DEATH TOLL FROM VIETNAM TYPHOON RISES TO 69

DANANG, Vietnam: The death toll from typhoon downpours and floods wreaking havoc along Vietnam’s south- central coast has risen to 69, authorities said Tuesday, as the country prepares to host a world leaders’ summit. Typhoon Damrey struck days before Vietnam is set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Danang next weekend. It will bring together US President Donald Trump, China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, among other leaders. More than 100,000 houses nationwide are still under water, according to a Tuesday report from Vietnam’s disaster management authority. Since the storm made landfall on Saturday 69 people have perished in floods, landslides and on capsized boats at sea, while 30 others are still missing, the government said. UNICEF said at least four children were among the dead, with two others missing and an estimated one million young people affected by one of the worst storms to hit the area in years.

GUNMEN STORM KABUL TV STATION IN DEADLY ATTACK

KABUL: Gunmen disguised as policemen stormed a television station in Kabul on Tuesday, killing at least two people and wounding several others in the latest deadly attack on Afghan journalists. The assault, claimed by the Islamic State group, lasted about three hours before Afghan special forces overpowered the attackers armed with guns and grenades and freed staff trapped inside the building. “This is an attack on freedom of media but they cannot silence us,” Shamshad news director Abid Ehsas told rival Tolo News at a hospital in the Afghan capital where some of his wounded colleagues are being treated. The station reported that one attacker blew himself up at the gate. Another attacker went inside and shot at staff before going up to the roof to fire on security forces. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released by their Amaq propaganda agency. The Taliban had earlier released a Twitter statement denying involvement.

EGYPT’S SISI RULES OUT EXTENDING PRESIDENTIAL TERM

CAIRO: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ruled out a constitutional amendment to extend his term, saying an election would be held next year and he will not run again in 2022, in an interview with CNBC Monday. Sisi is a former army chief who overthrew his Islamist predecessor in 2013 and won an election a year later. Some of his supporters including a member of parliament want to allow Sisi to stay longer in office by extending the time between elections and removing the two four-year-term limit. But Sisi said elections will take place as scheduled in March or April 2018 and he would not ask for a constitutional amendment. Sisi did not say he would run again but the former field marshal is expected to stand and win in another landslide in the absence of any serious opposition. “I’m with preserving two four year terms and not to change it,” he told the American broadcaster. Sisi won the 2014 election with about 97 percent of the vote. His only opponent, Hamdeen Sabahi, received less votes than spoiled ballots.