IN BRIEF (Page 12)

The Philippines

19 dead as bus plunges off cliff

A passenger bus careened off a winding dirt road and hurtled down a ravine south of Manila, killing 19 people, police said on Wednesday. The crash on Tuesday night in a mountainous area of Sablayan town in Occidental Mindoro province injured 21 other passengers, including an infant, police investigator Alexis Go said. He said the bus apparently went out of control and swerved wildly on a downhill stretch of the road, which was under repair.

United States

Trump touts arm sales to Saudi

President Donald Trump touted multibillion-dollar defense sales to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in a meeting with the kingdom's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, at the White House. It was the prince's first trip to Washington since he became heir apparent to the Saudi throne last year. Salman was expected to stay in the US for more than two weeks. His agenda will mainly focus on attracting technology and investments for his domestic reforms.

'Austin bomber' dies in explosion

A man being sought over the Austin parcel bombings blew himself up early on Wednesday inside his car as authorities moved in to arrest him, police said. "The suspect is deceased," Austin police chief Brian Manley said. Manley said the suspect is believed to be responsible for all five bomb explosions that have killed two and wounded several more and put people on edge in the Texas capital since March 2.

AP - Xinhua - AFP

(China Daily 03/22/2018 page12)