News in Brief -(16-04-2019)

US 'should help Saudis
find way out' of Yemen
WASHINGTON, Apr 15: Saudi Arabia is looking to find a way out of its devastating war in Yemen and the United States, the kingdom's stalwart ally, can play a critical role, the International Crisis Group said on Sunday. The group, which researches ways to end conflicts, said the United States should appoint a special envoy and suspend most arms shipments to the Saudis with a promise to resume them once the kingdom ends its four-year offensive against Huthi rebels who control much of their southern neighbor.—AFP
Najib's graft trial resumes
KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 15: Toppled Malaysian leader Najib Razak returned to court for the second day of his high-profile corruption Trial on Monday, with the former premier accused of plundering large sums from a unit of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. The 65-year-old finally went on trial this month over his alleged role in looting the investment vehicle, the first of several court cases he is expected to face over the controversy. — AFP
Pompeo urges Maduro to allow aid entry at border
CUCUTA, Apr 15: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ended his tour of South America on Sunday with a brief visit to the Colombian border city of Cucuta, crossed through by thousands of Venezuelans fleeing crisis under President Nicolas Maduro. After attending a Sunday service in the Peruvian capital Lima, the chief US diplomat set off for the final leg of his tour of South America, which began on Friday in Chile. — AFP
Indonesia goes to polls tomorrow
JAKARTA, Apr 15: Dipping their fingers in halal ink to prevent double voting, Indonesians cast their ballots on Wednesday in a bitterly contested presidential election, with the main rival to incumbent Joko Widodo already threatening to challenge the result over voter-fraud claims. The Muslim-majority nation's biggest-ever polls - with more than 190 million voters and 245,000 candidates vying for the presidency, parliament and local positions.—AFP
Polish govt has no money
to meet teachers' demands
WARSAW, Apr 15: A nationwide strike of Poland's teachers has entered its second week with the government saying it has no more funds to meet their pay demands after offering generous bonuses to various other groups. The majority among Poland's hundreds of thousands of teachers continued their strike Monday, idling schools and kindergartens. —AP
Israeli president begins talks
before tapping new premier
JERUSALEM, Apr 15: Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has begun consultations with representatives of the new parliament's factions ahead of tapping the country's next prime minister. The talks should be a formality, given the results of last week's general election. — AP
Nuclear fuel removed from
crippled Japan plant
TOKYO, Apr 15: The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima power plant on Monday began removing atomic fuel from inside a building housing one of the reactors that melted down in 2011. The delicate operation represents the first time the Tokyo Electric Power Co has pulled out fuel from inside a highly contaminated building containing the melted-down reactor and is already four years behind schedule.—AFP
Red Cross resumes service in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, Apr 15: The Mexican Red Cross briefly shuttered operations in the central city of Salamanca after a man wounded by gunfire was pulled from one of its ambulances by gunmen over the weekend. — AP