IN BRIEF (Page 12)

South Asia

1,200 people killed in seasonal storms

More than 1,200 people have been killed across South Asia in monsoon storms so far this year, according to figures collected by Agence France-Presse as India counts the rising toll from floods that have devastated southern Kerala state. Kerala has reported 445 deaths with more bodies discovered each day as a massive cleanup gets under way.

Colombia

Vote on rules for anti-corruption

The country voted on Sunday in a referendum on hardening punishments for corrupt officials and business figures. About 36 million voters were called to the polls amid an ongoing bribery scandal involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht that has engulfed the region. To be approved, the referendum requires one-third of voters to take part. "This is a very important day, where we have voted to express our rejection against corruption," said President Ivan Duque.

United States

8 people killed in apartment fire

Eight people, including six children, were killed when a fire broke out before dawn on Sunday at a Chicago apartment in one of the deadliest fires in the nation's third-largest city in years, officials said. Two other people were hospitalized in very critical condition, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt said. Officials had not released the names or ages of the victims, all of whom were in the same residence. The cause of the blaze hasn't been determined.

Israel

Personal details of soldiers leaked

Authorities said the personal details of thousands of Israeli soldiers have been stolen and leaked to third parties over the past several years. An official ongoing investigation revealed that the suspects were two civilian contractors and two soldiers responsible for handling recruitment system with access to personal files of new recruits of Israel Defense Forces.

Afp - Ap - Xinhua

(China Daily 08/28/2018 page12)