Landslides kill 13, leave 4 missing in Vietnam

Damaged houses and debris are seen on Sunday following flash floods and landslides in the Phuoc Dong commune of central Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa province. Landslides due to rains triggered by Tropical Storm Toraji have killed 13 people and left four others missing in Vietnam.SD-Agencies

Netanyahu takes on defense post

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he would take on the defense minister portfolio*, rejecting calls to dissolve his government even as early elections appeared increasingly likely.

Netanyahu said heading to elections now amid repeated violent confrontations with Gaza militants was “irresponsible” of his coalition partners, who have been pushing for early polls since the resignation last week of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman over a Gaza cease-fire.

“Today, I take on for the first time the position of defense minister,” said Netanyahu, speaking from Israel’s defense headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Nissan chief arrested over financial misconduct

Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn was reportedly under arrest in Tokyo on Monday, as his firm accused him of “significant acts of misconduct” and said it would seek to oust* him.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK and other media outlets said Ghosn had been arrested after being questioned by Japanese prosecutors for various improprieties* including underreporting his income.

“The Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office arrested Nissan chairman Ghosn on suspicion of violation of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act,” NHK said.

California fire death toll grows

The death toll from California’s worst fire on record rose to 76 as U.S. President Trump vowed on Saturday to help California recover from the devastation* and work to prevent catastrophic* blazes.

The number of those still unaccounted for continued to rise, standing at 1,276 people as of Saturday night.

But Butte County officials said the list is far from precise and could include duplicates.

May gets backing for Brexit deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that the Cabinet has given its backing to her Brexit deal.

May delivered her message outside 10 Downing Street after a meeting with her Cabinet that overran by more than two hours.

She acknowledged the difficulties facing the government and the country over Brexit.

Peru ex-president Garcia asks for asylum in Uruguay

Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia entered the Uruguayan embassy and applied for asylum* hours after being banned from leaving the country while under investigation for corruption, the Peruvian foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Garcia entered the embassy and home of the Uruguayan ambassador in a residential Lima neighborhood on Saturday night and requested asylum, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.

Garcia “has requested asylum from that country, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on Diplomatic Asylum of 1954,” the ministry said.(SD-Agencies)