Global News 10/18/19 – Mulvaney admits, then denies, Trump's Ukraine quid pro quo, at 62 dead in Afghanistan mosque blast, and Turkey agrees to ceasefire in Syria

In this Friday’s edition of Global News, White House Chief of Staff Mulvaney says, then denies, that Trump help back aid as quid pro quo with Ukraine; at least 62 dead in blast at Afghanistan mosque as civilian casualties in war reach highest levels ever; Turkey agrees to ceasefire in Syria, but Kurds say they’re still being shelled; UK PM Johnson races to shore up domestic support for Brexit deal; and cartel-police violence breaks out in Mexican city of Culiacán.

• Mulvaney says, then denies, that Trump held back Ukraine aid as quid pro quo (NY Times)

  • More: Trump's shout-it-out loud strategy (Axios)

• At least 62 dead in blast at Afghanistan mosque (NBC News)

  • More: Civilian casualties reach highest level in Afghan war, U.N. says (NY Times)

• Turkey agrees with U.S. to pause Syria assault while Kurds withdraw (Reuters)

  • More: Amid shelling in Syria, Kurds accuse Turkey of violating truce (NY Times)

  • More: Turkey Syria offensive: Trump likens conflict to playground fight (BBC)

• Brexit: Johnson in race to win support for deal (BBC)

• Mexican police free El Chapo's son as Culiacán battle erupts (BBC)

• Mark Zuckerberg doubles down on free speech (Axios)

• Transportation's looming overhaul (Axios)

• Share of Americans with no religious affiliation growing (AP)

• Teen suicide rates on the rise (Axios)

• Shifting frontlines intensify Syria's humanitarian crisis (The Guardian)

• In Iraq, concern that Syria chaos would bring back IS (AP)

• Street fires erupt in Barcelona in fourth day of Catalan protest (Reuters)

• Inside TurboTax’s 20-year fight to stop Americans from filing their taxes for free (ProPublica)

• We found over 700 doctors who were paid more than a million dollars by drug and medical device companies (ProPublica)

• When medical debt collectors decide who gets arrested (ProPublica)