IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Syria

Govt confident of Aleppo victory

President Bashar al-Assad said victory in Aleppo would be a "huge step" toward ending Syria's civil war. In a three-week offensive, Syrian government forces have seized about 80 percent of east Aleppo, a stronghold of rebel groups since 2012, with opposition factions calling for an "immediate five-day humanitarian cease-fire". The United States, the United Kingdom and France have also called for a truce.