Nation & World Glance
Gunmen attack protesters in Iraq holy city; 18 killed
BAGHDAD — Masked gunmen opened fire at Iraqi protesters in the Shiite holy city of Karbala on Tuesday, killing 18 people and wounding hundreds, security officials said, in one of the deadliest single attacks since anti-government demonstrations erupted earlier this month.
The overnight attack came as Iraqis took to the streets for a fifth straight day after a hiatus in the demonstrations that began earlier this month to protest government corruption, a lack of jobs and municipal services, and other grievances. The earlier protests also saw violence against protesters, and a total of 240 people have been killed since the unrest began.
Chileans reject president’s concessions, plan protests
SANTIAGO, Chile — Thousands of Chileans filled a plaza in the center of the capital Tuesday in the 12th day of demonstrations that began with youth protests over a subway fare hike and transformed into a leaderless national movement demanding greater equality and better public services in a country long seen as an economic success story.
A move to meet one of their demands - replacing Chile’s dictatorship-era constitution - appeared to gain some momentum in the country’s congress.
By early evening there was a festive atmosphere in Plaza Italia, a rallying point during the demonstrations. The protesters banged pots and pans, blew plastic whistles and waved the Chilean and Mapuche indigenous flags.
French panel: Seize guns to reduce domestic violence
PARIS — A French government panel on domestic violence is urging authorities to begin confiscating guns from people following the first complaint of family violence levied against them.
That proposal was one of 65 recommendations released Tuesday to tackle the intractable problem of domestic violence in France, where a woman is killed by her partner every three days, according to government statistics.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe launched the initiative in September. It’s the first time that France has undertaken a comprehensive national effort to address domestic violence, according to Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa.
UK to hold rare December election with Brexit on table
LONDON — Britain is to hold an early election on Dec. 12 after the House of Commons passed a bill authorizing the vote.
Lawmakers voted 43820 in favor of the bill to give Prime Minister Boris Johnson the early election he sought. It will become law once it is approved Wednesday by the unelected House of Lords, which does not have the power to overrule the elected Commons.
The next scheduled election is set for 2022, but Johnson’s Conservative Party has lost its working majority in Parliament and he has been unable to pass his Brexit plan. In addition, Parliament passed a law preventing Britain from leaving the European Union on Thursday, as Johnson had wanted. He is gambling that voters favor his Brexit approach and will reward him with a new, more flexible Parliament that sees things his way.