France 24: Syrian regime gains ground as Turkish-backed rebels turn guns on Kurds
Syrian government forces pushed into an opposition stronghold on Thursday, as rebels forces allied with Turkey joined Ankara’s offensive against Kurdish militants in nearby Afrin.
Syrian troops and allied militia forces moved within 14 kilometres (9 miles) of the town of Saraqeb, in Idlib, the opposition's largest stronghold in the country, a war monitoring group reported.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said pro-government forces were inching closer to a key highway connecting two of Syria's largest cities, Damascus and Aleppo, which passes just east of Saraqeb.
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MIDDLE EAST
U.S. says Syria may be developing new types of chemical weapons.
Saudi, UAE envoys bid to end standoff in Yemen's Aden.
Kurds in Syria call on US support to rein in Turkish operations.
Afrin residents say Syrian 'curse' has arrived as war hits Kurdish enclave.
Syrian opposition will work with Sochi proposal under U.N. auspices: chief negotiator.
Israel threatens Lebanon with ‘full strength’ ground invasion in case of conflict.
Iran says Jerusalem 'unchangeable' capital of Palestine.
Freed Saudi billionaire remains chairman of Kingdom Holding.
Abbas to address U.N. Security Council on Feb. 20 amid U.S. tensions.
Russia's Putin to meet Palestine's Abbas on February 12 in Sochi: RIA cites Kremlin.
ASIA
Maldives top court orders retrial of ex-president, opposition leaders.
Evidence of Rohingya mass graves uncovered in Myanmar.
The Taliban is gaining strength and territory in Afghanistan.
U.S. hails Olympics security plan; opposes North Korea military parade.
North Korean Olympians to travel to Pyeongchang on Thursday. North Korean athletes arrive in South for Olympics: Seoul.
Philippine guerrilla chief held after peace talks scrapped.
Duterte bent on rewriting Philippine constitution.
China offers new five-year visas to foreigners of Chinese ancestry.
India unveils 'world's largest' public healthcare scheme.
Reuters journalists accused of violating Official Secrets Act denied bail by Myanmar court.
AFRICA
Boko Haram suspects go on public trial in Niger.
South Africa gold mine: About 950 workers trapped underground.
South Sudan rebels vow ‘guerrilla war’ if peace talks fail.
Zimbabwe tries to retrieve cash smuggled overseas in Mugabe era.
Zimbabwe to issue 99-year leases to remaining white farmers.
Tribute to opposition leader sheds light on DR Congo tensions.
Togo public workers join strike as protests mount.
Kenyan High Court orders government to reopen TV stations.
Namibia bans foreign travel for government officials.
EUROPE
U.S., Russia likely to meet nuclear treaty obligations by Feb. 5: State Department.
Merkel sees scope for more spending, in boost for coalition talks.
Jailed Catalan leaders take case to UN panel: lawyers. Puigdemont privately says Catalan independence push is 'over'.
May praises China as she meets Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Brexit: UK and EU on collision course over residency rights. UK’s May: EU citizens won’t get same rights after Brexit.
Court overturns Olympic doping ban for 28 Russian athletes.
Poland's Senate approves Holocaust bill that sparked a row with Israel. Poland Senate passes controversial Holocaust bill.
UN envoy: Macedonia spat could be resolved in coming months.
CAS nullifies lifetime Olympic bans on Russians.
EU says asylum numbers dropped by almost half in 2017.
AMERICAS
Latin America should not rely on China: U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson.
No. 3 U.S. diplomat quits in latest departure under Trump.
FBI in public fight with Trump over releasing Russia memo.
Top Democrat questions US meeting with Russian spy chiefs.
Trump grants 6,900 Syrians permission to stay in US.
Russia election probe circles back to Trump Tower meeting: NYT.
Castro freezes Cuban private sector, throws future in doubt.
Brazilian police serve 100 warrants in pension investigations.
Cape Town cuts limit on water use by nearly half as 'Day Zero' looms.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Man radicalized by TV drama guilty of ramming van into Muslims near London mosque.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniya added to US 'terror list'. Hamas: US decision on Ismail Haniya 'will not deter us'.
Trump signs order to keep Guantanamo Bay prison open.
O Canada: Senate backs gender-neutral changes to national anthem.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Wall St. shares forfeit early gains as bond yields rise.
Apple's cash pile hits $285.1 billion, a record.
Apple, Amazon, Alphabet: The race to a trillion dollars.
Facebook usage down, profits up anyhow.
Bordeaux wine harvest plummets 40% after French region's frost-bitten 2017.
