Here is your weekly news briefing for 19-25 OCT 2017.

 

Kurdish and Iraqi troops clash in Kirkuk over Kurdish independence

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41693143

 

Kurds offer suspended independence drive, seek talks with Baghdad

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-referendum/kurds-offer-to-suspend-independence-drive-seek-talks-with-baghdad-idUSKBN1CT37M

 

Madagascar plague death toll reaches 124 – epidemic still not peaking

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-10-madagascar-plague-death-toll-climbs_1_2.html

 

Nigerian soldiers kill 11 Boko Haram terrorists, free 85 hostages

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/247204-boko-haram-soldiers-kill-11-terrorists-rescue-85-hostages-official.html

 

Outspoken Russian journalist stabbed by “madman” is out of her coma

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-felgengauer-intensive-care-kremlin-blames-madman/28812762.html

 

President Macron lays out France’s counter-terror plan

http://www.france24.com/en/20171018-macron-france-counter-terror-security-agenda-5-years