World News Briefs -- October 1, 2019



Daily Mail: 'No force can shake this great nation': President Xi leads spectacular ceremony to mark 70 years of Communist rule in China and unveils top-secret hypersonic DF-17 missile for the first time as unrest in Hong Kong overshadows the choreographed show

* China held a huge parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic on Tuesday
* Military display, featuring 15,000 troops, 160 aircraft and 580 pieces of equipment, was the first since 2015
* Beijing used it as an opportunity to show off its new technology - including the Dongfeng 41 ICBM, which it claims can hit anywhere in the US within 30 minutes, and the DF-17 hypersonic missile
* Military show followed by civilian parade involving 100,000 people and showcasing China's economic might

China showed off its military power and economic prowess during a parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic on Tuesday.

The display was presided over by Xi Jinping, wearing a grey jacket in echoes of Mao Zedong. Standing in an open-topped car, he watched the show from the Gate of Heavenly Peace, from where Mao proclaimed the founding of the modern nation in 1949.

The military parade was China's first large-scale display of arms since 2015 and was used to showcase the leaps that its army - which has the second-largest budget in the world behind the US - has made since then.

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MIDDLE EAST

Yemen's Houthi rebels release hundreds of detainees.

Erdogan: Turkey has no choice but set up Syria 'safe zone' alone.

Police open fire as anti-government rallies hit Baghdad; 1 killed.

Iran open to starting dialogue with Saudi Arabia: Speaker.

Iran’s top general says wiping Israel off map is an ‘achievable goal’.

Iran sentences suspect to death for spying for CIA.

Lebanon faces race against time to avoid financial collapse.

Saudi prince seeks to dodge blame for Khashoggi killing: U.N. expert.

ASIA

China holds National Day celebrations against backdrop of Hong Kong protests, as it happened.

Taiwan stands firm against ‘one country, two systems’ as Xi Jinping renews calls for unification.

Kabul to Taliban: 'Join us in peace or we will continue to fight'.

Afghanistan peace negotiations may be dead, but the war’s still very much alive.

North Korea, U.S. to hold working-level talks at weekend: KCNA.

Prices stabilize in North Korea, but growth is negative, think tank says.

South Korean fighter jets fly patrol over islands disputed by Japan.

South Korea stands by fighter jet patrol over disputed Dokdo islets.

Thailand's king puts key army units under palace authority.

AFRICA

16 dead after extremists attack army camps in central Mali.

Anglophone separatists boycott Cameroon talks to end insurgency.

UAE, Turkish drones battle it out in Libya skies.

Zimbabwe's leader begs for patience to fix ailing economy.

Tunisian court rules that presidential candidate Nabil Karoui must stay in jail.

Army chief warns against foreign parties' interfering in Algeria's internal affairs.

Bobi Wine denounces Uganda's red beret ban as 'sham'.

EUROPE

Johnson promises new Brexit plan this week, denies 'leaked' details.

Boris Johnson's plans for Irish border checks threaten Brexit talks.

Ex-leader of Austria's far-right Freedom Party to withdraw from politics.

French plan to scan social media for tax fraud causes alarm.

Appeals court orders former French president Sarkozy to stand trial for illegal campaign financing.

On anniversary of banned referendum, Catalan separatists keep up their fight.

Female student dead, nine people hurt after sword attack in Finnish college.

Dutch tractor protest sparks 'worst rush hour'.

Russian alcohol consumption down 43%, WHO report says.

AMERICAS

Pompeo rejects Dem demands for officials' testimony.

William Barr personally asked foreign officials to look into CIA, FBI activities around Trump campaign.

Trump: Why aren't we entitled to 'learn everything about' the whistleblower?

Peru at boiling point: Army and police side with president in standoff against parliament. Peru: President Martin Vizcarra disbands Congress in anti-corruption push.

Haiti police and protesters clash amid growing dissent.

Canadian police feared Meng Wanzhou could flee via consulate and private airport, officer’s notes suggest.

Ex-Dallas police officer Amber Guyger convicted in wrong-apartment slaying.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Ten militants killed after Somalia attack: U.S. military.

US launches airstrikes on al-Shabab in response to attack on US commando outpost in Somalia.

Five anti-jihadist fighters killed in Nigeria attack.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

WTO again slashes trade growth forecast to lowest level in a decade.

Zuckerberg: I'll 'go to the mat and fight' Warren over plan to break up Facebook.

Top EU court: Websites must have users' 'active consent' to use tracking data.

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