Global oil prices fall to seven-year low

1. A Palestinian man has been shot dead and several others wounded in clashes with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. The violence broke out after Israeli troops raided a refugee camp in the city of Bethlehem. Reports say they prevented ambulances from entering the camp.

2. Suspected US-led airstrikes on northeastern Syria have left at least 26 civilians, including women and children, dead. The raids come a day after US-led airstrikes killed three Syrian government soldiers in Dayr al-Zawr province. The US-led air campaign has been criticized for its ineffectiveness in battling terrorists.

3. Yemen’s Ansarullah movement says it will not attend next week’s peace talks in Switzerland as long as Saudi Arabia continues its offensive and blockade on the country. The United Nations envoy to Yemen earlier announced peace talks between the warring sides in mid-December.

4. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says all Muslims must be denied entry to the United States of America. The White House however says Trump’s comments are contrary to the national security interests. Council on American-Islamic Relations also noted that the remarks insinuate fascist ideologies.

5. Turkey says it will not withdraw its soldiers from northern Iraq despite Baghdad’s 48-hour deadline. Ankara claims the troops were deployed to train forces fighting against Daesh terrorists. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi however says the soldiers have entered the country illegally because the deployment happened without Baghdad’s consent.

6. Oil prices have plunged to lowest level since 2009 as global production continues to remain high. The prices tumbled by five percent after OPEC refused to cut output. Benchmark Brent crude stands at 41 dollars a barrel while US light crude remains less than 38 dollars per barrel.

7. An arson attack on a refugee camp in the German state of Thuringia has left at least ten asylum seekers, including a baby, injured. The camp houses 70 refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia. Refugee camps in Germany have been attacked nearly 500 times in 2015.

8. The United Nations has appealed for over 20 billion dollars for humanitarian aid in 2016. The funding would go toward helping over 90 million people in 37 different regions and countries. UN Aid Chief Stephen O'Brien says sufferings in the world have reached levels not seen since the Second World War.

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