News Headlines - 07 October 2019
▽US troops start pullout in Syria as Turkey prepares operation | Al Jazeera
US troops began withdrawing from northeast Syria ahead of a Turkish invasion that Kurdish fighters say will overturn the victory over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) armed group.
Washington's forces "will not support or be involved in the [Turkish] operation" and "will no longer be in the immediate area", White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
It was not clear whether that meant the United States would withdraw its 1,000 or so troops completely from northern Syria.
▽GE to freeze, pre-pay pensions to save up to $8 billion, cut debt - Reuters
General Electric Co said on Monday it would freeze pensions for about 20,000 salaried U.S. employees and take other related moves to help the ailing conglomerate cut debt and reduce its retirement fund deficit by up to $8 billion.
Analysts said the move would largely offset the rise in GE’s pension obligations due to lower interest rates and was in line with other steps Chief Executive Officer Larry Culp has taken over the past year to raise cash and pare down $105.8 billion in debt.
▽Facebook to be subject to tougher controls after EU court ruling | The Guardian
Facebook will be subject to tougher controls over online content after the EU’s highest court ruled the social media company can be ordered by member states to remove defamatory material worldwide... The decision followed a complaint by the Austrian Green politician Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek to Facebook Ireland - the company’s European headquarters - seeking the removal of comments posted by a user.
AN effigy of climate activist Greta Thunberg found hanging off a bridge in Rome has been branded “shameful” by the city’s mayor.
The dummy reportedly had a sign saying “Greta Is Your God” on it and had pigtails attached, mirroring the hairstyle of the climate activist.
▽Philippine President Duterte says he has chronic neuromuscular disorder - Reuters
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he has a chronic neuromuscular disorder called myasthenia gravis that is causing one of his eyelids to droop.
Duterte made the comment about his condition while speaking on Saturday to the Filipino community in Russia, where he was on a working visit.
