World News Roundup: U.S-Iran oil sanctions; Utah mayor killed in Afghan attack; Italian storms

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Britain's Raab asked to scrap Irish backstop after three months: Telegraph

British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab privately demanded the right to pull Britain out of a "backstop" arrangement for the Irish border after three months, the Telegraph reported on Sunday. It said Raab had made the pitch to Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney in a private meeting in London last Tuesday.

Bahrain court overturns acquittal of opposition leaders

A Bahraini court on Sunday ordered life sentences for three senior opposition members, overturning a previous acquittal on charges of spying for Qatar in what an international rights group called a "travesty of justice". A statement from the public prosecutor said the court sentenced Sheikh Ali Salman, secretary-general of the opposition al-Wefaq group, and Sheikh Hassan Sultan and Ali Alaswad, members of the same group, to life in jail for transferring confidential information and receiving financial support from Qatar.

U.S., South Korea resume low-key military drills ahead of talks with North Korea

The United States and South Korea will begin small-scale military drills on Monday just days ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meeting with a North Korea official to discuss denuclearization and plans for a second summit between the two countries. The Korean Marine Exchange Program was among the training drills that were indefinitely suspended in June after U.S. President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore and promised to end joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises often criticized by the North.

Brazil's next president declares war on 'fake news' media

For Brazil's right-wing President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, attacking critical press outlets almost daily on social media is not enough. Once in office, he vows to hit their bottom line. With half a billion dollars in public-sector marketing budgets coming under his discretion, the fiery former Army captain is threatening to slash ad buys with adversarial media groups, striking at the financial foundations of Brazil's free press.

China's boulevard to nowhere: The battle for influence in APEC's Pacific host

Workers are putting the finishing touches on a Beijing-funded boulevard designed to showcase Papua New Guinea's (PNG) capital to visiting world leaders at this month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Critics say the six-lane road - complete with wide, illuminated footpaths - is emblematic of a regional power play whereby donor countries vie for influence with show-stopper gifts, even as deeper problems plague the Pacific nation.

Utah mayor, deployed to Afghanistan, is killed in attack

The mayor of a Utah city was killed in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday in an apparent insider attack, the state's lieutenant governor said. The death of Brent Taylor, mayor of North Ogden and a member of the Utah National Guard, was confirmed by Utah Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox, who posted a tribute on Facebook.

Italian storms wipe out two families in Sicily as death toll rises

Two families were killed in the same house in Sicily when the torrential rains and high winds lashing Italy caused a river to burst its banks, drowning the nine people inside. Rushing water filled the villa in Casteldaccia in the province of Palermo in moments, wiping out the families who were spending Saturday night there.

Iranian marchers chant 'Death to America' on eve of U.S. oil sanctions

Thousands of Iranians chanting "Death to America" rallied on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. Embassy during the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the imminent reimposition of U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil sector. Students attending the government-organized rally in the capital Tehran, broadcast live by state television, burned the Stars and Stripes, an effigy of Uncle Sam and pictures of President Donald Trump outside the former embassy compound.

Jordan says Israel wants to discuss border land deals

Jordan said on Sunday Israel had asked for consultations on a special land deal agreed upon in their peace treaty that the Jordanian government wants to end. Under the peace treaty, two border areas were recognized to be under Jordanian sovereignty but gave Israel special provisions to use the land and allow Israelis free access.

Saudi Prince Alwaleed: Khashoggi probe will exonerate leader

Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, an international businessman from the kingdom, said on Sunday that an official investigation into the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi will exonerate the country's leader. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist critical of the Saudi government and its de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in early October.

(With inputs from Reuters)