News Headlines - 30 December 2018

▽Pacific trade pact takes off with tariffs cut in six nations | Reuters

A landmark 11-country trade deal, a revamped version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), came into force on Sunday with New Zealand’s trade minister hailing the opportunities it presented for exporters...
The deal, which will slash tariffs across much of the Asia-Pacific region, does not include the United States after Washington pulled out of the TPP negotiations in 2017... The pact came into effect on Sunday for Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Mexico and Singapore, with Vietnam to follow on 14 January, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on its website.
Brunei, Chile, Malaysia and Peru will begin 60 days after they complete their ratification process.

▽Thousands protest against Serbian president | Reuters

Serbians protested against President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party in downtown Belgrade on Saturday.
Thousands of people chanted “Vucic thief” as they marched peacefully through the city center in the fourth such protest in as many weeks. They demanded media freedoms, an end to attacks on journalists and opposition politicians.

▽Anak Krakatau: Indonesian volcano's dramatic collapse - BBC News

The scale of the dramatic collapse of the Indonesian volcano that led to last Saturday's devastating tsunami in the Sunda Strait is becoming clear.
Researchers have examined satellite images of Anak Krakatau to calculate the amount of rock and ash that sheared off into the sea.
They say the volcano has lost more than two-thirds of its height and volume during the past week.

▽Ariana Grande turns down Damehood after Manchester terror attack | Metro News

Ariana Grande has reportedly turned down the Queen’s offer of a Damehood in order to respect the families of those affected by the Manchester terror attack... A source now claims that Ariana, 25, was offered a damehood for her response to the ordeal but has ‘politely’ declined as she feels it’s ‘too soon’ after the incident.

▽The Greatest Showman soundtrack beats Adele's UK album chart record - BBC News

The Greatest Showman soundtrack has now spent more weeks at number one in the UK than any other album this century - beating a record set by Adele.
The film soundtrack remained at number one for the last chart of 2018 - its 24th non-consecutive week at the top.
Adele's 21 album racked up 23 weeks between February 2011 and April 2012.