News in Brief-(2023-09-30)

Gunman kills three in Rotterdam university shooting

ROTTERDAM, Sept 29: A gunman killed three people in the Dutch city of Rotterdam on Thursday, shooting a local woman and her daughter in their home then storming into a classroom of Rotterdam's university hospital and opening fire on a male teacher. The 32-year-old suspect, a university student, shot dead a 39-year-old woman who lived in his neighbourhood, and shot her 14-year-old daughter. The girl died later in hospital, police said. After setting the woman's house on fire, the gunman went to the Rotterdam Medical Centre university hospital, where he entered a classroom and shot dead a 43-year-old teacher. — Reuters

Karabakh blast toll soars to 170

as exodus grows

YEREVAN, Sept 29: The death toll from a Nagorno-Karabakh fuel depot blast soared to 170 on Friday as the exodus from the ethnic Armenian enclave following its fall to Azerbaijani forces continued unabated. Monday's explosion on the outskirts of rebel stronghold Stepanakert added to the human drama playing out along the high mountain border between rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan for the past week. Karabakh refugees-their supplies of everything from food to medicine choked off by a nine-month Azerbaijani blockade-were scrambling to stock up on fuel at one of the few functioning petrol stations before leaving their homeland. — AFP

UN General Assembly chief urges Afghan authorities to allow girls

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 29: UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis on Thursday urged the Afghan authorities to reconsider their decision to ban women and girls from proper education. Afghan women and girls, like men, have inalienable rights - human rights that must be upheld and honored, said Francis. "So I would urge the Afghan authorities to reconsider the policy and allow girls to go to school." — Xinhua