The Bulgarian government released Australian Jock Palfreeman, who was convicted of murder in 2009, from an immigration detention centre on Tuesday, more than three weeks after a court granted parole and caused political controversy.

A seven-story residential building collapsed in the northeastern Brazilian city of Fortaleza on Tuesday, killing at least one person, rescue workers told TV channel GloboNews.

Embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday ruled out making any concessions to pro-democracy protesters in the face of escalating violence, which police said was now "life threatening" citing the detonation of a small bomb.

The senior U.S. defence official for Asia said on Tuesday that the United States has some concerns about some of the tactics used by demonstrators in Hong Kong but was also concerned about the heavier hand Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have used against protests in the territory.

Canada's federal elections watchdog said on Tuesday more Canadians voted early this year compared with four years ago, while on the campaign trail party leaders increasingly discussed the possibility that no party will win a majority in parliament.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) said on Tuesday it had suspended most of its medical aid activities in northeast Syria and was evacuating all international staff in the wake of air strikes and violence during Turkey's week-old incursion.