Reuters: Turkey reinforces military in Syria's Idlib after ceasefire call fails
Turkey is reinforcing its military posts inside Syria’s rebel-held province of Idlib, Turkish and Syrian rebels sources say, seeking to deter a government offensive which it says would unleash a humanitarian disaster on its border.
President Tayyip Erdogan has warned that an assault by the army and its Russian and Iran-backed allies on Idlib, home to around 3 million people, will uproot hundreds of thousands in one of Syria’s last rebel strongholds.
Already hosting 3.5 million Syrians - the world’s biggest refugee population - Turkey says it cannot absorb more victims of the war and has accused the West of abandoning it to face the consequences of President Bashar al-Assad’s reconquest of Syria.
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MIDDLE EAST
Yemen pro-govt forces say main rebel Hodeida roads seized.
UN envoy moves to revive Yemen talks.
Russia says Turkey has key job of separating out militants in Syria's Idlib.
U.S. warns Iran it will respond to attacks by Tehran allies in Iraq.
AP Interview: Iran nuclear chief hopes deal will survive.
Iran relocates consulate in Iraq’s Basra following unrest.
Iraqi Kurds gear up for elections hoping to end turmoil.
Lebanon's Saad Hariri demands 'justice' for slain father at trial.
Palestinian mission in Washington given a month to pack up.
UN says Gaza situation 'catastrophic' amid deepening aid cuts.
ASIA
Taliban say they’re ready for second round of talks with US.
Afghan official: Death toll in suicide bombing rises to 68.
Japan opposition leader says its PM is too close to Trump.
Russia's Putin tells Japan's Abe: 'Let's sign peace deal this year'.
Afghan official: Suicide bomber kills 32 in Nangarha.
U.S. voices concern on China's Muslim crackdown, sanctions weighed.
Pompeo said U.S. would not block Pakistan if it seeks IMF bailout: Pakistani minister.
Australian special forces deploy for APEC summit: report.
Myanmar's Suu Kyi won't attend U.N. General Assembly: media.
Fan Bingbing: Missing Chinese actress not 'socially responsible', report says.
AFRICA
Warring South Sudan leaders sign peace deal.
Cameroon vows 'calm' election despite anglophone violence.
Rockets fired toward airport in Libya's capital. Rockets target airport despite fragile truce in Libya capital.
Congo opposition figure Bemba warns of ‘chaos’ if vote fraud.
Zimbabwe opposition leader plans ‘inauguration’.
Burundi under fire at U.N. for expelling U.N. human rights team.
Mali's Keita appoints new defence minister to deal with security crisis.
Morocco bans forced marriage and harassment.
Russia's scramble for influence in Africa catches western officials off-guard.
DR Congo opposition unites to warn Kabila of election 'chaos' risk.
Nigeria's Buhari officially declares for second term.
EUROPE
EU Parliament votes to trigger Article 7 sanctions procedure against Hungary.
Putin says Russia knows real identity of men accused by UK over poisoning.
Brexit rebels in UK PM May's party discuss ousting her.
Kosovo hopes for a deal with Serbia by spring.
International court says it’s ‘undeterred’ by US threats.
EU must grasp world role as U.S. retreats, Juncker says.
Death toll from summer forest fire near Athens rises to 99.
AMERICAS
Maduro looks to China to bolster Venezuela's collapsing economy.
‘Big and vicious’: Hurricane Florence closes in on Carolinas.
More migrant families crossing Mexican border despite Trump crackdown: DHS.
Trump signs order on sanctions for U.S. election meddling.
US marks 9/11 with somber tributes; Trump speaks at PA site.
Brazil far-right candidate Bolsonaro leads first-round vote: poll.
Brazil's jailed former leader Lula ends presidential bid.
Guatemalans step up protests of president's attacks on anti-graft body.
For many in Venezuela, social media is a matter of life and death.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
S&P, Dow edge up on trade optimism; Apple sinks Nasdaq.
US ‘likely’ has taken over as the world’s top oil producer.
Apple unveils new smartwatch, nears 2 bn devices.
iPhone XS Max launches TODAY: Apple rumoured to unveil 'bigger, pricier model' alongside new Apple Watch, iPad Pro and AirPod 2 headphones with noise-cancelling technology.
Apple expected to unveil bigger, pricier IPhone on Wednesday.
European Parliament approves controversial new copyright law in blow to tech firms.
Tech to cost SE Asia millions of jobs, doom 'factory model', warns WEF.
