News Headlines - 25 October 2017

▽George H. W. Bush Apologizes to Actress After She Claims He 'Sexually Assaulted' Her

The actress, Heather Lind, wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post that she was standing next to the former president when he “touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side.” Lind also alleges Bush told her a “dirty joke.”... The former president’s spokesman Jim McGrath said in the statement, “President Bush would never — under any circumstance — intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind.”

▽Kurds offer to freeze independence vote to end conflict with Iraq

The Kurdistan Regional Government has offered to suspend its drive for independence in return for a promise from Iraq to halt its military activity, which has seen it seize huge swathes of territory in recent days.

▽Berlin security staff pushed young refugees into prostitution | DW

Security workers at Berlin's refugee accommodation centers are pushing young refugees into prostitution, public broadcaster ZDF reported on Tuesday.

▽Nicaragua to join Paris climate accord, leaving US and Syria isolated | The Guardian

Nicaragua is set to join the Paris climate agreement, according to an official statement and comments from the vice-president, Rosario Murillo, on Monday, in a move that leaves the United States and Syria as the only countries outside the global pact.

▽Channel 4 move from London could create 7,500 jobs, report says | The Guardian

Forcing Channel 4 into a full relocation outside of London and making more programmes for the broadcaster outside the capital could create nearly 7,500 jobs and deliver almost ￡600m in economic benefits, according to a new government report... However, the chief executive, David Abraham, and the chairman, Charles Gurassa, have ferociously rejected a wholesale move of Channel 4 and its 800 staff, saying it would be catastrophic for its business.