Algerian army chief says presidential elections to be held as scheduled

ALGIERS, Oct 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — Algerian Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaid Salah affirmed that the presidential elections will take place on Dec 12 as scheduled, official news agency APS reported. The upcoming presidential elections emanated from the willingness of the people who seek to lay the foundation for a…

North Korea fires unidentified projectile: South Korean military

North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un SEOUL, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Korea fired at least one projectile towards its eastern sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff didn’t immediately confirm whether the weapon was a rocket, artillery, or a ballistic missile, or how far it flew.…

Chile’s APEC cancellation raises new hurdle for US-China trade deal

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Leaders from the United States and China encountered a new obstacle in their struggle to end a damaging trade war, when the summit where they were supposed to meet was cancelled because of violent protests. U.S.…

New Zealand bans video game glorifying Christchurch mosque shooting

WELLINGTON, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand’s Chief Censor said he had banned a video game that appeared to glorify the mass shooting in Christchurch earlier this year that killed 51 Muslim worshippers. In an attack broadcast live on Facebook, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic weapons targeted Muslims attending prayers…

Train fire in Pakistan kills 65 after cooking accident

ISLAMABAD, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fire swept through a Pakistani train on Thursday killing at least 65 people after a gas canister passengers were using to cook breakfast exploded. Flames roared through the train cars as the train approached the town of Liaquatpur in Punjab, officials said. Television footage showed…

Pakistani protesters descend on capital to demand PM quits

ISLAMABAD, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of anti-government demonstrators were due in the Pakistani capital on Thursday to demand that the government step down, piling more pressure on Prime Minister Imran Khan as he strives to get the faltering economy on track. The protests are organised by Fazal-ur-Rehman, the leader…

US, 6 Arab countries issue Iran-related sanctions on 25 targets

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States and six Arab countries imposed sanctions on Wednesday on 25 corporations, banks and people linked to Iran’s support for militant networks including Hezbollah, the US Treasury Department said in a statement. The targets were announced by the Terrorist Financing Targeting…

Police find 12 migrants alive in refrigerated truck in Belgium

BRUSSELS, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Belgian police found 12 migrants alive in a refrigerated truck at a motorway parking area in northern Belgium on Wednesday after the driver alerted authorities, a federal police spokeswoman said. The driver, who was transporting fruit and vegetables, called the police after he found 12 men of…

Chile cancels APEC, climate summits amid ongoing protests

Protests in Chile presented insurmountable challenges for Piñera’s government SANTIAGO, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chile has withdrawn as host of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade summit in November and the COP25 climate conference in December after several weeks of violent unrest, President Sebastian Pinera announced. Pinera said the decision…

Australian police seize 400kg of crystal meth hidden in chilli sauce bottles

SYDNEY, Oct 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four men have been arrested for smuggling 400kg of crystal meth, or ice, worth an estimated A$300 million (US$210 million) concealed in bottles of sriracha hot chilli sauce from the United States, Australian police said. A search of an air cargo consignment that had arrived at…