News in Brief (7-2-2019)

Amnesty for halt to arms sales
to Saudi-led coalition
CAIRO, Feb 06: An international rights group has urged Western governments to stop supplying weapons to parties to the conflict in Yemen after reports that they were ending up in the hands of extremist groups. Amnesty International's arms control and human rights researcher Patrick Wilcken said in a statement on Wednesday that "the proliferation of unaccountable, UAE-backed militias is worsening the humanitarian crisis and posing a growing threat to the civilian population." — AP
Cold wave to chill China
BEIJING, Feb 06 : China's national observatory on Wednesday forecast that a fresh wave of cold air will sweep across many parts of the country in the coming days, bringing temperature drops and rain and snow. Affected by the strong cold front, Xinjiang Uygur and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions and the provinces of Jilin and Liaoning will see temperature declines of 10 to 12 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday. — AP
H1N1 flu kills 16 in Morocco
RABAT, Feb 06: H1N1 flu has killed 16 people in Morocco, the government said on Tuesday. A total of 36 people are receiving care in hospitals because of the flu, while 20 others have recovered, said Government Spokesman Mustapha El Khalfi when asked about the spread of the flu in parliament. The confirmation of the first death from the H1N1 virus last week has raised concern in the country. — Xinhua
N Texas man dies as e-cig explodes
FORT WORTH, Feb 06: A medical examiner says a North Texas man was killed when an e-cigarette exploded in his face. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office reports 24-year-old William Brown of Fort Worth died Jan. 29, two days after a vaporizer pen he was using at an e-cigarette shop in nearby Keller exploded. — AP
Philippines announces libel charge
against critical journalist
MANILA, Feb 06: Philippine prosecutors said Wednesday they will file a libel charge carrying up to 12 years in prison against journalist Maria Ressa, who leads a news website that has clashed with President Rodrigo Duterte's administration. — AFP