WORLD

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | AFP | Twenty-four people, mostly children, were killed Thursday when a blaze tore through a Malaysian religious school, trapped in their dormitory by metal grilles on the windows. Pupils and teachers inside the Islamic study centre in downtown Kuala Lumpur screamed for help as helpless neighbours looked …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia On Thursday began major joint military exercises with Belarus along the European Union’s eastern flank — a show of strength that has rattled nervous NATO members. Named Zapad-2017 (West-2017), the manoeuvres, scheduled to last until September 20, are taking place on the territory of …

The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Wednesday renewed her call for the immediate arrest of a senior Libyan commander wanted for war crimes, amid allegations he has killed more people. Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli “stands accused of serious crimes. I therefore call again on …

Yangon, Myanmar | AFP | Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi will address the crisis engulfing Rakhine state next week, in her first speech since scores were killed in violence that has sent nearly 380,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh and sullied her reputation as a defender of the oppressed. A …

Paris, France | AFP | Two UN experts who were killed six months ago in the Democratic Republic of Congo were deliberately misled about the safety of the place where they were shot dead, French radio said Wednesday. In an investigative report published on its website, Radio France International (RFI) …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | British police said they were reviewing security at four-year-old Prince George’s school in London on Wednesday after a woman was arrested for attempted burglary from the exclusive establishment. “We are working with the school, which is attended by His Royal Highness Prince George, to …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | The UK arm of public relations firm Bell Pottinger entered administration Tuesday after being “heavily financially impacted” by the fallout from an alleged racially charged ad campaign in South Africa. “Bell Pottinger has been heavily financially impacted by the well-publicised issues resulting in losses of …

Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Prosecutors in Catalonia on Tuesday ordered police to seize ballot boxes, election flyers and any other item that could be used in a banned independence referendum called by the Spanish region’s separatist executive. The vote is set for October 1 and the northeastern region’s separatists are …

Singapore, Singapore | AFP |  Singapore got its first female president Wednesday, but the milestone was overshadowed by criticism that her selection was undemocratic after she was handed the job without a vote. Halimah Yacob, a former speaker of parliament from the Muslim Malay minority, did not have to face …

Brussels, Belgium | AFP | EU ministers will on Thursday debate a proposal to allow countries in Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone to reintroduce internal border checks for longer periods to tackle terror threats, diplomats said. The proposal for countries to reinstate border controls — including for up to four years in …