Turkey's deadly assault on Kurdish positions in northeastern Syria has forced 130,000 people to flee their homes, the UN said Sunday, adding it was preparing for that figure to more than triple.
"We have moved into a planning scenario where up to 400,000 people could be displaced within and across the affected areas," Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA told AFP in an email, adding that these people would be "in need of assistance and protection."
The UN had said Friday that some 100,000 people had been forced to flee their homes since the beginning of Turkey's military incursion on Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump ordered American troops to pull back from the border.
But by Sunday it warned of further displacements from rural areas around Tell Abiad and Ras al-Ain with latest estimates "surpassing 130,000 people".
"Exact numbers cannot yet be ascertained," the agency said in a updated assessment document.
Most of the displaced had reached relatives .

Turkey assault could displace 400,000 in Syria: UN

PTI Automatic

Hong Kong riot police spent much of Sunday afternoon skirmishing with small groups of masked pro-democracy protesters who held flashmob gatherings in multiple locations -- although crowds were smaller and less violent than recent weekends.
Rallies erupted in multiple neighbourhoods with some protesters blocking roads, spraying graffiti on pro-China businesses, smashing windows and erecting barricades.
Police made multiple arrests as they rushed to intercept activists but the clashes were less heavy than earlier this month when the city was virtually shut down by the most intense unrest of the four month protest movement.
In the district of Mongkok, riot police burst from an unmarked van that had screeched up to a blockade made of bamboo scaffolding poles and quickly chased down multiple protesters who were pinned to the ground and detained.
In Tai Po district, officers charged into a mall where protesters had tagged a number of businesses with slogans with at least two arrests ...

Hong Kong police make arrests as small flashmob protests erupt

North Korea fired what appeared to be a "submarine-launched ballistic missile", Seoul said Wednesday, a day after Washington and Pyongyang announced they would resume stalled nuclear talks.
Pyongyang frequently couples diplomatic overtures with military moves, as a way of maintaining pressure on negotiating partners, analysts say, and may believe this weapons system gives it added leverage.
A proven submarine-based missile capability would take the North's arsenal to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a "second-strike" capability in the event of an attack on its military bases.
The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected a ballistic missile early Wednesday fired around 450 kilometres (280 miles) in an easterly direction at a maximum altitude of 910 kilometres.
The missile was "believed to be one of the Pukkuksong models", the JCS said in a statement, referring to a line of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) under development by the ...

North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of nuclear talks

US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday announced it had reached a USD 20.4 million settlement to avoid a much-anticipated trial in Ohio for allegedly fuelling the opioid addiction crisis.
Several drugmakers have agreed deals ahead of the trial, due to open this month, which is seen as a national test case for many billions of dollars in settlements.
Millions of Americans sunk into addiction after using potent opioid painkillers that companies churned out and doctors freely prescribed over the past two decades.
The Johnson & Johnson agreement was with two Ohio counties ravaged by the opioid crisis -- Cuyahoga and Summit.
The settlement "resolves all of the counties' claims with no admission of liability and removes the company from the federal trial," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement.
The company added it wanted to avoid the "uncertainty of a trial" and said it continues "to seek meaningful progress in addressing the nation's opioid crisis."
In August, an ...

J&J agrees USD 20.4 mn payment in Ohio opioid case

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil his plan for a new Brexit deal at his Conservative party conference Wednesday, warning the EU it is that or Britain leaves with no agreement this month.
Downing Street said Johnson would give details of a "fair and reasonable compromise" in his closing address to the gathering in Manchester, and would table the plans in Brussels the same day.
It stressed this would be a "final offer", and that if the European Union "does not engage" then Johnson would keep to his threat to leave on October 31 with no deal.
The prime minister would "in no circumstances" ask to delay Brexit at a Brussels summit on October 17 and 18, it said in a statement.
"Let's get Brexit done -- we can, we must and we will," Johnson will tell delegates.
Johnson has received a rapturous welcome at the first party conference since Conservative members elected him as leader in July with one purpose -- to get Britain out of the EU.
Under the slogan "Get Brexit Done", he and his ...

