Briefly

MALAYSIA

Ex-deputy PM Ismail named as new leader

Malaysia's longest-governing political party reclaimed the leadership it lost in a shock 2018 election defeat, after the king on Friday named its candidate, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as the country's new leader. Ismail was the deputy prime minister under the government of Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned on Monday after less than 18 months in office as infighting in his coalition cost him majority support. Ismail's appointment essentially restores Muhyiddin's alliance. It also brings back the rule of the United Malays National Organization, which had led Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957 but was ousted in 2018 elections over a multibillion-dollar financial scandal. Ismail, 61, will be sworn in as Malaysia's ninth prime minister on Saturday.

MEXICO

Grace heads for a second hurricane hit

Hurricane Grace－temporarily knocked back to tropical storm force－headed on Friday for a second landfall in Mexico, this time taking aim at the mainland's Gulf coast after crashing through the country's main tourist strip. The storm lost punch as it zipped across the Yucatan Peninsula, but it emerged late on Thursday over the relatively warm Gulf of Mexico and was gaining energy. Forecasters said it could drop 15 to 30 centimeters of rain, bringing the threat of flash floods and mudslides.

BURKINA FASO

Civilian convoy attack death toll rises to 80

The death toll from an attack on civilians and the military in northern Burkina Faso has risen to 80, the government said in a statement on Thursday. The attack occurred on Wednesday when extremists raided a civilian convoy that was being escorted by military police near the town of Arbinda, the latest in a spate of attacks across West Africa's Sahel region this month. Fifty-nine civilians, six pro-government militiamen and 15 military police were killed, the government and the military said on Thursday. The initial death toll was put at 47 on Wednesday.

Agencies via Xinhua