Fresh clashes in Iraq leave at least four dead, 25 wounded

*)Israeli PM Netanyahu charged in corruption cases

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to step down after being charged with corruption.

He's calling the indictment by the Attorney-General an attempted coup.

The indictment has thrown Israel’s paralysed political system into further disarray.

*)Anti-govt protests in Iraq continue

Violence on anti-govt protesters in Iraq continues.

Security forces killed seven demonstrators while using bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds.

Resilient protesters have now barricaded three key bridges leading to Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone.

*)Anti-govt protests begin Colombia

Meanwhile, anti-govt protesters also took to the streets in Colombia against the government’s economic reform plan.

Police fired tear gas and imposed a curfew in the city of Cali.

Protesters want the govt to maintain the minimum wage for youth and rights to a pension.

*)Anti-govt protests in Chile

And violent clashes continue as anti-govt protests in Chile enter their second month.

Security forces have been firing tear gas and water cannons at protesters as they throw rocks and set up barricades.

Since protests began, at least 20 people have been killed.

And finally,

*)Vintage Marvel comic book sells for record

A 1939 first edition Marvel comic book has sold for almost $1.3 million at an auction in Texas.

The auctioneer said the buyer wished to remain anonymous.

The previous record-holder for a Marvel comic book was a 1962 issue which sold for $1.1 million in 2011.

*)US diplomat implicates Trump at impeachment hearing

A senior US diplomat has directly implicated President Donald Trump in a plot to force Ukraine to probe Democrat Joe Biden.

Gordon Sondland said Trump ordered him to offer Ukraine a quid pro quo deal in exchange for a White House meeting.

The damning testimony drew sharp backlash from Trump who tweeted: “This Witch Hunt must end NOW. So bad for our Country!".

*)Russian, regime strikes kill at least 21 in Syria’s Idlib

At least 21 civilians including 10 children were killed by Syrian regime and Russian air strikes in Idlib.

From May to the end of August, heavy bombardment in the region resulted in nearly 1,000 deaths.

A war monitoring group says sporadic attacks continue despite Moscow announcing a ceasefire at the end of August

Israel’s Benny Gantz fails to form coalition

Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz says he’s failed to form a new coalition government.

Parliamentarians themselves now have 21 days to muster a 61-seat majority to become prime minister.

If they fail, the country would be forced to hold its third election in under a year.

*)Hong Kong protesters won’t leave university

At least a few dozen protesters are still holed up in Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University.

The university was occupied last weekend by hundreds of students, but many have escaped or were arrested.

Hong Kong’s anti-Beijing protests are in their sixth month, with protesters worried that China’s control over the city is increasing.

And finally,

*)Thunberg, Maloum receive Children’s Peace Prize

Climate activist Greta Thunberg and Cameroonian peace activist Divina Maloum have been awarded the International Children's Peace Prize.

The awards were handed out at a ceremony in the Netherlands.

The prize is a grant worth $110,000 which will be invested in projects linked to the winners' causes.

Amnesty says over 100 anti-government protesters killed in Iran and Swarovski unveils its Christmas tree in Denmark

*)Anti-government protesters killed in Iran

Amnesty International says over 100 anti-government protesters have been killed in Iran.

Demonstrations began following a massive hike in fuel prices.

Iran's government cut access to the country's internet and claim only 5 protesters were killed.

*)Israeli launches deadly strikes on Syria

Israel has carried out wide-scale strikes in Syria killing at least two civilians, according to Damascus.

Fighter jets targeted dozens of military sites belonging to Iran and the regime.

Tel Aviv says the air raids are in response to rockets fired from Syria into Israel.

*)Sweden drops rape case against Wikileaks founder Assange

After 10 years, Swedish prosecutors are dropping a rape investigation into Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

They’d initially reopened the docket after Assange was forced out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

He's currently in prison awaiting a decision by British courts over his extradition to the US.

*)Graft in Russia space programme

Russia's new Vostochny space centre has lost $172 million through theft.

The Kremlin confirms that several top officials were jailed for the embezzlement.

Vostochny is Russia's first purpose-built civilian site for commercial space launches.

*)Swarovski unveils Christmas tree in Denmark

And finally,

A 10-metre tall Swarovski crystal Christmas tree has been put on display in Copenhagen.

It took decorators 10 days to dress the tree with 3,000 crystals and over a million lights.

The tree cost $150,000 to setup and will be on display until January 5.

US says Israeli settlements are not illegal and Australians warned to stay indoors as hazardous smoke from wildfires shrouds Sydney

*)US backs Israel on illegal settlements in occupied West Bank

The Trump administration said it no longer considers Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank a violation of international law.

The administration said any legal questions about settlements should be resolved by Israeli courts.

The European Union warned of potential repercussions after the announcement but refrained from explicitly mentioning the US.

*)Protesters still holed up in Hong Kong university

About 100 anti-China protesters remained holed up at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, defying police warnings to surrender.

Police have surrounded the university and are arresting anyone who leaves.

Some protesters escaped overnight by slithering down ropes from a footbridge to a road below, while others disappeared into manholes.

*)Iran downplays, demonises protests amid internet shutdown

Iran alternated between downplaying and demonising ongoing protests.

The full scale of the protests, which began after a 50 percent increase in fuel prices on Friday, was unknown after Tehran shut down the internet.

A government spokesman said demonstrators had taken police officers and security forces hostage.

