AP, Beijing
China said Friday that it strongly opposes the Trump administration’s decision to sanction a former Beijing police official for his role in the death of a human rights campaigner.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular briefing that the sanctions against Gao Yan amounted to Washington interfering in China’s internal affairs and judicial sovereignty.
Major powers seek to hold Syria peace congress
AFP, Astana
Major powerbrokers agreed Friday to hold a peace congress for Syria in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi in late January after previous attempts to hold the conference collapsed. Sochi will host the “Congress of National Dialogue” on Syria on January 29 and 30, said a joint statement released after two days of talks spearheaded by Russia and Iran, both key backers of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and rebel-aligned Turkey.
Fire breaks out at London Zoo
AFP, London
A fire broke out at London Zoo early on Saturday morning, engulfing a cafe and shop near an animal petting area, although it was not immediately clear if any of the creatures were hurt.
“Ten fire engines and 72 firefighters and officers have been called to a fire at a cafe and shop at London Zoo,” the London Fire Brigade said in an initial statement.
Ex-Marine platted X-mas Day attack: FBI
AFP, Los Angeles
Federal agents arrested a former US Marine on Friday for allegedly plotting a Christmas attack in San Francisco inspired by the Islamic State jihadist group, according to court documents. Tow truck driver Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, was planning to target the city’s busy Pier 39 tourist spot, according to an affidavit submitted by FBI Special Agent Christopher McKinney.
Iraqi Shi’ite paras deploy to Syrian border
Reuters, Baghdad
Iraqi Shi’ite paramilitary groups have deployed to the frontier to back up border guard forces who came under fire from within Syria over the past three days, one of their commanders said on Friday. There was no immediate word on who opened fire from Syrian territory, but forces arrayed against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria expect the group will resort to guerrilla warfare after losing its urban bastions earlier this year.
Regional trains collide in Austria
AFP, Vienna
Two regional trains collided late Friday near Vienna, knocking two carriages over and hurting eight people, none of them seriously, officials said.
The accident occurred at 1700 GMT near the station of Kritzendorf, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) north-west of Vienna.
Four people sustained moderate injuries and four others light wounds, said Infrastructure Minister Norbert Hofer.
