GARDEZ, Afghanistan — At least three Afghan police and three assailants were killed in a suicide car bomb blast and ensuing gunfight outside a police camp in Gardez, capital of Afghanistan’s eastern Paktia province on Tuesday, the provincial governor confirmed.

“Today roughly at 5:30 a.m., one enemy detonated a car bomb outside a Public Protection Police Forces camp in Gardez. Two gunmen tried to enter the facility after the explosion, but they were shot and killed by police at the gate of the building,” Governor Haleem Fedai told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Blast)

– – – –

BEIJING — An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 jolted 102 km northwest of Vallenar, Chile at 0409 GMT on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 27.9 degrees south latitude and 71.5 degrees west longitude. (Chile-Quake)

– – – –

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Monday relieved two royals of their duties over corruption charges, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Commander of the Joint Forces of the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen Fahad bin Turki bin Abdulaziz and Deputy Governor of Al-Jouf Region Abdulaziz bin Fahad bin Turki bin Abdulaziz were both dismissed and put under investigation for corruption linked to the Defense Ministry, a royal decree issued on Monday said. (Saudi Arabia-Anti corruption)

– – – –

CARACAS — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday pardoned over 100 political opposition leaders who are serving sentences or face criminal charges, ahead of the Dec. 6 parliamentary elections.

Communication and Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said the move aimed to “promote peaceful coexistence and the resolution of controversies through constitutional, electoral and peaceful channels.” (Venezuela-Pardons)