California school shooting: Santa Clarita attack leaves two dead, three injured

Aerial views of the scene show students being evacuated LOS ANGELES, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two students have been killed and three others injured by a 16-year-old who opened fire at a secondary school in California, officials say.The shooting took place at the Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, north…

Egypt under fire over ‘shrinking’ freedoms at UN rights review

Sisi has faced international condemnation for a crackdown on civil society groups since he took power in 2014, a year after the military toppled President Mohamed Morsi GENEVA, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt faced strong criticism at a United Nations review of its rights record, with diplomats voicing alarm over detention conditions…

Tanzania says gunmen kill 6 in ambush near Mozambique border

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Unknown gunmen killed six farmers near Tanzania’s southern border with Mozambique, a senior police official said. The ambush on Tuesday night, on an island in the Ruvuma River that forms the border between the two countries, is the latest in a spate of…

Property prices soar in Libya’s capital as displaced seek housing

A general view of residential buildings under construction for sale in Tripoli TRIPOLI, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Since fleeing his southern Tripoli home seven months ago with his pregnant wife and daughter, Moataz Saleh al-Fagih has been staying for free in an apartment provided by his employer. With rents in…

China unveils experiment for landing on Mars

BEIJING, Nov 15 (NNN-Xinhua) — China unveiled an experiment simulating the process of a probe hovering, avoiding obstacles and descending to land on Mars. The experiment was held on a trial ground, the largest one in Asia for test landing on extraterrestrial bodies, in Huailai County, north China’s Hebei Province.…

Dengue fever cases rise, claiming 74 lives in Laos

VIENTIANE, Nov 15 (NNN-XINHUA) — Lao health authorities are advising people across the country to clear out potential mosquito breeding sites after dengue fever claimed 74 lives and more than 37,700 people have contracted the virus so far this year. The warning comes this week after more cases of dengue fever have been detected with…

US, South Korea could scale back joint drills: Defence Secretary Esper

SEOUL, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US military exercises with South Koreacould be scaled back to aid diplomacy with the nuclear-armed North, Defense Secretary Mark Esper signalled on his way to Seoul, as Pyongyang said it was running out of patience. The North has long protested joint military drills, which it…

ICC authorizes investigation into Rohingya genocide

DHAKA, Nov 15 (NNN-BSS) — The International Criminal Court (ICC) gave the green light for a long-awaited full probe into Myanmar’s alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims, including violence and forced deportations, months after its prosecution wing sought permission for the proposed probe. “The International Criminal Court authorised the Prosecutor to…

Brazil wants to increase trade with other BRICS nations

Brasilia, Brazil: Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) attends a meeting with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on the sidelines of the 11th BRICS Summit at the Itamaraty Palace. Photo courtesy of Isac Nobrega/Palacio do Planalto/dpa BRASILIA, Nov 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said that he intends to increase Brazil’s…

BRICS business leaders call for stronger economic cooperation

BRASILIA, Nov 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Business leaders from the BRICS bloc of emerging economies called for stronger integration among member countries to deepen economic cooperation amid rising protectionism. Integration “is a necessity and a historic trend, and there is no way to stop it,” Xu Lirong, a Chinese member of…