News in Brief -2024-05-17

FE Team | Published: May 16, 2024 22:40:17

Worshippers set on fire in Nigeria
mosque: 11 killed, dozens hurt
KANO, May 16: At least 11 worshippers have been killed and dozens others injured after a man attacked a mosque in Nigeria's northern Kano state, police say. A man allegedly sprayed the mosque with petrol and locked its doors before setting it on fire, trapping about 40 worshippers, they said. The attack was triggered by a family dispute over the sharing of inheritance. Police say they have arrested a 38-year-old suspect. The incident happened when people were attending morning prayers on Wednesday in Gezawa area of Kano state. Residents said flames engulfed the mosque after the attack with worshippers heard wailing as they struggled to open the locked doors. — BBC
Japan, US move ahead in co-developing
hypersonic weapons interceptor
TOKYO, May 16: Japan and the United States on Wednesday signed an arrangement to jointly develop a new type of missile defense system as the allies seek to defend against the growing threat of hypersonic weapons, which are possessed by China and Russia and being tested by North Korea. The project was initially agreed between Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden at their summit last August and reaffirmed between the leaders during Kishida's April visit to Washington. The Glide Sphere Interceptor is planned for deployment by the mid-2030s. Wednesday's agreement determines the allocation of responsibility and decision-making process, a first major step in the project, Japanese defense ministry officials said. — AP
Suspect charged with attempted
murder of Slovak PM
BRATISLAVA, May 16: A suspect has been charged with the attempted murder of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the country's interior minister has said. He did not name the alleged assailant, but Slovak reports have widely identified the perpetrator as a 71-year-old from the town of Levice. Reports say he could face up to life in prison. Doctors said Mr Fico, 59, was in a serious but stable condition after being shot several times in a politically motivated attack. — Reuters
Residential bldg fire in Germany kills 3
BERLIN, May 16: A fire at a residential building in western Germany left three people dead and two others with life-threatening injuries Thursday, authorities said. The blaze broke out during the night in a kiosk that was part of the building in Duesseldorf and spread to the entrance and second floor, the fire service said in a statement. Firefighters used ladders to rescue several people from balconies. Sixteen people were taken to hospitals, the fire service said. The cause of the fire was unclear, according to police. — AP
Monet painting fetches $35m at NY auction
NEW YORK, May 16: A Monet sold for nearly $35 million at auction Wednesday evening, Sotheby's said, marking a solid start to New York's spring art sales. Both Sotheby's and rival auction house Christie's launched their spring season Monday. Though the global art market softened last year, strong sales in London and Paris have sparked optimism for 2024. Claude Monet's "Meules a Giverny," which the French impressionist painted in 1893, went for $34.8 million after a bidding war. Meanwhile, British-Mexican artist Leonora Carrington broke her own auction record when her "Les Distractions de Dagobert" sold for $28.5 million. — AFP
Seoul court dismisses doctors' bid
SEOUL, May 16: A Seoul court on Thursday rejected a request by doctors and medical students to stop a government plan to increase medical school quotas, as a months-long strike by junior medics drags on. Thousands of medics stopped working on February 20 to protest government plans to train more doctors, causing chaos in hospitals, and forcing cancellations of key treatments including chemo. Citing shortages and a rapidly-aging population, the government is seeking to train hundreds more doctors each year, citing shortages and a rapidly-aging population, prompting backlash from junior medics and students. — AFP