Shelling heard around Syrian town after Turkish-US ceasefire deal

Smoke rises over the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain as seen from the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar CEYLANPINAR (Turkey), Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Shelling and gunfire resounded in the area of northeast Syria’s Ras al Ain town on Friday, a day after Turkey agreed with the United States to pause…

Venezuela wins seat on UN rights council

 Nicolás Maduro UNITED NATIONS, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela won a seat on the UN Human Rights Council despite criticism from advocacy groups and fellow Latin American countries that its own rights record is appalling. To applause in the chamber, Venezuela got the nod in a vote by the UN…

Death toll from building collapse in Brazil rises to four

Firefighters search for people who are trapped after a building collapsed in Fortaleza RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a building collapse in Brazil has risen to four, officials said, but the figure could go higher as rescuers search for another six people reported missing.…

New Zealand introduces armed patrols after mosques shooting

WELLINGTON, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand police on Friday announced the introduction of armed patrols in response to the Christchurch mosques massacre in which 51 Muslim worshippers were killed. The force prides itself on operating largely as an unarmed service, but Commissioner Mike Bush said changes needed to be implemented after…

Thousands protest across Lebanon over dire economy, proposed WhatsApp fee withdrawn

A general view of Beirut central district BEIRUT, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Demonstrators and police clashed in Lebanon on Thursday as thousands of people rallied against the government’s handling of an economic crisis, in one of the biggest protests the country has seen in years. The government backed down from plans,…

First Singaporean jailed for financing terrorism

SINGAPORE, Oct 18 (NNN-CNA) — A 35-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to 30 months’ jail for financing terrorism after he sent more than S$1,000 to a hate preacher. Ahmed Hussein Abdul Kadir Sheik Uduman, a former information technology engineer, is the first Singaporean to be sentenced under the Terrorism (Suppression…

US imposes record $7.5 billion tariffs on EU goods, targeting wine and Airbus

WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed tariffs on a record $7.5 billion worth of European Union goods on Friday, despite threats of retaliation, with Airbus, French wine and Scottish whiskies among the high-profile targets.The tariffs, which took effect just after midnight in Washington (0401 GMT), came after…

Oil, diamonds and nuclear power: Russia eyes Africa business

MOSCOW, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — While Russia has traditionally focused on arms and grain exports to Africa, it is now looking to broaden its activities and influence. Here are four sectors likely to be discussed at the Russia-Africa Summitset for next Wednesday and Thursday in the Black Sea resort of…

Update: Europe endorses Brexit deal and urges UK MPs to back it

BRUSSELS, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Union leaders endorsed a hard-fought Brexit deal with Britain on Thursday, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces an uphill battle getting it through the British parliament. “It looks like we are very close to the final stretch,” EU CouncilPresident Donald Tusk told reporters after…

Turkey, US agree on Syria ceasefire to force Kurdish fighters’ withdrawal

ANKARA, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey has agreed to suspend its Syriaoffensive for five days and will end the assault if Kurdish-led forceswithdraw from a safe zone along the border, US Vice President Mike Pence and Turkish officials announced after high-stakes talks. The agreement for the 120-hour pause eased what…