San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
NEWS OF THE DAY
From Around the World
_1 Brexit talks: After another week of deeply frustrating talks via video linkup, a chaotic and costly breakup at the end of the year looms ever larger. Britain left the EU on Jan.
31, but remains closely aligned with the 27nation bloc until the end of the year. If no deal on their future relationship is agreed by then, a cliffedge economic departure could come for Britain, with uncertainly over customs rules, airline slots, financial regulation and other standards. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Britain has refused to allow any leeway to extend a transition period beyond Dec. 31, despite the huge economic problems that the coronavirus pandemic has created. Barnier described last week’s video talks as “disappointing.” The EU has indicated the bloc would be willing to extend the transition by up to two years.
_2 Congo violence: An ambush near Virunga Park in eastern Congo has killed 12 rangers who helped guard some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas in the wild, along with five civilians. The attack, which left five other rangers in critical condition, took place near the park’s headquarters in Rumangabo, according to Joel Wengamulay, a spokesman with the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature. “Investigations are under way to find the killers who attacked our convoy,“he said. Daniel Maniragua, deputy administrator of the Rutsuru territory, blamed FDLR rebels. The fighters are among the armed groups competing for control of the region’s vast natural resources.
_3 Space station: An unmanned Russian cargo capsule docked with the International Space Station on Saturday, bringing more than 2 tons of supplies to the threeperson crew. The Progress spacecraft docked about 3½ hours after blasting off from Russia’s Baikonur launch complex in Kazakhstan. The ship carried fuel, water, food, medicine and other supplies. There are three astronauts aboard the space station: Russia’s Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, and Chris Cassidy of the United States. _4 Bank attack: Unknown assailants lobbed an explosive device at a private bank branch in southern Lebanon on Saturday, damaging its facade and roof, the country’s state news agency reported. The assault on a branch of Fransabank in Sidon came at a time of rising public anger against banks in a country facing its worst economic and financial crisis in decades. The attack took place while the branch was closed. The National News Agency said a police investigation is under way. The value of Lebanon’s local currency has been in free fall, losing over 60% of its value against the dollar in recent weeks. Lebanon’s prime minister accused the central bank governor of orchestrating the local currency’s crash on Friday, and criticized what he called his “opaque” policies that he said covered up major banking sector losses and capital flight. _5 Libya fighting: Shelling of Libya’s capital by forces based in the east killed three civilians, authorities said, the latest victims in a yearlong siege of Tripoli. The offensive by forces loyal to commander Khalifa Hifter has escalated over the past weeks, despite calls for a ceasefire so the wartorn country’s weak health system can respond to the coronavirus pandemic. U.N. SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres has renewed his pleas for a ceasefire as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began Friday. The Tripolibased health ministry also said that along with the three fatalities, three migrant workers were wounded in Friday’s attack. The violence has been described as some of the worst since the country slid into chaos after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime ruler Moammar Khadafy.