Briefly

AFRICA

32 killed in deadly cross-border clashes

At least 32 people were killed on Sunday in deadly communal fighting along South Sudan's border with the disputed Abyei Administrative Area, an official said. Arou Manyiel Arou, secretary-general in the office of the administrator for the Abyei Administrative Area, said the violence erupted in the early morning following a revenge attack on Ngok Dinka in Wuncuei and Nyiel areas by armed youth from Twic County in neighboring Warrap state in South Sudan. The Abyei Administrative Area remains a contested area between South Sudan and its neighbor Sudan, which has been mired in conflict since April 15.

INDIA

Rescuers continue to save trapped workers

Indian rescuers were battling on Monday to free 41 men trapped in a road tunnel for nine days, as they prepared to dig an entirely new shaft after previous efforts failed. Excavators have been removing earth, concrete and rubble from the under-construction tunnel in the state of Uttarakhand since Nov 12, after a portion of the tunnel collapsed. But rescue efforts have been slowed by falling debris as well as repeated breakdowns of crucial heavy drilling machines. Rescuers have been communicating with the trapped workers by radio, while food, water, oxygen and medicine have also been sent to them via a narrow pipe.

FRANCE

Napoleon's hat fetches record 1.9m euros

A bicorne hat believed to have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte sold for a record 1,932,000 euros ($2.11 million) at an auction in Paris on Sunday. It was initially estimated at 600,000 to 800,000 euros. The price beat the 1,884,000 euros paid for another Napoleon hat in 2014, according to auction details. Napoleon is believed to have owned around 120 such hats in total, most of which are now lost. Napoleon wore this particular hat toward the middle of his time as emperor which lasted from 1808 to 1815, according to media reports.

Xinhua - Agencies