Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Feb. 4

TEHRAN -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani vowed Sunday to boost the Islamic republic's deterrent military power despite the pressure from the U.S. and its allies.

Iran will never seek others' permission to enforce its military capabilities and will continue its efforts to develop defense power within the framework of law and religious principles, Rouhani said at an opening ceremony for a defense museum. (Iran-Defense-Rouhani)

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RAMALLAH -- Palestinian National Authority (PNA) denounced Sunday the demolition of two schoolrooms in a Bedouin community in East Jerusalem by Israel.

PNA Jerusalem Affairs Minister and Jerusalem Governor Adnan Al-Hussaini told Xinhua that the "targeting of the local schoolrooms at Abu Nuwwar Bedouin community in Al-Eizariya town is part of Israel's settlement expansion plans." (Palestine-Israel-Schoolrooms Demolition)

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LAGOS -- The death toll from a Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has risen to 30 by Saturday night since January 2018, according to official figures.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said laboratory tests had confirmed a total of 36 cases of Lassa fever in its latest outbreak in southwest Ondo State, including nine deaths in the state. (Nigeria-Lassa Fever)

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WASHINGTON -- At least two people were killed and another 70 injured after an Amtrak passenger train collided with a freight train in the southeastern U.S. state of South Carolina early Sunday, officials said.

Local authorities confirmed that the two deaths occurred in the Amtrak train, not the freight train run by the CSX. (US-Train-Crash)

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COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka celebrated its 70th anniversary of Independence Day here on Sunday with grand military parades and attendance of political celebrities.

Sri Lanka tri forces held a colorful grand parade along the Galle Road, close to the Colombo Harbour to celebrate its 70th anniversary of independence from the British colonial rule in 1948. (Sri Lanka-Independence Day-Parade) Enditem