News in Brief--(10-5-2018)

Saudi air defences intercept two Huthi missiles over Riyadh
RIYADH, May 09: Saudi Arabia's air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles over the capital Riyadh on Wednesday, state television Al-Ekhbariya said. Two explosions were heard in the city, according to an AFP photographer. The Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen have in recent months intensified missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition against them. Riyadh has long accused Tehran of supplying the Huthis with ballistic missiles. — AFP
Ebola claims 17 lives in DR Congo
KINSHASA, May 09: Seventeen people in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have died from Ebola, the health ministry said on Tuesday, describing the fresh outbreak as a "public health emergency with international impact." "Twenty-one cases of fever with haemorrhagic indications and 17 deaths" have been recorded in Equateur province, it said, citing a notification to the ministry as of May 3. — AFP
Toll from suicide attack on Libyan army checkpoint rises to four
TRIPOLI, May 09: The death toll from a suicide attack at a checkpoint of the Libyan eastern-based army on Tuesday has risen to four, according to a military source. The explosion near Sirte, some 450 km east of the capital Tripoli, killed two soldiers and two civilians and injured six others, the source told Xinhua late Tuesday. "The attack was carried out by three car bombs ...(which were) driven by suicide bombers towards the military checkpoint," the source said, confirmed that two of the attackers were killed. — Xinhua
Hanoi demands Beijing withdraw missiles from S China Sea
HANOI, May 09: Hanoi has demanded Beijing remove military equipment from contested islands in the South China Sea, saying reported missile installations are a "serious violation" of Vietnam's sovereignty. The warning follows a report from US network CNBC last week that China had installed anti-ship and air-to-air defences on the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam. China did not confirm the new military equipment. — AFP
Mexico front-runner for legalising drugs to staunch violent crimes
MEXICO CITY, May 09: The leftist front-runner for Mexico's presidential election said Tuesday the country should debate legalizing drugs as a way to staunch violent crime that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a fiery former Mexico City mayor, made the proposal at a "dialogue on peace and justice" that was also attended by his main rivals, conservative Ricardo Anaya and ruling party candidate Jose Antonio Meade. Security has emerged as perhaps the biggest issue in the July 1 election, after Mexico registered a record 25,000 murders last year. — AFP