Wednesday, August 23, 2017

World News Briefs -- August 23, 2017 (Evening Edition)



Reuters: Iraqi forces make gains in Islamic State stronghold of Tal Afar

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi forces made fresh gains on Wednesday in an offensive to dislodge Islamic State from the city of Tal Afar, a militant stronghold in the northwest of the country, the military said.

On the fourth day of the offensive, Iraqi units seized two neighborhoods on the western outskirts of the city, al-Kifah north and south, according to statements from the Iraqi joint operations command.

On Tuesday, army and counter-terrorism units broke into Tal Afar from the east and south.

The city is the latest objective in the U.S.-backed war on Islamic State, following the recapture of Mosul after a nine-month campaign that left much of the city in ruins.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Iran, Saudi Arabia to exchange diplomatic visits: Iranian foreign minister.

Yemen's rebel alliance unravels in Sanaa.

Iraqi forces make gains against ISIL in Tal Afar push. Iraqi troops reached the first urban areas of Tal Afar, one of ISIS' last pieces of Iraqi territory.

Iran extends reach with fight for land link to Mediterranean.

Netanyahu calls strengthening Iran’s positions in Syria 'a threat to the entire world'. Netanyahu denounces Iran 'threat' in Putin talks.

Deadly airstrikes near Sanaa, Yemen's rebel-held capital. Air raid in Yemen kills at least 35 people.

U.S. asks if Iran military sites to be checked under nuclear deal. UN atomic chief briefs US's Haley on Iran deal.

Kushner in Middle East for peace talks.

Saudi teen arrested for dancing to ‘Macarena’ in the street.

ASIA

'Humanitarian catastrophe' in Philippines: Aid groups.

Study: 50M at risk of arsenic poisoning in Pakistan.

Thousands of Rohingya flee Myanmar for Bangladesh.

Taliban suicide bomber kills civilians in Helmand. Taliban retakes district in northern Afghanistan.

After Trump's Afghan policy statement, China reaffirms support to Pakistan.

North Korean leader secretly visited border area — media.

Two North Korean shipments to Syria intercepted in six months, UN told.

'Too many soldiers to feed': North Koreans fear more sanctions as drought threatens famine.

Tillerson renews offer to talk with N. Korea.

Comments on Japan’s wartime past by South Korea’s President Moon rattle Tokyo: observers.

Marawi trying to get back on its feet even as fighting goes on.

Beijing warns US ahead of Taiwan defence minister’s visit.

Typhoon batters Hong Kong and south China, three dead in Macau.

AFRICA

Polls close for Angolans electing first new leader in 38 years.

IS claims beheading of 11 at Libya checkpoint.

Libya ex-premier freed after nine-day kidnapping.

Ailing Nigeria president cancels cabinet meeting.

UNICEF: Boko Haram has used 83 children as 'human bombs' in 2017.

Suicide bomber kills 4 in northern Cameroon.

UN aid chief issues bleak warning on Central African Republic.

Egypt’s leader, US envoy meet after cut in American aid.

Egypt criticises US decision to withhold military aid.

‘We would rather die than stay there’: the refugees crossing from Morocco to Spain.

EUROPE

Pick your kingmaker: small parties loom large in Norway's election.

Russia warns against new sanctions on North Korea.

Prague agrees to hand Vietnamese 'kidnapper' to Germany.

Ukraine: European and Russian leaders agree new ceasefire deal.

Merkel challenger advocates removal of US nuclear weapons.

Germany's rapid deportations of Salafist suspects ruled lawful.

Spain attack suspects did not come to France just for shopping: prosecutor.

Cologne secures cathedral in light of Sagrada Familia terror plot.

French President Emmanuel Macron lobbying against labor dumping.

Kim Wall: Police confirm headless torso found in Copenhagen waterway belonged to journalist.

Prominent Russian director put under house arrest in fraud case.

AMERICAS

Brazil's Lula says party may field someone else in 2018.

McConnell says he and Trump are united on ‘shared goals’.

The Latest: Trump says US will ‘probably’ end NAFTA.

Trump threatens government shutdown over border wall funding.

Hillary Clinton says ‘my skin crawled’ during debate with Trump.

Polls shows majority of Americans think Confederate statues should remain.

Venezuelan leader asks Russia, Vatican to help fend off U.S. 'military threat'.

Venezuela’s rebel prosecutor heads to Brazil as Maduro seeks her arrest. Venezuela ex-prosecutor says she has evidence of Maduro corruption.

Charlottesville: United Nations warns US over 'alarming' racism.

Players hold breath as $700M Powerball jackpot drawing nears.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

W. Europe had less than 1% of terror victims in 2016: study.

Trump takes hard line on Pakistan for supporting terrorist groups.

U.S. may sanction Pakistani officials with ties to terrorists, Trump official says.

Spain terror cell was planning Sagrada Família attack, suspect tells court.

ISIS in Indonesia trying to recruit Malaysians.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Wall Street falls as Trump threatens government shutdown.

Warming Arctic spurs battles for riches, shipping routes.

European Union to investigate $66B Bayer-Monsanto deal.

Google, Wal-Mart join forces in voice-shopping market.

4 comments:

RussInSoCal said...

Canada frets over possible huge surge in asylum-seekers: sources

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-politics-trudeau-idUSKCN1B32CO
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada fears a huge surge in asylum seekers crossing the border from the United States, putting political pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of a 2019 election, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The number of migrants illegally entering Canada more than tripled in July and August, hitting nearly 7,000. Haitians, who face looming deportation from the United States when their temporary protected status expires in January 2018, accounted for much of the inflow.

Two sources familiar with Canadian government thinking said citizens from El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras, who are slated to lose their U.S. protected status in early 2018, may also head north.

"There is concern we'll see a huge increase, mostly from Central America," said one source.

"The question is, which group is next, and how are we going to deal with it, and what is the impact on Canadians?" added the source, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation.

Most new arrivals are going to the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec, sparking protests from opposition politicians and anti-immigrant groups.

War News Updates Editor said...

RussInSoCal,
The people who live around my home are French Quebecers .... and almost all of them voted for Justin Trudeau in the last election. I doubt that they are going to vote for him in the next election because of this issue (among many) .... which is a problem for Trudeau because it is the voters in Quebec that made him Prime Minister.

B.Poster said...

WNU,

Does Canada now want to "get tough" on illegal immigrants who wish to destroy their unique culture? While Americans would never pretend to be anything like Canada nor do any of us ever hope to approach the awesome magnificence of Canada, we simply wish not to be destroyed in the hope that we might somehow improve ourselves. We aren't on the level of Canada nor would we pretend to be. We don't think we can but we try.

These Central Americans have a special hatred for America. I'd encourage Canada not to make the same mistakes America has made in this area. Then again Canada has been a far more successful country than the United States has. Perhaps Canada can assimilate yhem in such a way that they might respect Canada unlike how it worked out in America where they have harmed us, treated us like a conquered territory, and held us in utter contempt.

War News Updates Editor said...

B. Poster,
I will be posting more on this later today.