World News Briefs -- December 7, 2018 (Evening Edition)

Daily Mail: France braces for 'ULTRA-VIOLENT' protests, with 89,000 cops on the streets and shops boarded up as demonstrators vent fury at Macron's reforms despite the President caving in to Yellow Vest demands

* A dozen Berliet VXB-170s vehicles will patrol Paris this weekend, said French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe
* The armoured cars usually equipped with 7.62mm machine gun and 56mm Alsetex Cougar grenade launcher
* Comes amid fears so-called Yellow Vest protesters will once again bring chaos to Paris over the weekend
* The government said Prime Minister Edouard Phillipe will listen to their demands at a meeting on Friday night

France is bracing for 'ultra-violent' protests' this weekend with 89,000 police on the streets and shops boarded up as demonstrators vent their fury at President Emmanuel Macron's reforms.

A dozen armoured cars equipped with machine guns will also patrol parts of Paris as the French government attempts to avoid urban warfare tomorrow amid fears thousands will bring chaos to the streets.

The Yellow Vests – fuel price protesters named after their high visibility jackets – will be joined by groups from the far-Right and the hard-Left in a mass show of anger against Macron's administration on Saturday.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

UN says civilian casualties in Yemen average 123 per week.

As Yemen's rival sides talk peace, bombs continue to fall.

Military offensive still open if rebels reject Hodeida pullout: Yemen govt.

US Syria envoy heads to Turkey after criticizing peace initiative.

After years in jail without trial or hope, Syria’s hunger strikers fight for justice.

Israel should 'beware' of new war with Hezbollah - Lebanese official.

UN General Assembly rejects US resolution to condemn Hamas.

UN scorched by Haley, Israel as member states shield Hamas from condemnation.

Sara Netanyahu grilled on new fraud allegation.

Health officials: Israeli fire wounds 33 Gaza protesters.

ASIA

Japan to OK divisive bill allowing more foreign workers.

'Kill or be killed' says rebel group behind Papua massacre.

Afghan soldiers killed in 'coordinated Taliban attack' in Herat.

China separates arrest of Huawei executive Sabrina Meng Wanzhou from US trade talks.

Xi Jinping praises improved Korea ties, promotes 'compromise'.

China urges North Korea to address US concerns on nuclear programme.

Speculation on Kim Jong Un's visit to Seoul grows.

Pakistan will no longer fight someone else's war: Imran Khan.

President Duterte seeks a one-year martial law extension in southern Philippines.

Sri Lankan President Sirisena banned from sacking parliament until court decides on its legality.

Air pollution claimed the lives of 1.24 million people in India in 2017, Lancet study finds.

AFRICA

Nigeria, Somalia: Africa's most terrorized countries in 2018 - Report.

Mali opposition vows to go forward with banned protest.

17 civilians killed in DR Congo attacks.

UN says 'all sides' still recruiting fighters in S. Sudan.

Fears for Ebola vaccine stockpiles as Congo outbreak spreads.

Army colonel arrested in Congo over deaths of UN experts.

Johannesburg: fire in township leaves thousands homeless.

Africa 'world's worst for road traffic deaths'.

EUROPE

France girds for weekend protests, fearing more violence.

UK PM May deploys ministers to sell Brexit deal to public.

Cyprus dismisses Russia claim of US military build-up.

Ukraine's parliament approves bill to terminate friendship treaty with Russia.

Lavrov asks European states to influence US for sake of preserving INF Treaty.

US preparing to sink Obama-signed nuke control treaty with complaints about Russian missile – Lavrov.

U.S. conducts 'extraordinary flight' over Ukraine after Russia ship seizure.

Ukraine demands sailors’ release by Russia.

Angry protests on anniversary of Greek teen's police shooting.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel steps down from Christian Democrats party leadership.

Julian Assange faces increased pressure to leave Ecuador embassy.

Mediterranean migrant rescue ship Aquarius ends operations.

AMERICAS

BREAKING NEWS: Prosecutors demand Michael Cohen spend four to five YEARS in prison for trying to 'influence the election from the shadows' at Trump's 'direction' but say he has NOT offered much help with Mueller's Russia probe.

Feud erupts as Trump calls Rex Tillerson 'dumb as a rock' and 'lazy as hell' after fired secretary of state said president is 'undisciplined', read nothing and told him to break the law.

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly is 'expected' to resign as soon as TODAY after Trump completely stopped speaking to him – and Pence chief of staff will replace him.

Ex-FBI director Comey back before Congress.

Trump picks William Barr as next attorney general.

Trump picks Nauert as United Nations ambassador.

High intrigue surrounds Mueller filing in Manafort case.

Mexico offers asylum to thousands in the migrant caravan.

Maduro says Russia will invest $6B in Venezuelan oil, mining.

Hostages, robbers killed in foiled bank heists in Brazil.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

UN launches new framework to strengthen fight against terrorism.

U.S. strikes target al Qaeda in Libya, Somalia.

Syrian man found guilty of advocating terrorism in South Korea.

Jihadism entrenches itself in Burkina Faso with bullets and bribes.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Wall Street tumbles, indexes post biggest weekly losses since March.

OPEC, Russia agree to slash oil output despite Trump pressure.

OPEC countries agree to reduce oil production.

Huawei arrest: Justin Trudeau denies political motivation.

More than half of global population now online: UN.