IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Russia

Extremists claim Chechnya attack

The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for an attack on a church in Russia's Chechnya republic that killed three people, the group's Amaq news agency said on Sunday. The group offered no evidence in support of the claim. Four people attacked the Orthodox church on Saturday, killing two policemen and a churchgoer, Russia's investigative committee said in a statement. The attackers were killed.

India

6 policemen killed after blast

At least six policemen were killed and one was wounded on Sunday after Naxals detonated an improvised explosive device, targeting their vehicle in the central Indian state of Chattisgarh, police said. The vehicle was blown up at Cholnar Village of Dantewada, about 383 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chattisgarh. Following the attack, reinforcements of police and paramilitary were rushed to the area to take on Naxals there, officials said.

Macedonia

On the way to change name

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said that the name "Republic of Ilinden Macedonia" is a proposal for which there may be a compromise with Greece, Macedonian media reported on Sunday. Greek and Macedonian opposition parties voiced reservations about the agreement reached between Zaev and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras regarding the name issue, while stiffer positions appeared in Athens. Changing the name does not address the problems that have been posed over the years, according to the New Democracy party.

Afghanistan

Heavy rains, floods hit Kunduz

Torrential rains and floods have destroyed more than 100 houses and left hundreds of people homeless in northern Kunduz province over the past three days, a member of provincial council said on Monday. The heavy rains and flooding began on Friday and continued until Sunday afternoon. A total of 72 people have died, two others are missing and nine others are injured while nearly 1,700 houses have been destroyed and 890 more houses partially damaged due to rains and flooding over the past 10 days.

Xinhua - Ap

(China Daily 05/22/2018 page12)