Friday, October 4, 2019

World News Briefs -- October 4, 2019



Daily Mail: Boy, 14, is shot at close range by 'an off-duty Hong Kong cop' who is beaten by protesters hurling petrol bombs at him during clashes hours after Beijing-backed ban on face masks to 'put an end to the chaos'

* Rampages erupted across Hong Kong tonight as demonstrators defied a mask ban backed by China
* A 14-year-old boy was reportedly shot by a suspected off-duty officer during clashes in Yuen Long
* The alleged cop was besieged, beaten and set ablaze by onlookers who threw petrol bombs at him
* The city's leader Carrie Lam announced anti-mask law today in a bid to put an end to the city's unrest
* Thousands of masked protesters marched in the city chanting 'Hong Kongers, resist' immediately after
* Carrie Lam said the mask ban would come into force on Saturday, adding: 'We must stop the violence'
* The new law was passed under colonial-era emergency powers introduced by British rulers in 1922
* China today said 'a critical time has arrived to end the violence', adding the chaos 'cannot continue'

A 14-year-old boy has been shot by a police officer at close range during clashes tonight, according to local reports.

The cop, said to be off duty, was besieged, attacked and set ablaze by a group of masked demonstrators, who hurled petrol bombs at him.

An unverified social media clip shows the man wearing a white T-shirt being beaten to the ground and then desperately running away from the flames after being assaulted in the middle of the road.

Rampages have erupted across Hong Kong as demonstrators in defiance of a new mask ban attacked Chinese bank outlets, vandalised subway stations and set street fires, prompting police to respond with tear gas.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq protests: Death toll soars in 24 hours of demonstrations. Uprising grips Iraq, 65 killed in protests against government corruption.

Iraqi PM demands parliamentary support to reshuffle cabinet after deadly unrest.

Iraqi PM says he's listening amid deadly unrest.

US, Turkey conduct new joint patrol in northeast Syria.

France gives one month to get Iran-U.S. to negotiating table.

Iran has stepped up cooperation with nuclear inspectors, IAEA says.

Iranian-flagged oil tanker previously seized for violating EU sanctions pictured off the coast of Syria again.

Iran arrests Russian journalist, Moscow summons Iranian envoy.

Saudi Arabia considering some form of Yemen ceasefire: sources.

ASIA

U.S. Afghanistan envoy meets Taliban in Pakistan: sources.

Rampaging Hong Kong protesters bring large parts of city to standstill, destroying property after anti-mask law announced.

‘Extremely necessary’: Beijing backs Hong Kong’s mask ban.

Hong Kong teen shot by police during protests to be charged for attacking officers.

UN: 'Alarming' spike of 82 percent in Afghan child casualties.

US-North Korea relations: Denuclearisation talks to resume.

Moon Jae-in calls on Koreans to prep for '2032 Seoul-Pyongyang Olympics'.

Thai army charges opposition parties with sedition.

AFRICA

Mali: 38 dead in worst assault vs. regional security force.

Exclusive: There are ‘no political prisoners’ in Tunisia, says PM Chahed.

Morocco coalition party quits ahead of reshuffle.

Nigerian army releases children held on terror suspicions.

Nigerian President: South Africa xenophobia an 'embarrassment' to Africa.

Ethiopia dam dispute: Talks in Khartoum over sharing the water.

Cameroon's language dispute keeps schools shut.

Tanzanian president backs official who caned school pupils.

EUROPE

Court records show Britain will ask for Brexit delay if no deal.

Boris Johnson's offer on Brexit leaves EU and Ireland doubting any breakthrough.

Ukraine's top prosecutor REOPENS corruption case targeting energy company Hunter Biden helped run – just hours after Donald Trump says country 'should investigate' his political rivals. Ukraine to review Biden-related investigations.

Mike Pompeo warns of ‘Chinese bribes’ and ‘Russian bots’ in the Balkans.

Cyprus slams Turkey's latest gas drilling bid as 'severe escalation'.

EU calls on Turkey to speed up readmission of irregular migrants.

Dutch government ditches Holland to rebrand as the Netherlands.

Britain's Prince Harry to sue tabloid press owners over phone-hacking.

AMERICAS

President Donald Trump will send a letter to Nancy Pelosi 'daring' her to hold an impeachment vote TODAY.

Trump formally objecting to probe, won’t say he’ll cooperate.

Donald Trump denies quid pro quo with China on trade deal and inquiry into Joe Biden and son.

House panels seek Ukraine docs from Pence for Trump impeachment inquiry.

Romney: Trump requesting Biden investigation from China, Ukraine 'wrong and appalling'.

U.S. unemployment falls to 50 year low of 3.5% with 136,000 jobs added in September, Donald Trump takes sarcastic victory lap by saying 'Wow America, lets impeach your President'.

Ecuador declares state of emergency amid fuel protests. Ecuador fuel protests: 350 arrested as demonstrations continue.

Thousands rally against Haitian president.

Horrifying video shows Venezuelan prison guards torturing prisoners by having roosters fight on their backs as they lay face down naked on the cell floor and get beaten with bats.

Canadian Conservative leader Andrew Scheer is registered for selective service — the U.S. agency that runs the military draft.

Trudeau appeal could block billions in compensation to Indigenous children.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Paris: prosecutors open terror investigation into knife attack.

US offers reward for Islamic State leader linked to Niger ambush.

US sanctions squeezing Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

'Goldilocks' jobs data propels Wall St to best day since August.

EU mulling over right response to US tariffs.

Energy giant BP announces new CEO will take over in 2020.

Facebook removes pages from Indonesia, Nigeria and Egypt over 'inauthentic behaviour'.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg ($66.6 billion) says nobody deserves to be a billionaire.