GLOBAL SNAPSHOT

Cop run down

EDMONTON: Canadian police have charged a Somali refugee with five counts of attempted murder, alleging he stabbed a police officer and ran down several pedestrians with a car in Edmonton, Alberta, in an apparent act of terrorism. The suspect, a 30-year-old man police did not identify, had been investigated two years ago for promoting extremist ideology but not deemed a threat, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. Authorities believe it was a “lone wolf” attack.

Three shot dead

TOPEKA: Gunfire erupted early on Sunday in a popular downtown area of a US college town, leaving three people dead and two wounded, police said. The shooting happened about 1.45am not far from police headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas, in an area crowded with people from concerts, bars and events at the nearby University of Kansas, which was celebrating the start of college basketball season. No arrests had been made as of late yesterday.

Hope on disease

LONDON: Fresh insights into how cystic fibrosis affects immune cells could pave the way for new treatments for the condition, researchers believe. Scientists have discovered that cells in patients with cystic fibrosis that normally defend against infection can also perpetuate damage to the lungs.

Drugs that target these cells could help to stem progression of the disease, they claim. A team at the University of Edinburgh focused on immune cells known as neutrophils – part of the body’s first line of defence against infections.

Peters approached

WELLINGTON: More than a week after New Zealand’s election, both the National and Labour leaders have finally spoken to the man who will decide their fate. National leader Bill English called NZ First leader Winston Peters yesterday morning, while Labour leader Jacinda Ardern called him later that morning. Preliminary talks between the three leaders are expected to take place this week. Mr Peters said he intended to reach a decision about who he will support by October 12.