News in Brief

Violence flares in China, Myanmar border
Afp, Yangon

Clashes have flared between Myanmar's army and rebels in an ethnic Chinese northern border area, state media said yesterday, as multiple conflicts in minority regions overshadow efforts to agree a countrywide ceasefire. Resurgence of conflict in the Kokang area of Shan state, which had been largely dormant for nearly six years, saw rebel troops attack Myanmar military positions in the area on Monday.

Shelling hits South Sudan oil town
Afp, Juba

Rebel fighters in South Sudan bombarded government positions in the oil town of Bentiu yesterday, a day after the UN launched a $1.8 billion aid appeal to stave off famine in the war-wracked country. Loud explosions were heard in the northern town, capital of Unity state and one of the hardest fought over regions in the 14-month long war, and where 53,000 civilians are sheltering inside a United Nations camp.

29 African migrants die off Italian coast
Afp, Rome

Twenty-nine African migrants intercepted by Italian authorities while trying to reach Europe by boat in rough and icy conditions have died of hypothermia, most after being rescued, sources told AFP Monday. More than 3,200 people have died in the last year attempting to reach Italy by boat from North Africa. Over 170,000 people, a record number, landed there in 2014.

Russia to help build Egypt's first nuke plant
Afp, Cairo

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi yesterday said that Russia had agreed to jointly build his country's first nuclear power plant. A memorandum of understanding was signed Tuesday in the presence of Sisi and visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.