War escalates in Yemen; Wildfires spread rapidly in California (USA)

US-led coalition airstrikes in eastern Syria, 41 dead

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 41 people were killed, including 17 children and 13 women, in airstrikes by the US-led coalition on areas controlled by Islamic State (IS) militants in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province, eastern Syria on November 8 and 9.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also predicted that the number of casualties could rise in a series of US-led airstrikes targeting the town of Hajin, one of the villages in the IS-controlled area on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River near the border with Iraq.

World leaders mark 100th anniversary of end of World War I

Heads of state attend the celebration. Photo: Reuters

The official commemoration took place at 11am on November 11 at the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees (central Paris), with the participation of 72 heads of state and national leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech and lit a torch in honor of an unidentified soldier who died in the war and the remaining soldiers who were buried.

This year, two of Europe's largest World War I commemorations take place in London and Paris. Most of the countries that sent soldiers or personnel to the Western Front during World War I are sending high-ranking representatives to Europe to attend the commemorations.

Ukraine awaits EU, US response to elections in Donetsk and Lugansk

Illustration photo: AP

On November 11, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that Kiev is waiting for a response from the Group of Seven (G7), the European Union (EU), the United States and Canada regarding the ongoing elections in the two independent provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk of Ukraine. Mr. Poroshenko also called on the people of the two provinces not to participate in the voting. The Ukrainian President believes that today's election results in Donetsk and Lugansk will not be recognized internationally because they were not carried out in accordance with Ukrainian law.

According to the announcement, 48 foreign observers representing 14 countries and territories including Russia, Austria, Greece, Italy, Belgium, Norway, Germany, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Chile, Turkey, Abkhazia, South Osetia, were present to monitor the election. The two regions of Donetsk and Lugansk declared independence from Ukraine and established People's Republics in 2014.

Rapidly spreading wildfire kills at least 23 people in California (USA)

Firefighters work to extinguish wildfires in Paradise, California, USA on November 9. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

The bodies of 14 people killed in the town of Paradise were found on November 10, bringing the total number of deaths from wildfires across California to 23. Three major fires have burned down about 7,000 homes and forced more than 300,000 Californians to evacuate to safety. The speed of the fires is quite fast due to high winds and dry weather.

On Twitter on November 10, US President Donald Trump said the cause of the fires was poor forest management. He also called on local authorities to take quick measures or they would not receive federal resources.

Four ministers are about to leave British Prime Minister Theresa May's Cabinet

British Prime Minister Theresa May. Source: AFP

Four British ministers who support remaining in the European Union are set to quit Prime Minister Theresa May's government over Brexit, the Sunday Times reported, amid mounting pressure on her from multiple quarters. The newspaper also said the EU had rejected May's plan for an independent mechanism to oversee Britain's withdrawal from any temporary customs arrangement agreed by London.

Mrs May is trying to hammer out the final details of a Brexit deal with Brussels, but talks have stalled over how the two sides can prevent a "hard border" between Britain and Ireland.

War escalates in Yemen, 80 people killed in just 24 hours

Yemeni military forces. Photo: Arshif.

Fighting in the Yemeni city of Hodeida continued to escalate on November 11 as Houthi rebels, who occupy the city, continuously launched counterattacks against government forces trying to regain control of the important seaport city. According to statistics from Yemeni officials, about 80 people were killed in the fighting that took place here in the past 24 hours.

According to a military official supporting the Yemeni government, the current concern is the safety of local residents in Hodeida city as the fighting has spread to civilian areas. In addition to the above-mentioned number of deaths, most of whom were identified as Houthi gunmen, dozens of wounded rebels have also been taken to the hospital for emergency treatment. Thus, the 10-day-long war in Hodeida has killed about 400 people. However, human rights organizations believe that the actual death toll could be five times higher than the reported number.

Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez is immune from prosecution

Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. (Source: South China Morning Post)

On November 10, Argentine federal judge Sebastian Casanello ruled that former President Cristina Fernandez should not be prosecuted for money laundering in an anti-corruption case called “K Money Flow” because there was not enough evidence to prove her involvement in the case.

A month ago, Judge Casanello summoned Ms. Fernandez to court to testify under the order of the Federal Court of Appeals. However, after examining the testimony of the former President and other suspects, as well as the evidence collected, Mr. Casanello said that the prosecution of Ms. Fernandez was baseless. Currently, former President Fernandez is still being investigated in 6 other anti-corruption cases that the Argentine authorities are conducting.