IN BRIEF (Page 12)

MEXICO

33 bodies found in clandestine graves

Search dogs led authorities to the grisly discovery of four clandestine graves containing at least 33 bodies in a sugarcane field in Mexico's Pacific coast state of Nayarit and officials said on Wednesday the killings were likely linked to the drug trade. The graves were found in the township of Xalisco, which has long been the home base of a black-tar heroin trafficking ring that supplied the US West Coast.

ISRAEL

India reconsidering missile deal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a $500 million Spike anti-tank missile deal that India shelved with Israel is back on the table. He tweeted on Wednesday following his talks with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indian official did not comment immediately on Thursday.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Major eruption 'could be soon'

Seismic activity beneath a Papua New Guinea volcano could mean that a major eruption was imminent, a scientist said on Thursday. Thousands of people have been evacuated from islands surrounding Kadovar Island off the South Pacific nation's north coast since a volcano there began erupting on Jan 5, spouting ash.

UNITED KINGDOM

London Zoo names okapi 'Meghan'

London Zoo has honored Prince Harry's fiancee by naming its newborn okapi after her. The zoo said on Wednesday the animal born last month was named Meghan to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Harry and US actress Meghan Markle. The okapi (oh-COP-ee) have striped hindquarters like zebras but are related to giraffes.

(China Daily 01/19/2018 page12)