UNITED NATIONS -- The UN General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution supporting the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognizing it as qualified to join and recommending that the Security Council "reconsider the matter favorably."

The resolution was adopted with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the United States and Israel, while 25 countries abstained. China voted for the resolution. (UN-Palestine-General Assembly)

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KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Friday ordered the dissolution of the National Assembly and suspended certain constitutional provisions for up to four years, the country's state television reported.

In a televised speech announcing the decision, Sheikh Mishal accused some members of the parliament of obstructing ministerial appointments and challenging "the exclusive constitutional right" for him as the head of state to "select the Prime Minister and the cabinet members." (Kuwait-Dissolution-Parliament)

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PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan -- At least 50 people were killed as storms and flash floods lashed north Afghanistan's Baghlan province on Friday, a local official said.

The natural mishap hit Gozargah-e-Noor, Jelgah, Nahrin, Baghlan-e-Markazi and Barka districts, as well as the provincial capital of Pul-e-Khumri, Hedayatullah Hamdard, provincial director for the disaster management authority, said. (Afghanistan-Floods)

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ST. PETERSBURG -- The number of fatalities as a result of a passenger bus falling into a river in St. Petersburg has increased to seven, the Russian Investigative Committee press office said Friday night.

The incident occurred in downtown St. Petersburg around 1 p.m. local time. The driver lost control of the vehicle while making a turn before crashing from a bridge and sinking in seconds. There were around 20 people inside the bus at the time of the accident. (Russia-Bus Crash)

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CAPE TOWN -- The death toll in the building collapse in South Africa rose to 12 on Friday, as the incident site was declared a "no-fly zone."

The multi-story building collapsed on Monday afternoon in the coastal city of George, located about 400 kilometers east of Cape Town in the Western Cape province. The reasons for the collapse, which included an underground parking garage, are still under investigation. (South Africa-Cape Town-Building Collapse) Enditem

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