Briefly

AUSTRALIA

PM ends Hawaii holiday to face bushfire crisis

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison cut short a Hawaii holiday on Friday following a barrage of criticism for vacationing while his country battles an unprecedented bushfire crisis. Morrison expressed regret for the family trip as two volunteer firefighters were killed and a record heatwave exacerbated dozens of out-of-control blazes. Pressure had been piling on Morrison over his vacation this week, as thousands of volunteer firefighters battled blazes across the country and millions of people in Sydney choked on toxic smoke. "I deeply regret any offense caused to any of the many Australians affected by the terrible bushfires by my taking leave with family at this time," Morrison said.

RUSSIA

Security officer dead, 5 injured in shooting

An unidentified gunman opened fire on Thursday outside the Moscow headquarters of Russia's top security agency, killing one officer and wounding five others, officials said. The Federal Security Service, or FSB, said the assailant was acting alone and didn't enter its building. Earlier, it said the assailant had been "neutralized"－a term usually used by Russian officials when an assailant is killed. The Health Ministry said that five other people were wounded in the shooting, including two security officers who were badly injured by the gunman. One of the wounded is a civilian, said Svetlana Petrenko, a spokeswoman for Russia's main criminal investigation body.

INDIA

Fresh clashes erupt as death toll hits nine

Fresh clashes between police and demonstrators erupted on Friday after more than a week of unrest triggered by a controversial citizenship law. Three protesters were shot dead on Thursday, taking the death toll to nine in the wave of anger that is emerging as a major challenge to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The law making it easier for migrants from three neighboring countries to get citizenship, but not if they are Muslims, has stoked fears that Modi wants to remold India as a Hindu nation, which he denies. Police banned public gatherings in parts of New Delhi and other cities for a third day on Friday.