Following is a summary of current world news briefs.
Mexico targets former attorney general in probe of missingstudents case
Mexican prosecutors will target a former attorney generaland his top aides in their investigation into the handling of acontroversial probe into the disappearance five years ago of 43student teachers, a government official said on Sunday. Theattorney general's office said on Saturday prosecutors wouldhold to account those who oversaw the widely-panned probe intothe abduction and apparent massacre of the trainee teachers bycorrupt police working with a violent drug gang.
Trump says U.S. is 'locked and loaded' for potentialresponse to Saudi oil attack
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the UnitedStates was "locked and loaded" for a potential response to theattack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, after a senior officialin his administration said Iran was to blame. "There is reasonto believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loadeddepending on verification, but are waiting to hear from theKingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, andunder what terms we would proceed!" Trump said on Twitter.
Leaders of Turkey, Russia, Iran set to tackle Syria turmoil
The leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran meet on Monday to tryto secure a lasting truce in northwest Syria following attacksby the government that risk deepening regional turmoil andpushing a new wave of migrants toward Turkey. The summit inAnkara, bringing together countries whose Syrian allies arecombatants in a ruinous eight-year-old war, will focus on theIdlib region, the last remaining territory held by rebelsseeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
UK PM Johnson: Progress in next few days key to Brexit dealchances
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday the nextfew days would be key to his chances of securing a Brexit deal,and that an agreement with the European Union was still his aimand still possible. With less than seven weeks remaining untilBritain is due to leave the European Union, Johnson has yet tostrike a deal with Brussels to manage the unprecedentedseparation between the world's fifth largest economy and itsbiggest trading partner.
Israel's Netanyahu sharpens focus on settlements, two daysbefore ballot
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stepped up a bidfor far-right votes two days before a closely-contestedelection, convening his cabinet in the occupied West Bank andhaving it approve legal status for an unauthorized outpost.Netanyahu's caretaker government met on Sunday in the JordanValley, a largely agricultural area which he announced onTuesday that he intends to annex if he wins a fifth term.Israeli cabinets have rarely held sessions in the West Bank.
Hong Kong protesters call on former ruler Britain topressure China
Hong Kong protesters are expected to rally outside theBritish Consulate on Sunday demanding that the former colonialpower ensures China honors its commitments to the city'sfreedoms. The Chinese-ruled territory has been rocked by weeksof sometimes violent pro-democracy protests, with demonstratorsangry about what they see as creeping interference by Beijing intheir city's affairs despite a promise of autonomy.
Tunisian political newcomers say they are leadingpresidential vote
Two political outsiders said they believed they had advancedto the second round of Tunisia's presidential election onSunday, citing exit polls, though no official results have beenannounced. A representative for detained media magnate NabilKaroui said he had scored "an impressive win", whileconservative law professor Kais Saied, who was largely unknownbefore the election, said his performance marked "a newrevolution".
Algeria to hold presidential election this year: interimpresident
Algeria will hold a presidential election on Dec. 12,interim President Abdelkader Bensalah said in a televised speechon Sunday, despite demands by protesters to postpone a voteuntil more of the ruling elite quit office. Weekly massdemonstrations forced veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflika toresign in April, leaving Algeria in constitutional limbo andfacing a stand off between protesters and the army-backedgovernment.
Trump to meet with India, Australia leaders in U.S. nextweek
U.S. President Donald Trump will meet next week with theleaders of India and Australia at events in Texas and Ohio topromote trade and investment. The White House said Trump willtravel to Houston, Texas, on Sept. 22 to participate in an eventwith Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and to "discuss waysto deepen their energy and trade relationship."
Exclusive: Australia concluded China was behind hack onparliament, political parties – sources???
Australian intelligence determined China was responsible fora cyber-attack on its national parliament and three largestpolitical parties before the general election in May, fivepeople with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.Australia’s cyber intelligence agency - the Australian SignalsDirectorate (ASD) - concluded in March that China’s Ministry ofState Security was responsible for the attack, the five peoplewith direct knowledge of the findings of the investigation toldReuters.