Wold News Briefs -- December 21, 2017 (Evening Edition)

Carles Puigdemont, the dismissed President of Catalonia, reacts while viewing the results in Catalonia's regional election in Brussels, Belgium, December 21, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Reuters: Catalan separatists on track to regain control of parliament

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Pro-independence parties are on track to keep their absolute majority in Catalonia’s regional parliament, early results from elections on Thursday showed, potentially prolonging Spain’s worst political crisis in decades.

The preliminary results, based on around 40 percent of the vote counted, seemed to confirm an earlier exit poll. Final results are expected after midnight.

A new separatist absolute majority would open a new, uncertain chapter and cast doubts over Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s ability to draw a line under a crisis that has damaged Spain’s economy and prompted a business exodus away from Catalonia.

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MIDDLE EAST

U.N. to join Syria talks in Astana, with humanitarian hopes.

UN votes 128-9 to reject US decision on Jerusalem. Jerusalem: UN resolution rejects Trump's declaration. UN assembly declares US action on Jerusalem ‘null and void’.

UN Jerusalem resolution: How each country voted.

Syria war: Air strikes on rebel-held Idlib village kill 19.

Thousands in Syria's Aleppo mark one year since 'victory'.

Mosul is a graveyard: Final IS battle kills 9,000 civilians.

Cholera epidemic in Yemen now affects one million people.

Yemeni army arrests commander close to Houthi leader. Yemen cholera cases reach one million - ICRC.

CPJ: Iraq, Syria, deadliest countries for journalists.

ASIA

Pence visits Afghanistan, says U.S. will 'see this through'. US vice president makes unannounced Afghanistan visit.

UN to vote on new N.Korea sanctions targeting oil. U.N. Security Council to vote Friday on new North Korea sanctions.

UN weighs new N.Korea sanctions, vote expected Friday.

North Korea rejects U.S. accusation, says it is not linked to any cyber attacks.

Rohingya crisis: Myanmar general hit by US sanctions.

Myanmar army massacred dozens of Rohingya, survivors say.

Philippine ferry with 251 on board capsizes, leaving four people dead and seven missing.

Melbourne car ramming: four people critically injured and driver arrested. Car rams into pedestrians in Melbourne; 19 injured.

South Korea fire at public gym and sauna kills 29.

AFRICA

Mali army kills 5 jihadists after ambush.

Thousands flee violence in Cameroon's Anglophone region.

South Sudan warring sides sign cease-fire for Christmas Eve. South Sudan warring parties ink new ceasefire.

Civil war is pushing South Sudan closer to starvation.

Mali army kills 5 jihadists after ambush.

France urges Libya to act on UN peace plan.

Ramaphosa vows to fight South Africa corruption.

Ethiopian MPs' boycott over ethnic unrest.

Positive IMF review paves way for $2B transfer to Egypt.

Egypt announces probe into torture claims.

EUROPE

Catalan parties that want split from Spain leading election.

Catalonia votes while split on secession from Spain. Catalonia election: Voters head to the polls amid independence campaign.

Poland offers Theresa May backing over Brexit deal amid rift with EU.

Poland's president accuses EU of 'lying' about judicial reforms.

Italian, Austrian ministers speak amid citizenship tensions.

'Russia' will make an appearance at the Winter Olympics.

Russia parliament ratifies deal to expand Syria naval facility.

Ukraine arrests official who doubled as 'agent of Russian intelligence'.

AMERICAS

US Congress backs temporary spending bill to avert shutdown.

Congress demands DOJ turn over all docs related to Obama scheme to nix Hezbollah terror investigation.

US life expectancy drops again amid escalating opioid crisis.

US economy grew at solid 3.2 percent rate in third quarter.

Mexico president says Supreme Court should rule on security law.

Cuba says current leadership to remain through April.

Peru president fights impeachment over Odebrecht scandal. Peru's Congress debates impeachment of President Kuczynski.

Mexico violence: Six bodies found hanging from bridges near resort.

Venezuelan Minister attacks US during China visit.

Canada pays tribute to billionaire couple after mysterious deaths.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

US drone strike kills Qaeda propaganda chief in Yemen.

Mattis gives US troops a pep talk at Guantanamo.

Lawmakers urge Tillerson to declassify Qatar counterterrorism agreement.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Banks, energy companies lead rebound in US stocks.

Eric Schmidt is stepping down as the executive chairman of Alphabet.

Facebook strikes music deal with Universal.

Rolling Stone magazine bought by Penske Media.

Oil companies Shell and Eni to stand trial in Italy over Nigeria bribes.