World News Roundup: Train derailment in India; Venezuela crisis; INF Treaty; Brexit deal negotiations

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Inside a raid in Maduro's crackdown on critics in Venezuela slums

After Venezuelan police officers clad in black military uniforms and masks stopped 27-year-old Yohendry Fernandez at gunpoint in the Caracas slum of Jose Felix Ribas, they asked him if he had a criminal record. He replied yes. The officers then dragged him into an alley and shot him twice in the chest, killing him, according to his family and a witness.

Netanyahu's Likud uses Trump photo in Israeli election billboard

A giant billboard of a smiling Donald Trump shaking hands with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loomed over a main entrance to Tel Aviv on Sunday, part of the Israeli leader's re-election campaign. Trump is popular in Israel because of his tough policies toward the Palestinians and Iran and his transfer last May of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which he recognized as Israel's capital in a break from long-standing U.S. policy.

Russia suspends nuclear arms treaty after U.S. says to pull out

Russia has suspended the Cold War-era Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, after the United States announced it would withdraw from the arms control pact, accusing Moscow of violations. Moscow's relations with the West are strained over issues including Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, allegations of meddling in the U.S. presidential election and being behind a nerve agent attack in Britain.

Iraqi novelist gunned down in Kerbala

A motorcycle gunman shot dead an Iraqi novelist close to his house in the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala on Saturday, police and eyewitnesses said. Alaa Mashzoub, 50, was on his way home when he was shot multiple times, police said late on Saturday. It was unclear what the motive was and no group has claimed responsibility, they added.

Syrian media cites source saying U.S.-led coalition jets attacked army

Syrian state media, citing a military source, said U.S.-led coalition jets hit a Syrian army position near the battle front against Islamic State pocket late on Saturday, causing damage and injuries. A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, which is fighting a last Islamic State pocket east of the Euphrates, said its local allies had been fired on and "exercised their right to self defense", adding that the incident was under investigation.

UK trade minister says EU 'irresponsible' to refuse to reopen Brexit deal

It would be irresponsible for the European Union to refuse to reopen negotiations over Britain's exit deal, British trade minister Liam Fox said in an interview aired on Sunday. British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she is seeking changes to the Withdrawal Agreement she agreed with Brussels last year in order to win the support of parliament. The EU has said the deal cannot be renegotiated.

Yemen's warring parties meet on ship to discuss stalled troop withdrawal

Representatives from both sides in the Yemen conflict met on a ship on the Red Sea on Sunday in a U.N.-led push to implement a stalled troop withdrawal from Yemen's main port of Hodeidah as agreed at December peace talks, a U.N. official told Reuters. The United Nations is overseeing the implementation of a ceasefire and troop withdrawal accord in Hodeidah, the main entry point for most of Yemen's imports, in the hope it will lead to a political solution to the almost four-year war.

Turkey says countries supporting Guaido fuel Venezuela crisis

Turkey's foreign minister said on Sunday countries which have recognized Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido were fueling Venezuela's troubles and punishing millions of its people. Turkey has backed Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in contrast with NATO allies the United States and Canada, and several right-leaning Latin American countries which have recognized Guaido's move to declare himself interim leader.

Lawyers say China blocks access to Australian detained for suspected espionage

Two lawyers hired by the wife of an Australian detained in Beijing for suspected espionage said they have been denied access to him by Chinese authorities because the detainee did not agree to their appointment. Yang Hengjun, a 53-year-old Chinese-born writer, was detained in the southern city of Guangzhou while waiting for a transfer to Shanghai last month. He had flown in from New York.

Seven passengers killed when train derails in eastern India

Seven passengers were killed and several others injured when a Delhi-bound train derailed in India's eastern state of Bihar on Sunday, railways officials said. Eleven coaches of the Seemanchal Express left the rails near Sahadai Buzurg railway station, about 50 km (30 miles) from the state capital, Patna, early in the morning, the railways ministry said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies.)