News in Brief (6-6-2018)

Jordan's King appoints al-Razzaz to form govt

AMMAN, June 05: Jordan's King Abdullah appointed Omar al-Razzaz to form a new government, a palace statement said on Tuesday, after Hani Mulki resigned as prime minister in a bid to defuse major protests over price hikes. Razzaz, a former World Bank economist, served as education minister in the outgoing government. — Reuters

Spain’s ousted PM to quit

as conservative party leader

MADRID, June 05: Mariano Rajoy, a major figure of Spanish politics over the past 14 years, announced Tuesday he will quit as head of the conservative Popular Party (PP) after being ousted as prime minister last week. "I think the time has come to put a final full stop to this period. The PP must keep advancing and building its history at the service of Spaniards under the leadership of another person," he told party activists. — AFP

Indian fighter jet crashes

NEW DELHI, June 05: A fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed in western state of Gujarat Tuesday, killing the pilot. "The Jaguar aircraft crashed on a field near a village in Mundra of Gujarat's Kutch region while on a routine sortie, minutes after taking off from Jamnagar air base," sources said. — Xinhua

IS claims responsibility for Kabul attack

KABUL, June 05: The Islamic State (IS) group's affiliate in Afghanistan has claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide bombing the previous day that targeted a meeting of the country's top clerics in the capital, Kabul. — AP

Death toll from Tunisia shipwreck tops 100

TUNIS, June 05: The death toll from the sinking of a boat packed with migrants off the coast of Tunisia on Saturday has risen to 112, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday. Some 46 people died when the boat capsized near Kerkennah Islands. More than 65 migrants have been rescued by coastguard. — Al Jazeera