World News Briefs -- October 5, 2016

The Guardian: António Guterres to be next UN secretary general

Security council agrees, in surprisingly quick decision, that former Portuguese PM will succeed Ban Ki-moon at start of 2017

António Guterres, the former Portuguese prime minister, will be the next UN secretary general, after the security council agreed he should replace Ban Ki-moon at the beginning of next year.

In a rare show of unity, all 15 ambassadors from the security council emerged from the sixth in a series of straw polls to announce that they had agreed on Guterres, who was UN high commissioner for refugees for a decade, and that they would confirm the choice in a formal vote on Thursday.

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MIDDLE EAST

Covert strikes on Assad back on US table to prevent ‘fall of Aleppo’ – report.

Lawmaker: Russia will leave only when law and order are restored in Syria.

Syria conflict: Aid convoy attack was air strike, UN expert says.

UN releases satellite images of damage in Syria's Aleppo.

IS conflict: Iraq air strike 'kills Sunni tribal fighters'.

Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi warns of war against Turkey after Mosul 'power vacuum'. Baghdad bridles at Turkey's military presence, warns of 'regional war'.

Ankara should coordinate its military plans with Iraq' – Turkish general.

Turkish-backed Syrian rebels close in on IS-held Dabiq.

Mosul fight could fracture Iraq: former Sunni governor.

Yemen conflict: UAE says Houthis attacked civilian ship.

Putin visiting Turkey on October 10 to meet Erdogan, attend energy forum.

ASIA

Afghan troops battle Taliban in Kunduz for third day.

Afghanistan aid: Donors to pledge billions in Brussels.

Australian Defence Force says military exercises in South China Sea region not aimed at Beijing.

Philippine defense chief says Duterte may be 'misinformed' on U.S. alliance.

North Korea official who supplies medicine to Kim Jong-un defects – reports.

UN court throws out Marshall Islands' nuclear weapons case.

Thailand detains Hong Kong activist after China tipoff.

AFRICA

U.S. citizen killed when vehicle hit by stone-throwers in Ethiopia. U.S. citizen killed, foreign factories attacked in Ethiopia.

Oromo protests: Ethiopia arrests blogger Seyoum Teshome.

Congo demands deportation of South Sudan rebels by U.N. mission.

DR Congo's Kabila denies he is trying to cling to power.

Nigeria to sell two presidential jets 'to cut waste'.

Nearly half all children in sub-Saharan Africa in extreme poverty, report warns.

Protests force week-long shutdown at South African universities.

EUROPE

More than 10,000 refugees rescued in two days in Mediterranean. Nearly 11,000 migrants rescued in last 48 hours off Libya: Italian coast guard.

EU, Afghanistan agree on return of unlimited number of Afghan migrants.

2 Belgian cops stabbed in possible terror-related incident. Brussels police stabbed in 'terror attack'.

Tensions rise in Srebrenica as Serb takes election lead.

Militia report worsening of situation in Donbass.

Moscow is bankrolling Ukraine rebels: ex-separatist official.

Kerry: Russian people should know NATO not seeking to contain Moscow.

Nato jets scrambled as Russian bombers fly south.

Nigel Farage steps back in at UKIP as Diane James quits.

Spanish corruption highlights political paralysis.

AMERICAS

Hurricane Matthew heads to Bahamas after killing 7 across Caribbean. Hurricane Matthew makes landfall in Cuba after ripping through Haiti. Hurricane Matthew: UN says 350,000 Haitians in need of assistance.

Obama DOJ drops charges against alleged broker of Libyan weapons.

Colombian ceasefire with FARC rebels to end on October 31. Colombia alerts Farc rebels to end of ceasefire after failed peace referendum.

Santos will meet Uribe and Pastrana to talk FARC peace.

Canada rejects proposal to scrutinize arms exports to rights abusers.

Venezuela's well-paid oil workers are selling their uniforms for food.

Brazil Real falls as industrial output drops more than forecast.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

The Bundeswehr's fight against 'IS' in Incirlik.

U.S. says strike in Yemen last week killed al Qaeda militant, wounded another.

Counter-Terrorism: Mossad versus Quds in South America.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

IMF warns of financial stability risks.

IMF reduces its forecast for US economic growth this year.

Twitter expected to field takeover offers this week.

Apple biggest tax avoider in US stashing $215bn offshore.