International

UN to begin evacuations from Aleppo if truce holds

by Karam al-Masri ALEPPO, Syria (AFP) — The United Nations hopes to carry out the first medical evacuations from Aleppo on Friday, if the “humanitarian pause” in the Syrian army’s Russian-backed assault on the city holds. Despite a drop in violence after the truce took effect on Thursday there was little sign civilians were heeding calls to leave, and Russia accused rebels of preventing civilians from fleeing the east of the city. Meanwhile NATO chief […]

“Baffled” US says it will seek explanation for Duterte’s comment on “separation”

  A “BAFFLED” United States said it would seek an explanation from the Philippines for President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement that it was separating from the US, saying this was at odds with the two countries’ close relationship. US State Department spokesman John Kirby said they were “obviously aware of (Duterte’s) rhetoric” and that this was “inexplicably at odds with the very close relationship that we have with the Filipino people, as well as the government […]

EU drops sanctions threat against Russia over Syria

by Danny KEMP BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — EU leaders backed down Friday from an explicit threat of sanctions against Russia over the bombing of Aleppo but warned that they would consider “all available options” if atrocities in Syria continue. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi demanded that any mention of possible punitive measures against Moscow over the Syrian carnage should be removed from a statement issued after a summit in Brussels. The climbdown underscored the deep […]

Hong Kong in lockdown as Typhoon Haima nears

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — The usually frenetic streets of Hong Kong were deserted Friday as the city went into lockdown for Typhoon Haima, which has killed at least eight people in the Philippines. Flights were cancelled, roads were clear of cars and pavements empty, with schools and offices shut as the storm loomed southeast of Hong Kong. Trading on the city’s stock exchange was postponed and was unlikely to resume Friday. At 8:00 am […]

Trump says will only accept ‘clear election result’

DELAWARE, United States (AFP) — Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump said Thursday that he would accept a “clear election result” next month, but reserved the right to challenge the outcome if he felt it was “questionable.” Trump stuck firm to his unprecedented defiance of US democratic norms, telling supporters: “I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election — if I win.” But he went on to say: “I will […]

EU to consider ‘all available options’ if Syria atrocities continue: Tusk

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — EU leaders agreed Thursday to consider “all available options” against Syria and its allies including Russia if atrocities in Aleppo continue, president Donald Tusk said, but backed down from threatening sanctions. “The European Union is calling for an end to the atrocities and immediate cessation of hostilities. It considers all available options if these atrocities continue,” Tusk said after a summit in Brussels. © 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

What to expect in the fight for Mosul

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The offensive to recapture Mosul from Islamic State jihadists has so far progressed faster than planners anticipated, but military experts fear the fighting could get tougher as US-backed Iraqi forces enter the city. Here is an overview of some factors determining the size and length of the battle. Will IS defend Mosul at any cost? Jihadists in Mosul are expected to put up a fierce fight. The city is the […]

Obama says Trump fraud claim ‘undermines our democracy’

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — President Barack Obama eviscerated would-be successor Donald Trump for claims that the 2016 election is rigged, calling the suggestion “dangerous” and corrosive for democracy. “When you try to sow the seeds of doubt in people’s minds about the legitimacy of our election, that undermines our democracy,” Obama said, urging a “big” win for Hillary Clinton so as to “leave no doubt” about the result. “When you suggest rigging or fraud […]

Iraq forces make gains against IS near Mosul

NAWARAN, Iraq (AFP) – by Wilson Fache with W.G. Dunlop in Qayyarah Elite Iraqi forces Thursday retook a town on the eastern edge of Mosul while Kurdish peshmerga opened a new front in the offensive to wrest back the jihadists’ last bastion in Iraq. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told an international meeting in Paris that the four-day-old offensive was “advancing faster than expected”. France and Iraq were co-chairing the meeting on the future of Mosul, […]

EU threatens Russia with sanctions over Syria

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) – by Danny KEMP European Union leaders warned Russia at a summit on Thursday that they will consider sanctions over its role in the Syrian conflict if Moscow does not stop “crimes” in the devastated city of Aleppo. As the bloc’s 28 leaders met in Brussels for a crucial discussion on their future strategy to deal with Moscow, EU President Donald Tusk said they should “keep all options open, including sanctions.” French President Francois […]

Ivanka Trump says father will respect vote results

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump said Wednesday that the Republican presidential candidate would accept the results of the November 8 election. Trump, 70, has been warning ominously that the vote is “rigged,” particularly since his support has slid for the past 10 days after a series of charges that he sexually assaulted women. That has fueled fears that his supporters might rise up in some fashion should they feel […]

Putin ready to extend Aleppo truce as France, Germany up pressure

by Hui Min Neo with Karam al-Masri in Aleppo BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he was ready to prolong a unilateral ceasefire in Aleppo, after tough talks in Berlin where the leaders of Germany and France refused to rule out sanctions against Moscow. Putin said he told the European leaders that Russia was “intending to extend as far as possible” a halt to its air raids in Syria’s second city, […]