Russia denounces ‘interference’ in Interpol leadership vote
MOSCOW, Nov 20: The Kremlin on Tuesday denounced "interference" in the election for a new Interpol president after critics including US senators objected to a Russian becoming chief of the global police body. "This is interference in the election process of sorts, in the election to an international organisation," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on a statement from several US senators. — AFP
China sends five satellites into orbit via single rocket
JIUQUAN, Nov 20: China launched a new space environment research satellite and four nanosatellites on a Long March-2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 7:40 am on Tuesday. The satellites have successfully entered their preset orbit, according to the center. Shiyan-6 will be used for conducting space environment exploration experiments. — Xinhua
Police arrest three in alleged Melbourne terror plot
MELBOURNE, Nov 20: Three men were arrested early on Tuesday for allegedly plotting terror attacks in Melbourne less than two weeks after a terror-related stabbing rampage left two dead in Australia's second largest city, police said. The trio, all Australian nationals of Turkish descent, were nabbed in overnight raids as they escalated preparations to attack crowded areas of Melbourne, according to police. — AFP
European court urges Turkey to free pro-Kurdish leader
STRASBOURG, France, Nov 20: The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday called on Turkey to release pro-Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtas, saying his detention since 2016 on terror charges was aimed at "stifling pluralism". — AFP
Death toll from Vietnam flood hits 17
HANOI, Nov 20: Seventeen people have been confirmed dead, and three others remained missing due to floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Toraji over the weekend in Vietnam's central Nha Trang city, local media reported on Tuesday. Flash floods also injured 31 people and destroyed hundreds of houses, online newspaper VietNamNet quoted the municipal People's Committee as reporting. — Xinhua
Fiji leader takes oath for new term
WELLINGTON, Nov 20: Fiji's leader was sworn in for four more years on Tuesday after winning an election with a reduced majority, after earlier lashing out at his opponents. Voreqe Bainimarama was affirmed prime minister in a ceremony in the capital Suva after his FijiFirst Party won just over half the votes in last week's election, giving them 27 seats in Fiji's 51-seat parliament. Bainimarama first seized power in a military coup in 2006 and refashioned himself as a legitimate leader after winning an election in 2014. — AP