UK PM to unveil new Brexit plan -- and threat

Serge Gnabry scored four second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to hand last season's runners-up Tottenham Hotspur a stunning 7-2 home defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday after Real Madrid escaped with a 2-2 draw against Club Brugge.
There were routine wins for Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid, while Cristiano Ronaldo netted in a comfortable Juventus victory, but most of the drama was in north London.
The evening started well for Spurs as Son Heung-min fired across Manuel Neuer and into the far corner to give Mauricio Pochettino's team the lead against Bayern.
However, the German champions came roaring back to leave Spurs on the receiving end of the biggest ever home defeat for an English team in Europe. It was the first time they had ever conceded seven goals in a home game.
Two super strikes from Joshua Kimmich and Robert Lewandowski had Bayern ahead at the break and Gnabry, the former Arsenal winger, then scored two goals two minutes apart 

Bayern hand Spurs record defeat as Real Madrid blushes spared

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal in this season's Champions League, sealing a 3-0 win for Juventus over Bayer Leverkusen in their Group D game in Turin on Tuesday.
Ronaldo blasted in the third goal in the 89th minute to extend his record to 127 strikes in the competition to add to Gonzalo Higuain and Federico Bernardeschi's earlier efforts.
Juventus move top of Group D, level on four points with Atletico Madrid, who defeated Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0 in Russia. The Italian champions had been held 2-2 by the Spaniards at the Wanda Metropolitano in their opener.
Leverkusen face an uphill battle after their shock 2-1 defeat at home against Lokomotiv Moscow and are rooted to the foot of the table.
Juventus next host Lokomotiv and Leverkusen travel to Atletico on October 22.  Maurizio Sarri opted for Higuain and Bernardeschi up front alongside five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo.
Leverkusen were struggling from the outset after losing captain Lars Bender in the warm-up to a thigh ...

Ronaldo scores as Juventus brush aside Leverkusen

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is hopeful Kevin De Bruyne could be fit for Sunday's Premier League meeting with Wolves.
The Belgian sat out Tuesday's 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League due to a groin injury.
"It's not serious but today (he) could not play. We will see on Sunday," said Guardiola.
"Maybe he can get it, but I think after the international break (he) will be fit."
De Bruyne has been in sensational form for the English champions, scoring twice and providing nine assists in just nine appearances this season.
"The extent of his layoff depends on how well he responds to the rehabilitation programme overseen by the club's medical staff," City said in a statement earlier on Tuesday.
After Wolves' visit to the Etihad on Sunday, City have a two-week layoff for an international break before travelling to Crystal Palace on October 19.

De Bruyne injury 'not serious', Guardiola confirms

Donavan Brazier shrugged off the doping controversy surrounding his Nike Oregon Project training base on Tuesday to blast to 800 metres gold at the World Championships.
The 22-year-old American produced a tactical masterclass at Doha's Khalifa Stadium to surge away from the field in a championship record time of 1min 42.34sec, breaking the previous mark which had stood for 32 years.
Brazier is one of several World Championships athletes based at the Nike-backed Oregon Project, whose leader Alberto Salazar was hit with a four-year ban for doping violations after a four-year investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
Brazier revealed after his win he had been unaware of the investigation against the controversial running guru when he joined the training group last year.
"I didn't know anything about it," Brazier said. "I just woke up to a text this morning and found out."
Brazier emphasised that he had little contact with Salazar at the Oregon Project, where he is ...

Brazier brushes off doping controversy to win 800m gold at world championships

Noah Lyles produced a courageous performance to win the world 200 metres title in his first major championships on Tuesday and said he did not want to be called the new Usain Bolt.
The 22-year-old American -- who has earned comparisons with retired Jamaican legend Bolt -- went clear at 50 metres out to cross the line in 19.83 seconds and went and hugged his mother.
"This time last year I'd only just started running," said Lyles.
"Think of that. Don't say I'm the new Bolt. I'm me. If you like me, I'll happily entertain you. It's my time."
Canada's Andre De Grasse took silver in 19.95 and Alex Quinonez of Ecuador finished third in 19.98.
Lyles -- who has run quicker over 100m and 200m than Bolt at the same age -- was behind Britain's Adam Gemili entering the straight but powered past him.
In winning, Lyles also delivered the perfect response to Bolt questioning prior to the championships if he could handle the pressure.
"So many times this year I've thought of being world champion, you .

