International snapshots

US air-drops military, medical aid to Kobani Kurds fighting ISIS

Syrian Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants received some support from the US, as it air-dropped weapons, ammunition, and medical supplies near the town of Kobani, located near Turkish border, US Central Command said on Sunday. US Air Force C-130 aircraft carried out multiple airdrops. It "delivered weapons, ammunition and medical supplies that were provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq and intended to enable continued resistance against ISIL's attempts to overtake Kobani," the military said in a statement. The Central Command added that 135 airstrikes near Kobani in recent days have killed hundreds of fighters and delayed the Islamic State’s advances, but the security situation in the town remains “fragile.” "The Islamic State continues to threaten the city and Kurdish forces continue to resist," the statement said.

1,450 flights canceled, 200,000 passengers affected by Lufthansa pilot strike

German airline Lufthansa was forced to cancel 1,450 flights after its pilots' union, the Vereinigung Cockpit, announced a new nationwide strike for Monday and Tuesday over retirement benefits. This follows disruptions in train services due to a weekend-long train drivers' strike, which left millions of passengers stranded. Lufthansa estimated that more than 200,000 passengers and the majority of its scheduled flights, mostly within Europe, will be affected by the strike. "The Vereinigung Cockpit (pilots union) is trying to turn Germany into a standstill nation," the airline said on Sunday. The union announced that the strike would begin at 11:00 GMT on Monday and last until 21:59 GMT on Tuesday. The Vereinigung Cockpit, which represents some 5,400 pilots, has already staged several strikes this year; the latest one took place on Thursday, and led to the cancelation of around 100 flights.

​HK leader says ‘external forces’ involved in protests

The leader of Hong Kong, CY Leung, has said that “external forces” are involved in the anti-government protests which have paralyzed the city for three weeks. He did not specify the countries he thinks might be involved. The protesters want fully democratic elections, but the Chinese government wants to vet candidates for the 2017 polls. Student leaders and Hong Kong officials have agreed to hold negotiations on Tuesday, which will be broadcast on live television.

19 killed, 28 wounded in suicide bombing outside Baghdad Shia mosque

A suicide bomber has killed 19 people and wounded a further 28 outside a Shiite mosque in western Baghdad, according to police and medical officials, Reuters reports. The attack took place as mourners were attending a funeral in the affluent neighborhood of Harthiya, and is the latest in a wave of bombings to hit the Iraqi capital in the last month – most of which have been carried out by Sunni militants.

North and South Korea exchange border fire in DMZ

South and North Korean forces exchanged fire inside the Demilitarized Zone on Sunday, says the South Korean defense ministry. Seoul’s military opened fire after they spotted North Korean troops approaching the Military Demarcation Line that runs through the center of the DMZ. They warned them verbally and fired warning shots. "The North Koreans then opened fire on our troops, who returned fire," а defense ministry official said. No casualties were reported in the exchange that lasted no longer than 10 minutes. It was the second such incident on the border this month.

​German Lufthansa pilots to strike for 35 hours

On Sunday the Lufthansa pilots' union, the Vereinigung Cockpit, announced a new nationwide strike on Monday and Tuesday over retirement benefits. German pilots are targeting the airline's Airbus 320 planes and Boeing 737s. The union of Germany’s largest airline, representing some 5,400 pilots, has already staged several strikes this year, with the latest this Thursday, canceling about 100 flights.

Pope Francis beatifies Pope Paul VI

Pope Francis has beatified one of his predecessors, Pope Paul VI, at a mass in St Peter's Square. This means Paul VI will be now called "Blessed". "To this great pope, this brave Christian, this tireless apostle, we can say only one word today before God, as simple as it is sincere and important: thanks!" said Francis, reported AFP. Pope Paul VI reigned from 1963 to 1978 and is best known for his opposition to artificial contraception.

​7 security forces killed, 4 wounded in blast in Egypt's Sinai

A remotely detonated roadside bomb killed seven Egyptian security force personnel and seriously wounded four in the Sinai Peninsula on Sunday, medical and security sources told AP. They were travelling in a military armored vehicle, when a bomb detonated south of el-Arish, the provincial capital of northern Sinai. Islamic militants carry out regular attacks against troops and security forces in the region.

​Ukraine confirms agreement on Russian winter gas price

Ukraine’s president confirmed that an agreement had been reached with Russia on a provisional price for gas deliveries during the winter months at Friday talks in Milan, AFP reports. "On the basis of consultations, I can say that Ukraine will have gas, will have heating," Petro Poroshenko said in an interview to Ukrainian television on Saturday. According to the president, the new price will be $385 dollars (300 euros) per 1,000 cubic meters, down from the current price of $485.

> At least 20 demonstrators have been injured after they clashed with police in a fresh wave of Hong Kong protests, the government said. Some activists were carried away on stretchers, other treated for head wounds, bruising and fractures, medics working at the scene, told AFP. Police authorities said in a statement that they used "minimum force" as the activists "suddenly attempted to charge" their lines. The demonstrators said they did nothing to provoke police.

​US, 4 European nations ‘ready’ to use sanctions against Libya

The governments of the US and four European allies – the UK, France, Germany and Italy – have called for an end to the ongoing violence in Libya that they “strongly condemn”. Their joint statement, released on Saturday, said that there was "no military solution" to the crisis and, in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution 2174 on ceasefire in Libya, the countries “stand ready to use individual sanctions.” Dozens of people have been killed recently during three days of conflict in the eastern city of Benghazi in fighting between Islamist militias and government forces.
Media agencies