*)Prince Andrew’s efforts to put scandal behind him backfire

Prince Andrew's effort to put the Jeffrey Epstein scandal behind him may have instead done him irreparable harm.

Queen Elizabeth’s second son failed to show empathy for the young women who were exploited by Epstein.

In an interview with the BBC, Prince Andrew defended his relationship with Epstein and regretted staying at his home after he had served a prison sentence for a sex crimes conviction.

*)Smoke shrouds Sydney’s skyline as wildfires burn nearby

And finally,

Thick smoke from wildfires has shrouded Sydney and its surrounding areas, with health experts warning residents with medical conditions to remain indoors.

The Sydney skyline was barely visible, with air quality in some parts of the city reaching over hazardous levels early Tuesday.

Most of the coastal areas of New South Wales are under very high fire danger, with 48 fires burning across the state.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, November 18th.

Hong Kong police seal off university, raising fears of crackdown

Hong Kong police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to force back anti-China protesters trying to escape from Polytechnic University.

Anti-Beijing demonstrators holed up in the campus set the main entrance ablaze after police warned they may use live ammunition.

Police said they fired three live rounds at a protest site near the university but no one appeared to have been hit.

Rajapaksa elected Sri Lanka’s president, vow to serve all

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a former defence official in Sri Lanka, declared victory in the presidential election.

He won more than 6.9 million votes in Saturday's election, 1.3 million votes more than his closest rival, Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa.

Premadasa conceded defeat, saying he would honour the decision of the people.

Air strikes kill at least 9 in rebel-held northwest Syria

Air strikes kill at least nine people in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, an opposition war monitor and a paramedic group said.

The Syrian Civil Defense said five people were killed in Mallaja while four others were killed on the outskirts of the town of Saraqeb.

Syrian regime leader Bashar al Assad said his forces will soon retake Idlib and they are now giving civilians time to leave the area.

Bushfires worsen in east and west Australia

Rising temperatures, lightning strikes and gusty winds further raised the danger of fires on both coasts of Australia.

The country is battling more than 120 bushfires – 56 of them in New South Wales, where 303 homes were lost in the past week.

Queensland authorities issued emergency warnings for part of the state with nearly 70 fires burning early on Sunday.

Turkey's legendary actor Yildiz Kenter dead at 91

And finally,

Yildiz Kenter, a veteran actor of Turkish cinema and theatre, passed away in Istanbul at the age of 91.

Kenter was undergoing intensive care at Istanbul's American Hospital for lung disease.

She won a Rockefeller scholarship for acting and taught at the American Theater Wing, Neighborhood Play House and Actor’s Studio in New York.

OUTRO: And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World ... for more, head to TRTWorld.com.

*)Hong Kong in flames

Hong Kong protesters demanding separation from China attacked government buildings, as violence continues unabated.

In the latest incident, a 70-year-old cleaner was killed after being caught up in clashes.

Overnight, protesters set fire to toll booths at the city's first underwater tunnel.

*)At least 2 killed in US school shooting

At least two students were killed and three others wounded in a school shooting in California.

The 16-year-old suspect is under police guard in hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his head.

A motive for the attack is still being investigated.

*)ICC to investigate Rohingya persecution

The International Criminal Court has authorised an investigation into Myanmar's persecution of the Rohingya Muslims.

The UN has described it as ethnic cleansing and even genocide.

More than 730,000 people have been forced to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh since the Myanmar military crackdown began in 2017.

*)Bolivian parties agree to hold elections

Bolivia's interim government and former president Evo Morales' party members, have agreed to hold new elections as soon as possible.

The move is aimed at resolving the country's political crisis.

Suspected vote-rigging triggered weeks-long protests and led to Morales resigning and fleeing to Mexico.

And finally,

*)Melbourne Zoo welcomes baby koala

Melbourne Zoo is celebrating the arrival of its first baby koala in eight years.

The five-month-old joey recently began peeking out from its mother's pouch.

Typically, joeys stay tucked inside during the first year.

Koalas are listed as a vulnerable species in parts of Australia and hundreds have died in the eastern bushfires.

*)Erdogan meets Trump at White House

President Donald Trump expressed his optimism that US and Turkey are on their way to resolving their differences.

It followed a four-hour meeting between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House.

The leaders discussed Syria, security, terrorism and trade.

*)Ceasefire declared in Gaza

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire has come into effect in Gaza.

This follows two days of intense bombardment that left at least 32 Palestinians dead and dozens more injured.

Islamic Jihad says the deal with Israel was reached after a list of demands from both sides was agreed upon.

*)Hong Kong in chaos as violence continues

Pro-democracy protesters have paralysed Hong Kong's financial district for a fourth day in a row.

Schools, main roads and transport services remain shut down.

Protesters are demanding more democracy and police accountability.

*)First public hearing in Trump impeachment investigation

In the first public hearing of US President Trump's impeachment inquiry, top US diplomats delivered gripping testimony.

William Taylor and George Kent testified about Trump's efforts to get Ukraine to investigate his potential 2020 rival Joe Biden.

Trump is accused of pressuring Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to probe the Biden family.

And finally,

*)New Zealand to legalise euthanasia

New Zealand's parliament has voted in favour of legalising euthanasia.

The move now paves the way for a referendum on the issue next year.

If passed, the law would allow terminally ill people with less than six months to live to choose assisted dying once approved by two doctors.