Hong Kong police break through barricades at university

*)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.

*)Car bomb attack in Kabul kills at least 7

At least 7 people were killed after a car bomb exploded in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

The interior ministry said the blast occurred outside its offices and the number of casualties could rise.

No one immediately claimed responsibility, but both Taliban and Daesh militants are active in the capital.

*)Hong Kong readies for more chaos

Hong Kong police warn that the rule of law is “on the brink of collapse”.

Protesters have since June been demanding more democracy and police accountability.

The latest demonstrations have taken place at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where police clashed with protesters who set up barricades on the campus.

*)Clashes in Bolivia as opposition leader assumes presidency

Clashes broke out in the streets of Bolivia's capital after opposition leader Jeanine Anez declared herself the country’s interim president.

Police and soldiers fired tear gas at angry Evo Morales supporters who were trying to reach the congress building.

Morales, who sought to transform Bolivia as its first indigenous president, is in exile in Mexico, while thousands of his supporters clamour for his return.

*)Erdogan in US on two-day state visit

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in the US for talks with his US counterpart Donald Trump.

The two will hold a bilateral meeting at the White House.

On the agenda is counterterrorism, security issues of common concern, military cooperation, as well as economic and commercial relations.

And finally,

*)World’s fastest electric hypercar unveiled

The world's fastest electric hypercar has been unveiled at the Dubai International Motor Show.

Made by Japanese firm Aspark, the Owl goes from 0 to 100km in 1.69 seconds and has a top speed of 400km/h.

The hypercar has four electric motors pushing out almost 1,500 kilowatts of power.

But it also comes with a hefty price tag of $3,2 million.

*)Bolivia’s Morales given asylum in Mexico

Former Bolivian president Evo Morales has boarded a plane to Mexico, where he has been granted asylum.

His supporters set barricades on fire to block roads leading to the country's main airport.

His opponents have taken to the streets of La Paz to celebrate.

Senate second Vice President Jeanine Anez is constitutionally next in line to take over the presidency.

*)Violent clashes continue in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is experiencing one of its most violent days of clashes since unrest erupted five months ago.

Clashes between protesters and security forces continue a day after a demonstrator was shot by police.

Railway services have been suspended, while universities, schools and roads have been closed.

*)Iran caught breaching nuclear deal

The UN atomic watchdog confirms Iran is enriching uranium at its underground Fordow site and rapidly accelerating enrichment.



This follows Tehran's statement that it increased production at its Fordow facility.

The move, which breaches the limits on permitted nuclear activities, is in violation of the 2015 nuclear deal.

European leaders say they'll consider reimposing international sanctions on Tehran.

*)State of emergency declared as Australia burns

A state of emergency has been declared as 57 bushfires burn through Australia's New South Wales state.

Millions of hectares of farmland and forest have been razed.

Hot, dry and windy weather is forecast to worsen the situation in the coming days, posing a threat to Sydney – home to more than 5 million.

And finally,

*)Mercury crosses the sun

Mercury put on a grand show on Monday as it moved across the sun.

It took Mercury five hours to transit the middle of the sun, which is 285 times larger than the tiny planet.

Astro scientists say the crossing occurs only 13 times every century.

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales steps down over his disputed re-election, and Chinese e-commerce giants report sales of more than $50 billion on Singles Day

*)Bolivia’s President Morales announces resignation

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales announced his resignation following three weeks of sometimes-violent protests over his disputed re-election.

Morales quit after the army and police withdrew their backing, and guards outside the presidential palace abandoned their posts.

Most Latin American leaders decried the resignation, with many calling it a “coup,” while Mexico also offered asylum to Morales.


*)Hong Kong police shoot protester as activists block streets

Police in Hong Kong shot a protester as demonstrators blocked subway lines and roads on Monday.

The protesters also set a fire inside a train, forcing service suspensions at several stations while police responded with pepper spray.

The latest unrest – a continuation of six months of protests – comes amid anger over the recent death of a student activist and arrest of anti-Beijing lawmakers.

*)Socialists win Spain's election amid far-right surge

Spain's Socialists have won the national election, but large gains by the far-right Vox party appear certain to widen the country's political deadlock.


The Socialists captured 120 seats, down from 123 in April’s election, and far from the absolute majority of 176 needed to form a government alone.

