.

Cuba cracks down on dissidents after Castro death.

Cuba announces home internet trial scheme in Havana.

Bitter cold front moves across U.S. Plains to Midwest, heads east.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov assassinated in Ankara.

At least 9 dead as truck rams crowd in Berlin Christmas market.

Gunman injures several at Zurich mosque, Swiss police say.

Islamic State children's mobile app lets junior jihadists attack Big Ben.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Exclusive: U.S. proposed $5-7 billion penalty for Credit Suisse on toxic debt - source.

Linde, Praxair set to reveal $65 bn merger: report.

Latest 'Star Wars' release boosts Disney, US stocks up.

Apple fights back with appeal against EU Irish tax ruling.

3 comments:

James said...

WNU,
I'm curious, the Russian ambassador didn't seem to have his own security detail. I realize that with an inside job there is no time, but even after the shots when the shooter was standing there, I saw no sign of them.

War News Updates Editor said...

James .... I am surprised too. Turkey is a conflict zone, and it is Russian FO protocol to have a security detail when you go to a public event like this one. But there was no one there. Someone screwed up, and I suspect that it was the ambassador himself who made the decision that he did not need one. I am willing to bet that in the Russian FO in Moscow they are now having multiple discussions about this.

James said...

WNU,
"I am willing to bet that in the Russian FO in Moscow they are now having multiple discussions about this."
I bet some of those discussions are of the "frank" variety that we hear about.