BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
In today’s briefing update, Hong Kong has fallen into recession as the protests show no signs of stopping. Over in Russia, a soldier has killed 8 military members in a mass shooting at a military base. And US President Trump has thanked the countries involved in helping the US operation that killed ISIS leader al-Baghdadi.
In the UK, the driver of the Essex lorry deaths is due to appear in court today. A survey shows nearly half of the UK believe the prime minister is lying about protecting the NHS from Donald Trump. And the EU is preparing to sign off on a three-month Brexit extension.
ALL in today’s news briefing – A daily roundup of all the news headlines that you need to know, summarised as part of WTX News Briefing.
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HONG KONG ENTERS RECESSION AS PROTESTS SHOW NO SIGN OF RELENTING
Arab News reports Hong Kong has fallen into recession, following more than five months of anti-government protests. And with no clear end in sight for the protests, it is unlikely to achieve annual economic growth this year. 
“The blow to our economy is comprehensive,” Paul Chan said in a blog post on Sunday, adding that a preliminary estimate for third-quarter GDP on Thursday would show two successive quarters of contradiction – the technical definition of a recession.
Chan added it would be “extremely difficult” to achieve the government’s pre-protest forecast of zero to one per cent annual economic growth.
Read the full story on Arab News
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RUSSIAN SOLDIER KILLS 8 COLLEAGUES IN MASS SHOOTING AT A SIBERIAN MILITARY BASE
CNN reports eight Russian service members were killed in an apparent shooting spree at a military base in Serbia. The shooting occurred at around 6.20 p.m local time during a change in a guard shift. Two additional military members 
were injured and taken to a hospital. The ministry said they are in a non-life-threatening condition.
According to a statement from the Investigative Committee, a soldier allegedly opened fire on colleagues, including two officers and six enlisted personnel. A suspect in the case, Private Ramil Shamsutdinow, a member of Unit 54160, had been detained, said the Investigative Committee.
Read the full story on CNN
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TRUMP THANKS RUSSIA, TURKEY, SYRIA, IRAQ & KURDS FOR AIDING US OPERATION THAT KILLED AL-BAGHDADI
RT News says President Trump has thanked the countries and groups that played a supporting role in a US military operation that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. 
On Sunday, the US President confirmed that al-Baghdadi had been killed in a “daring nighttime raid” in Idlib, northwestern Syria. In a live address from the White House, Trump thanked Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Kurdish forces for helping the US in their operation.
He thanked each country and group individually, stating the “great cooperation” with Russia, which opened up airspace to allow US warplanes and drones in the area. “Iraq was excellent,” he continued before thanking Turkey for allowing the US to fly over its territory.
Read the full story on RT News
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ESSEX LORRY DEATHS: MAN DUE IN COURT OVER 39 DEATHS
BBC News reports Maurice Robinson, 25 is due to appear in court later on Monday charged over the deaths of 39 people. Robinson, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, is due to appear via videolink at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
He is charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and money laundering.
Essex police confirmed that a man arrested in Dublin by Irish police over an unconnected matter on Saturday “is a person of interest” in their investigation. Three other people arrested in connection with the deaths have been released on bail, Essex police said on Sunday.
Read the full story on BBC News
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BORIS JOHNSON ‘LYING ABOUT PROTECTING THE NHS FROM TRUMP’
The Independent says nearly half of the UK thinks Boris Johnson is lying about protecting the NHS from a Trump trade 
deal according to a recent survey.
The prime minister has repeatedly said the NHS will be “off the table” during post-Brexit negotiations with Donald Trump. But more than 70 per cent of the 2,000 people surveyed believe the NHS should be safeguarded. When asked about the PM’s pledge, 45 per cent said the statement “Boris Johnson is not telling the truth.” 30 per cent believe he was telling the truth and 25 per cent said they did not know.
Read the full story on The Independent
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BREXIT: EU PREPARES TO GRANT UK THREE-MONTH EXTENSION
The Guardian reports the EU is preparing to sign off on a Brexit extension to 31 January 2020 with an option for the UK to leave earlier, according to a leaked draft of the agreement seen by the Guardian. 
Despite objections raised by the French government, a paper to be agreed on Monday circulated among member states suggests the EU will agree to the UK’s request for a further delay. The UK would be able to leave on the first day of the month after a deal is ratified, according to the paper. The draft paper suggests a no-deal Brexit on 31 October is off the table.
Read the full story on the Guardian
https://wtxnews.com/2019/10/27/sunday-papers-review/
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