World News Briefs -- October 25, 2018 (Evening Edition)

SCMP/Reuters: Nato starts largest drills since cold war, with troop, tank and plane manoeuvres on Russia’s doorstep

* 50,000 soldiers, hundreds of aircraft and thousands of military vehicles mobilised for massive show of force in central Norway
* But Norwegian politician argues it will only aggravate West’s ties with Russia: ‘You have to be quite hawkish to view this as something that brings peace’

Military forces from 31 countries began Nato’s largest exercise in decades, stretching from the Baltic Sea to Iceland, on Thursday, practising military manoeuvres close to Russia, which held its own huge military drill last month.

As temperatures fell below freezing across training grounds in central Norway, giving a taste of what it means to defend Nato’s vast northern flank, some 50,000 troops, 250 aircraft and 10,000 tanks, trucks and other land-based vehicles were ready.

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MIDDLE EAST

Airstrike kills at least 19 civilians at vegetable market in Yemen's Hodeidah, official says.

Famine 'imminent' in Yemen as civil war drags on, U.N. official says.

Jamal Khashoggi killing premeditated, says Saudi prosecutor.

Saudi crown prince: No rift with Turkey over Khashoggi death.

Saudi crown prince jokes about kidnapping Lebanese leader.

US troops in Syria take fire from Turkish proxy fighters.

Iran sets sights on Syrian reconstruction projects.

EU mechanism for Iran trade to be symbolically ready on Nov. 4: diplomats.

Iraq PM Adel Abdul Mahdi sworn in amid bickering over cabinet.

Iraq cabinet holds first post-Saddam meeting outside Green Zone.

PLO threatens to pull out of agreements with Israel.

Israeli warplanes carry out air attacks in besieged Gaza.

ASIA

Extreme Category 5 typhoon leaves Northern Mariana Islands devastated.

North, South Korea begin demilitarizing 'scariest place on earth'. North, South Korea withdraw troops at border village.

China denies Trump spying report, suggests change of phones.

Afghan Taliban founder Mullah Baradar 'released' by Pakistan.

Rohingya crisis: UN warns of ongoing genocide.

Taiwan accuses China of meddling in Taipei elections.

South Korea disarms Joint Security Area in North-South border.

China, India aim to hold army drills in China by end of year.

China dismisses claim it eavesdropped on Trump's iPhone calls.

Meghan Markle's visit cut short in Fiji over security concerns.

AFRICA

Jihadist-hit Mali extends emergency by a year.

DR Congo opposition parties agree to name unity candidate by mid-November.

Fighting between Cameroon military, separatists kills 'many'.

Mogadishu mayor orders beachfront restaurants to close at midnight.

Jihadist-hit Mali extends emergency by a year.

Three days of violence that emptied an Angolan town of Congolese.

Sudan lifts Egypt produce ban as Sisi visits Khartoum.

Sahle-Work Zewde, a UN veteran, appointed as first female president for Ethiopia.

As Ethiopia reforms, ethnic violence spreads.

Ivory Coast teachers launch strike over pay, conditions.

EUROPE

NATO launches biggest war games since end of Cold War.

Spain's Supreme Court orders trial of former Catalan leaders.

France's Macron evades questions on halting Saudi arms sales.

Bolton says US will continue to support peaceful solution of Azerbaijan and Armenia conflict.

Italy plans to slash half a billion dollars from defense in 2019.

Migrants to Europe 'need to go home', says Czech prime minister.

Nicolas Sarkozy to face trial over illegal campaign financing.

European Parliament votes for ban on single-use plastic.

AMERICAS

Bombs sent to Trump critics Biden, De Niro as U.S. manhunt intensifies.

Trump says he is 'bringing out the military' to protect border. Trump: 'I am bringing out the military' to stop border crossings.

Trump pushes back on report of China, Russia listening in on phone calls: ‘Story is soooo wrong!’.

Democrats demand answers about Trump plans to drop nuke treaty with Russia.

Melania Trump WON'T appear on the 2018 campaign trail to help Republicans despite president's plan for all-out blitz going into Election Day.

Venezuelan President Maduro calls Pence a 'crazy extremist' over migrant caravan allegations.

Venezuelan women are driven to prostitute themselves in Colombia ‘to feed their families’ after fleeing their homeland gripped by economic crisis.

Migrant caravan getting smaller as it approaches U.S..

In Nicaragua, political violence spurs migration.

Paraguay police kills three presumed Red Commando members.

Argentine lawmakers approve austerity budget.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

US military: IS still poses threat in Iraq, Syria.

Pakistan releases Taliban co-founder amid Afghan peace talks.

Russia's security chief warns of growing terrorist activity in Siberia.

France to repatriate children of Islamic State fighters in Syria.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

After long losing streak, US stocks surge on solid earnings.

Report: Foreign fighters led IS atrocities against Yazidis.

Research shows oil and gas extraction in UK waters could reach $426 billion by 2050.

Twitter loses 9 million users amid bot crackdown.

Tesla third-quarter profit quiets critics, shares surge.

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