IN BRIEF (Page 11)

India

11-story building collapse kills 47

The death toll in a collapsed building in the southern Indian city of Chennai has risen to 47, the latest disaster to highlight poor safety standards in India's booming construction industry. The 11-story building under construction in southern Tamil Nadu state came down late on Saturday following heavy rain. It was not clear how many people were in the building at that time.

Nation summons US ambassador

India summoned the top diplomat from the US embassy on Wednesday to complain for the third time about spying following new allegations that Washington's National Security Agency targeted the ruling party. "What we have said is that we expect a response and an assurance that this won't happen again," a foreign ministry source said on condition of anonymity.

Nigeria

56 dead in market blast

A car bomb in a marketplace in Maiduguri, the northeast Nigerian city that is the birthplace of Boko Haram extremism, killed at least 56 people on Tuesday, the leader of a civilian group that recovered the bodies said. Sadiq Abba Tijjani, leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force, said his group recovered at least 56 dead bodies at the blast site, mostly elderly women who sold peanuts and lemon juice at the market.

Italy

Syrian weapons arrive at port

A Danish ship carrying hundreds of tons of Syrian chemical weapons steamed into the southern Italian port of Gioia Tauro on Wednesday for a rendezvous with a US cargo vessel that will destroy the toxic material. Escorted by an Italian coast guard vessel and a helicopter buzzing overhead, the Ark Futura pulled into port as the sun rose and anchored near the MV Cape Ray, which has equipment on board to neutralize the chemicals.

Kenya

4 die after cargo plane crashes

Four people were killed when a cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff at the international airport in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, a police official said on Wednesday. The Fokker 50 aircraft transporting the mild stimulant known as Khat to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, crashed into a residential building after taking off from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport early on Wednesday, said Joseph Ngisa, the airport's head of police investigations.

Singapore

Govt halts S$10,000 note

Singapore will stop issuing S$10,000 ($8,000) notes, one of the world's most valuable banknotes, as it tries to tighten its anti-money laundering controls. High value notes are popular with organized criminals as they are a lighter, more efficient way of carrying large amounts of cash.

Reuters - AP - AFP

(China Daily 07/03/2014 page11)