IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Syria

Deadline passes for Idlib buffer

A deadline passed on Monday without extremists leaving a planned buffer zone around Syria's last major rebel bastion of Idlib as set out under a Russian-Turkish deal. The radical fighters were supposed to withdraw from the zone as a final condition for implementing the deal to stave off a government offensive on the northwestern region of Idlib. The accord hung in the balance on the early hours of Monday, seven years into a grinding civil war that has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions.

Malaysia

Anwar returns to active politics

Former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as a member of parliament on Monday after winning a by-election over the weekend. It marked his return to active politics three years after he was imprisoned in a charge that critics said was politically motivated. In a brief message, House Speaker Mohd Ariff Md Yusof expressed confidence in Anwar to contribute toward parliamentary reforms which the new government had pledged after taking power in the May general election.

Turkey

Evacuation after bomb warning

The Iranian embassy in Ankara was evacuated on Monday after Turkish security forces received a tip about a possible suicide bomb threat, local media reported. After receiving the warning, Turkish police evacuated the Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian Fard and shut off a nearby street, Turkish daily Sozcu reported. Armed riot police arrived on the scene and searched suspicious cars near the embassy, the report said. Iranian officials dismissed reports about a possible suicide bomb attack at the embassy. Turkish authorities have not issued official statement about the incident yet.

France

At least 13 killed by flash floods

At least 13 people have been killed in southwestern France by some of the worst flash floods in a century, local authorities said on Monday. Television pictures showed raging, muddy rivers - swollen by torrential rain - that had uprooted trees, knocked over concrete power pylons and swept away cars in Aude near the medieval hilltop city of Carcassonne. National emergency services spokesman Michael Bernier said 13 people had been killed and one person was still missing. Thousands were being evacuated from the area, where officials said up to seven months' worth of rain had fallen overnight.

United Kingdom

Harry, Meghan expecting child

Kensington Palace said Prince Harry and his wife the Duchess of Sussex are expecting a child in the spring. The palace said the couple has "appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public". The announcement on Monday came as Harry and the former Meghan Markle arrived in Sydney at the start of a 16-day visit to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.

AFP - Xinhua - AP

(China Daily 10/16/2018 page11)