I'm not the new Bolt I am me, says 200m champion Lyles

An Australian teenager has been charged over the deaths of 20 kangaroos, which he allegedly mowed down with his truck in a killing spree that lasted an hour.
The dead kangaroos, including two joeys, were found littered over roads in Tura Beach, 450 kilometres (280 miles) south of Sydney, on Sunday morning.
At least three other joeys were orphaned as a result of the disturbing attack, according to wildlife rescue group WIRES.
Police said Wednesday the man, 19, had been arrested and charged with animal cruelty offences on Tuesday.
The man allegedly hit and killed the marsupials with his utility vehicle late on Saturday night.
"We take incidents such as these very seriously and anyone who engages in activities such as these will face the full brunt of the law," Bega Valley chief inspector Peter Volf said.
Though the sight of dead kangaroos by the roadside is not uncommon in New South Wales state -- where about 90 percent of car crashes are caused by collisions with the animals -- the ...

Australian teen 'deliberately' mowed down, killed 20 kangaroos

America's first cannabis restaurant has opened in West Hollywood, offering diners an array of weed products and hoping to rival Amsterdam's famed coffee shops.
Called Lowell Farms: A Cannabis Cafe, the much-hyped 240-seat establishment is open to people 21 and over, who can order from a cannabis menu just like they would a wine bottle.
"Flower Hosts," or "budtenders," help patrons navigate the menu, giving advice to connoisseurs or novices on what strain of cannabis to order with their meal and the potency and flavor of each product.
On offer are pre-rolled joints starting at USD 18 dollars apiece, highly potent concentrates, some edibles, and accessories such as bongs, pipes and dabbing devices.
"It's amazing to be a part of making history, I never thought I would have been," said executive chef Andrea Drummer as she surveyed diners at the soft opening of the eatery on Monday.
"It's important to have a safe space to consume in a very communal setting," she added. "The only other ...

America's first cannabis cafe opens in Hollywood

North Korea fired two missiles into the sea on Wednesday, a day after Washington and Pyongyang announced they would resume stalled nuclear talks later this week.
One of the projectiles fell into waters within Japan's exclusive economic zone, Tokyo said, and although the type of weapon was not clear, previous tests have been identified as short-range ballistic missiles.
The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were fired from Wonsan into the East Sea (Sea of Japan).
"Our military is monitoring the situation for additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture," they said in a statement, without providing further details.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo would hold a meeting of the National Security Council to decide how to respond to the firing.
"The launching of ballistic missiles violates UN Security Council resolutions and we strongly protest and strongly condemn it," Abe told reporters.
The launch came a day after the North's Vice Foreign Minister .

North Korea launches missiles ahead of nuclear talks

Romania's opposition on Tuesday initiated a no confidence vote against the ruling left-wing government, which finds itself in a vulnerable moment after it was recently abandoned by its coalition partner, was thrashed at the polls and saw its leader sent to jail.
The document, entitled "To rebuild Romania, Dancila's government must be sacked urgently", was signed by 237 senators and deputies.
Although 233 votes are needed for the government to collapse, the number of signatures gathered to launch the process is not a guarantee that lawmakers will turn their signature into a formal vote.
Four current and former members of the ruling Social Democratic party (PSD) are amongst those who signed the document.
"For all the arrogance, the incompetence and the malice with which they have governed, the vote for the collapse of this anti-national government it's a necessity for every lawmaker of good faith", said Raluca Turcan, leader of the deputies of the National Liberal Party (PNL), the ...

Romania's government threatened by no confidence vote

Hundreds of Hong Kongers staged a sit-in on Wednesday outside the school of a protester who was shot by police as authorities said the wounded 18-year-old was now in a stable condition.
The international finance hub has been left reeling from the shooting, the first time a demonstrator has been struck with a live round in nearly four months of increasingly violent pro-democracy protests.
Hong Kong was battered by the most sustained political clashes of the year on Tuesday as China celebrated 70 years of Communist Party rule with a massive military parade in Beijing.
The spiralling violence underscored seething public anger against Beijing's rule and shifted the spotlight from China's carefully choreographed birthday party, which was designed to showcase its status as a global superpower.
Running battles raged for hours across multiple locations as hardcore protesters hurled rocks and petrol bombs. Police responded for the most part with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon.
In ...

Sit-in at school of Hong Kong protester shot by police

The recession in US manufacturing worsened last month as plunging global demand and trade frictions drove activity to its lowest point since the Great Recession, according to an industry survey released Tuesday.
The unexpected drop in the Institute for Supply Management's closely-watched index was another worrying sign for the US economy, amid President Donald Trump's trade war with China, slowing consumer spending and weaker sales of major factory-made goods.
The bad news knocked the wind out of Wall Street's sails, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing down 1.3 percent.
Trump blamed the Federal Reserve, rather than his own trade wars, accusing the central bank and Fed Chair Jerome Powell of hurting factory output by allowing the US dollar to strengthen, by failing to cut interest rates aggressively, which puts American exports at a disadvantage.
"As I predicted, Jay Powell and the Federal Reserve have allowed the Dollar to get so strong, especially relative to ALL other ...

