Roman Catholic, North Korea,Brazil presidential election: Current World news round-up

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Can the pope's accusers force him to resign?

Calls by a Roman Catholic archbishop and his conservative backers for Pope Francis to resign could make it difficult, if not impossible, for him to do so, Church experts say. Canon (Church) Law says a pope can resign but the decision must be taken freely. In 2013, Francis's predecessor, Benedict, became the first pontiff in six centuries to resign.

Uneasy truce may not last long in embattled Libyan capital

Residents of Tripoli emerging from their homes to take advantage of a ceasefire between armed groups noticed one thing straight away. The militias had not withdrawn their heavy weapons from strategic locations in the Libyan capital. A truce brokered by the United Nations on Tuesday after a week of violence between local fighters has largely been observed.

North Korea's founding anniversary a chance for Kim to raise cash, project new image

North Korea's celebrations marking its 70th anniversary on Sunday are expected to showcase a country that has secured a nuclear arsenal and is now focusing on developing its economy and cultivating international relations. Sunday's events will kick off about a month of performances, as well as a trade show and other visits designed to drum up foreign investment and tourism spending in the sanctions-strapped country.

Brazil presidential election plunged into chaos after front-runner stabbed

The run-up to a presidential election in Brazil was plunged into chaos on Friday after a knife attack on far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro put the front-runner in intensive care just a month before the vote. Congressman Jair Bolsonaro, who has enraged many Brazilians for years with controversial comments but has a devoted following among conservative voters, could take two months to fully recover and will spend at least a week in the hospital, following the life-threatening injuries, doctors said.

Gay rights rule change sets up cultural battle in conservative India

When R. Balaji, a 30-year-old gay man from India's IT hub Bengaluru, comes up for white-collar job interviews, recruiters are initially enthusiastic. It's only when they notice his résumé includes work at an LGBT magazine they go cold, he said.

Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric demands end to violence as deadly protests rage

Iraq's most revered Shi'ite cleric called for a political shakeup in Baghdad and a halt to violence against demonstrators on Friday, after days of deadly protests tore through the main city in the south and shut the country's main seaport. Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the ultimate authority for most members of Iraq's Shi'ite majority, placed blame for the unrest with political leaders and said a new government should be formed, "different from its predecessors".

Turkey jails filmmaker for movie portraying execution of Erdogan

A Turkish filmmaker was convicted on Friday of membership of a terrorist group for a feature film that portrayed President Tayyip Erdogan having a gun pointed at his head as his family lay dead all around him, the state news agency said. Ali Avci was arrested last year after the release of a trailer for his film "Awakening", based on a failed military putsch in 2016 in which more than 250 people were killed.

Turkey calls for ceasefire in Syria's Idlib, Russia opposes

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called for a ceasefire in the rebel-held region of Idlib in northwest Syria on Friday and said an anticipated government assault on insurgents there could result in a massacre. But Russia's President Vladimir Putin said Moscow opposed a truce, and Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani said Syria must regain control over all its territory.

Former head of Turkey pro-Kurdish party sentenced to four years in prison for terrorist propaganda: CNN Turk

A Turkish court on Friday sentenced the former head of the pro-Kurdish opposition party, Selahattin Demirtas, to four years and eight months in jail for carrying out terrorist propaganda, broadcaster CNN Turk said. The court sentenced Demirtas, who has been in jail since 2016 while on trial for terrorism-related charges, over his comments during a 2013 speech when the government was holding peace talks with Kurdish militants.

Mattis, in Afghanistan, tries fostering reconciliation as security worsens

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during an unannounced visit to Kabul on Friday to discuss prospects for peace talks with the Taliban and the country's deteriorating security situation ahead of upcoming elections. Mattis was accompanied by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Joseph Dunford, who earlier in the week had gone to Islamabad with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a mission to reset testy relations with Pakistan's new government.