The big political shift came as right-wing voters flocked to Vox after a fourth national ballot in four years, and the second in less than seven months.

*)Three more protesters killed in Iraq

Iraqi forces shot three anti-government protesters dead as they tried to disperse them in the southern city of Nasiriyah on Sunday.

Around 100 people were also injured in deadly clashes, which added to the scores killed in weeks of unrest that have shaken the war-weary country.

Unrest erupted in Baghdad on October 1, with protests over a lack of jobs and services, that spread across the capital and much of southern Iraq.

*)Chinese e-commerce giants report booming Singles Day sales

And finally,

Chinese e-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com reported a total of more than $50 billion in sales on Monday in the first half of Singles Day.

Singles Day began as a joke holiday created by university students in the 1990s as an alternative to Valentine's Day for people without romantic partners.

It falls on November 11 because the date is written with four singles: "11 11."

*)More killed during Iraq protests

Iraqi security forces shot and killed six protesters in Baghdad, while another four people died in demonstrations in the southern city of Basra.

At least 273 people have been killed since anti-government rallies began last month.

Iraq's leaders are desperate to end the turmoil and have promised reforms and early elections.

*)Hong Kong student protester dies

A student at a Hong Kong university who was injured during protests over the weekend died on Friday morning.

Authorities are preparing for another series of student demonstrations and weekend protests.

Activist Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow are also set to stand trial on charges of organising a demonstration outside the police headquarters in June.

*)Earthquake in Iran kills at least 5

At least five people were killed and more than 300 injured after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit northwestern Iran.

The US Geological Survey has issued an alert warning that significant casualties are likely, and the disaster is potentially widespread.

Iran is situated where two major tectonic plates meet and see frequent seismic activity.

*)Brazil’s Lula may be a free man after court ruling

Brazil's Supreme Court has passed a ruling that could result in former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva being released from jail.

Lula may benefit from the decision, which will end the mandatory imprisonment of convicted criminals after they lose their first appeal.

It restores a previous rule which allows convicts to exhaust all their appeal options before being locked up.

And finally,

*)Turkey to attempt world record for tree planting

Turkey has launched a nationwide campaign to raise awareness for the environment, with a mass tree-planting event.

11 million trees will be planted across the country during the month of November.

The campaign also aims to break the Guinness World Record by planting more than 230,000 trees in an hour.

Daily News Brief for Thursday, November 7th:

*) Trump impeachment hearings to go public next week

US House Democrats announced the first open impeachment hearings into President Trump will begin next week.

The testimony of William Taylor, a career envoy and war veteran with 50 years of service to the US, is what Democrats want Americans to hear first.

Taylor has relayed in private his understanding that there was a blatant quid pro quo with Trump holding up military aid to US ally Ukraine.

*) Three people charged in US for spying for Riyadh

Two former Twitter employees and a third man were charged in the US with spying on Twitter users for Saudi Arabia, the US Justice department said.

The three suspects allegedly worked together to unmask the ownership details behind dissident Twitter accounts on behalf of Riyadh and the royal family.

They were guided by an unnamed Saudi official which The Washington Post reported was Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

*) Turkey announces capture of Baghdadi's wife

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the capture of one of former Daesh leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi's wives.

The announcement came more than a week after the US declared that Baghdadi had killed himself during a raid by US special forces.

A senior Turkish official said earlier this week that Turkey had captured Baghdadi's sister, her husband and daughter.

*) Iran resumes uranium enrichment

Iran injected uranium gas into centrifuges at its underground Fordow nuclear complex, taking its most-significant step away from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Tehran’s moves aim to put additional pressure on Europe to offer Iran a way to sell its crude oil abroad despite the imposition of US sanctions.

Fordow's 1,044 centrifuges previously spun without uranium gas for enrichment under the deal that the US unilaterally pulled out of last year.

*) Smog forces closure of schools in Pakistan’s Lahore

And finally,

A pall of smog descended on Pakistan’s Lahore city leaving people with itchy eyes and forcing authorities to suspend school, local media reported.

Micro air pollutants in Lahore reached Air Quality Index level of 500 - a situation where it's considered hazardous for humans to breath.

Smog has become a problem for some cities in South Asia due to industrial and transport pollution and the practice by farmers to burn stubble crop.