BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
In today’s briefing update, the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has officially been split into union territories. In Lebanon, banks have reopened after two-weeks of protesting and the prime minister stepping down.
Over in the UK, Downing Street has defended Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal after US President Trump openly criticised it. After further comments made by Trump, Labour has criticised the president for trying to interfere with the general election. In Liverpool, a 12-year-old has been hit by a car after the driver was shot in the face following a street ambush. And finally, Trump has said the woman involved in Harry Dunn’s death has a “compelling story to tell.”
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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INDIAN STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR OFFICIALLY SPLIT INTO UNION TERRITORIES
Arab News says India’s disputed Jammu and Kashmir region stopped being a state on Thursday. It has now officially been divided into two union territories: Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. 
This is the first time in independent India’s history that the status of a state has been downgraded. A union territory is a centrally administered unit ruled by a lieutenant governor, who is the representative of New Delhi. The local legislative assembly has limited political powers and must defer to his will.
Read the full story on Arab News
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LEBANON’S BANKS REOPEN AFTER TWO-WEEK CLOSURE
France24 says Lebanese banks reopened on Friday for the first time in two weeks. A wave of protests sparked a 
closure of banks and schools and led to the prime minister’s resignation.
Analysts and bankers were concerned about a rush by depositors to withdraw their savings or transfer them abroad when the banks reopen. The central bank has pledged not to impose capital controls when banks reopen. They are measures that could deter the currency inflows and investments Lebanon badly needs to weather its most severe economic pressures since the 1975-90 civil war.
Read the full story on France24
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GENERAL ELECTION 2019: NO 10 DEFENDS BREXIT DEAL AFTER TRUMP CRITICISM
BBC News reports Downing Street has defended the UK’s Brexit deal with the EU after President Trump’s criticism. The US President said the US “can’t make a trade deal with the UK” under the PM’s EU withdrawal agreement. 
But a No 10 spokesperson said the deal meant “we can strike our own free trade deals around the world, from which every part of the UK will benefit.”
Trump also criticised Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Speaking to LBC he said Corbyn would be “so bad” as prime minister and Mr Johnson was “the exact right guy for the times.”
Mr Corbyn accused Trump of “trying to interfere” in the UK general election to boost “his friend Boris Johnson.”
Read the full story on BBC News
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GIRL, 12, MOWN DOWN BY A CAR WHILE TRICK OR TREATING AFTER THE DRIVER WAS ‘SHOT IN THE FACE’ IN STREET AMBUSH
The Sun reports a 12-year-old girl was seriously injured by a car while out trick or treating in Liverpool. The driver of the vehicle was reportedly trying to speed away from a shower of bullets after being shot in the face just moments before.
Witnesses say they saw “three or four men” – one with blood streaming from a gunshot wound- sprinting away after the Golf ploughed into the young girl.
One local told Liverpool Echo: “The poor girl was just [laying] in the road but thankfully the ambulance got here very quickly.”
Read the full story on The Sun
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HARRY DUNN: TRUMP SAYS US DIPLOMAT’S WIFE INVOLVED IN THE TEEN’S DEATH HAD “COMPELLING STORY TO TELL”
The Independent says Donald Trump has said the wife of a US diplomat interviewed by police in connection with the 
death of Harry Dunn had a “compelling story to tell” when they met at the White House.
Trump had tried to get Anne Sacoolas and Harry Dunn’s parents to meet so they could “grieve together” when he met them earlier this month.
Speaking to Nigel Farage on LBC radio show, Trump spoke about meeting Harry parents, trying to bring both sides together and Ms Sacoolas.
Read the full story on The Independent
https://wtxnews.com/2019/10/31/death-toll-from-pakistan-train-fire-rises-to-73/
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