Weekly World Headlines

Iraqi civilians  who fled their homes because of fighting in Mosul, between Iraqi security forces and Islamic State militants wait to be transferred to camps for displaced people, on the western side of Mosul, Iraq, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

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Iraqi civilians who fled their homes because of fighting in Mosul, between Iraqi security forces and Islamic State militants wait to be transferred to camps for displaced people, on the western side of Mosul, Iraq, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Nearly 60,000 Iraqis flee Mosul

The number of civilians fleeing western Mosul has topped to 57,000 says an Iraqi official on Sunday. Iraqis have been leaving in large numbers since last month’s start of the military operation to take back the western part of the city from ISIS. The ranks have risen by more than 10,000 in the past two days. Last week, 12 Mosul citizens, including five children, were treated for injuries from a suspected chemical attack, said the Internationl of the Red Cross. On Friday, ministry figures showed 46,000 people had fled since the fighting began on February 19. Since its capture by ISIS fighters in June 2014, the city has been a vital stronghold for ISIS.

For more information: http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/05/middleeast/number-of-iraqis-fleeing-mosul-nears-60000/index.html

Donald Trump accuses Barack Obama of wiretapping his phones

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump via Twitter claimed that former-President Barack Obama wiretapped his Manhattan headquarters. When pressed on whether he believed Trump’s allegations, House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, one of Trump’s strongest supporters in the House and a member of his transition team, brushed aside the President’s allegations. Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, who is leading a concurrent investigation into Russia’s interference with the presidential election, said he had seen any evidence of Trump’s claims.  “We’re going to go anywhere there is intelligence or facts that send us,” Burr told CNN. “So I’m not going to limit it one way or the other. But we don’t have anything today that would send us in that direction, but that’ not to say that we might not find something.”

For more information:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/wiretap-congress-sean-spicer-response/

Judgement day for South Korea’s president

South Korea’s Constitutional Court will rule on President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment on Friday. The country’s parliament impeached Park in December, and she was declined her presidential powers pending the court’s judgement. If the decision to impeach her is upheld, an election for her replacement must be held within 60 days. Police issued the “Gabho” emergency order in Seoul ahead of Friday’s announcement, which is the highest level possible. All police officers are standby for any protests, with 270 units mobilized, about 21,000 officers in total. Park’s problems root back to October when Park’s confidante and advisor Choi Soon-sil went on trial for meddling in state affairs and extorting money. Local media and opposition parties have also accused Choi of abusing her relationship with the president to force companies to donate millions of dollars to foundations she runs. She has denied all charges against her.

For more information: http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/09/asia/south-korea-president-park-constitutional-court/index.html

US Marines join forces fighting in Raqqa

US Marines have recently arrived in northern Syria with artillery to support US-backed local forces fighting there, two US officials told CNN. The fighters are preparing to move in the coming weeks to assault the city of Raqqa, ISIS’ self-declared capital, according to the officials. The Pentagon and the Marine Corps have declined to confirm the deployment because of security concerns in the region. They have also declined to specify the exact location of the forces or how many are there. This deployment does not come as a surprise. Military commanders have discussed for weeks the possibility of putting artillery forces into the area with the goal of increasing the capabilities of the US-backed Arab and Kurdish forces there.

For more information: http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/08/politics/marines-raqqa-assault-syria/index.html

Justin Bieber impersonator charged with over 900 child sex offenses

A man who allegedly posed as singer Justin Bieber online has been charged with more than 900 child sex offenses, including rape. The 42 year old man allegedly used multiple social media platforms, including Facebook and Skype, to communicate with his victims, Australian police said in a statement on Thursday. This man man posed as Bieber in order to solicit explicit images from children barely above the age of 16. “This investigation demonstrates both the vulnerability of children that are utilizing social media and communication applications and the global reach and skill that child sec offenders have to groom and seduce victims,” says Queensland Detective Inspector Jon Rouse.

For more information:  http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/08/asia/australia-man-bieber-sex/index.html