US manufacturing contracts in September to lowest since 2009: ISM

The shadowy head of Iran's elite Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, gave an insight on his role in Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, in a rare interview broadcast Tuesday on state television.
The 90-minute interview was presented as the first of its kind with Soleimani, top commander of the Revolutionary Guards branch that runs foreign operations.
Soleimani said he spent almost the entire duration of the 34-day conflict in Lebanon, which he entered from Syria alongside Imad Moughnieh, a commander of the Iran-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah who was assassinated in 2008.
The 2006 war killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
Apart from a one-day mission back to Iran "one week" into the war to report to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and return with a message for Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, Soleimani said he remained in Lebanon to oversee the fight.
He also recounted how, under massive Israeli bombardment of ...

Shadowy Iran commander gives interview on 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war

Tunisia's court of appeal Tuesday rejected a fresh request to free jailed presidential candidate Nabil Karoui, his lawyer said, less than two weeks before the media magnate is expected to contest an election runoff.
"Unfortunately the indictment chamber... refused the release request," lawyer Kamel Ben Messoud told AFP, after what was the fourth such appeal turned down by the judiciary in the North African country.
A leader in Karoui's Qalb Tounes party, Oussama Khlifi, told local media that his continued detention "threatens the democratic process".
The 56-year-old, who has been under investigation since 2017 for money laundering and tax evasion, was placed in pre-trial detention on August 23 and subsequent applications to release him have been denied.
The timing of his arrest, 10 days before the start of campaigning, raised questions about the politicisation of the judicial process.
In July, an investigating judge froze the assets of Karoui and his brother Ghazi, and imposed a ...

Tunisia court keeps presidential runner behind bars

The man suspected of owning a black panther, which was rescued from rooftops near the northern French city of Lille two weeks ago and later stolen from a zoo, was questioned by police on Tuesday, legal sources said.
The young animal, thought to be around six months old and weighing 25-30 kilogram, had roamed free on September 19 after escaping through the window of a private apartment.
The ink-black feline was tranquilised with a dart and taken away in a cage.
The man is suspected of having illegally acquired the big cat, a protected species, and to have cut off its claws, according to the prosecutor's office in the city of Lille.
He is also suspected of illegally running a business exploiting a "non-domestic" animal or parts of it, the office said.
It said it was too early to consider the possibility of animal trafficking charges.
Last month, images of the black panther were plastered across newspaper front pages after it was rescued from rooftops only to be stolen from a zoo in ...

French man held after black panther stolen from zoo

The party of Israel's ex-military chief Benny Gantz on Tuesday pulled out of planned talks on forming a unity government with main rival Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following deadlocked elections.
Representatives of the centrist Blue and White alliance were set to meet Wednesday with counterparts from Netanyahu's right-wing Likud, followed by a face-to-face encounter between the two rivals.
But on Tuesday night, following a two-day holiday to mark the Jewish New Year, Gantz's party announced it had cancelled the talks.
"At this stage, the pre-conditions upon which any further meetings between the negotiating teams may take place have not been met," Blue and White said in a statement.
"In view of this, no meeting will be held on Wednesday," it added, without ruling out talks at a later date.
"When deemed appropriate and necessary, an additional meeting will be scheduled for this week or next," the party said, adding that the head-to-head with Netanyahu had also been called ...

Rivals call off Israel unity govt talks with Netanyahu

The Trump administration pushed back hard Tuesday against the impeachment investigation of the president, accusing Democrats of bullying and intimidation in asking five diplomats to testify on White House efforts to seek dirt on a Trump political rival.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo questioned the authority of three House committees conducting the impeachment probe to summon testimony from the diplomats and said they would not appear to testify in the coming week as requested.
He also challenged the Democrat-led committees' right to demand documents from them and suggested the administration was prepared to take the fight to court.
The committees' request "can be understood only as an attempt to intimidate, bully and treat improperly the distinguished professionals of the Department of State," Pompeo said in a letter to Congress.
"I will not tolerate such tactics, and I will use all means at my disposal to prevent and expose any attempts to intimidate the dedicated professionals whom 

AFP

AFP

Page 363 - Afp