Briefly

EGYPT

Train collision leaves at least 32 people dead

At least 32 people were killed and 66 injured when two trains collided in central Egypt on Friday, the Health Ministry said. Pictures on local media showed train carriages derailed, several of them badly damaged, above a channel of water. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash close to the Nile River town of Tahta, about 360 kilometers south of Cairo. The public prosecutor's office said it had ordered an investigation."The trains collided while going at not very high speeds, which led to the destruction of two carriages and a third to overturn," a security source said. Casualties were being taken to hospitals and 36 ambulances were dispatched to the scene, the ministry said.

UNITED STATES

5 die as tornadoes slam Deep South

A series of tornadoes hatched by early spring "super cell" storms tore across Alabama and moved into Georgia early on Friday, leaving at least five people dead amid ruins of wrecked homes, splintered trees and crumpled businesses. Authorities said one fierce tornado traveled roughly 160 kilometers across Alabama on Thursday, leaving a long path of damage. The National Weather Service for Atlanta said a "dangerous, fast moving" tornado ripped through some of the city's southern suburbs just after midnight. Earlier, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued an emergency declaration for 46 counties, and officials opened shelters in and around Birmingham.

FRANCE

Rarely seen Van Gogh fetches $15 million

One of the few paintings by Vincent Van Gogh still in private hands sold for more than $15 million at auction on Thursday, Sotheby's said. Street Scene in Montmartre－on public display for the first time since its creation in 1887, after a century in the same collection－fetched 13.09 million euros ($15.4 million), the auction house said. At well above the estimate of 5-8 million euros, the sale price was a record for the artist in France, it added. The painting was the highlight of an auction of 33 works from masters including Degas, Magritte, Modigliani, Klee, Rodin and his muse Camille Claudel sold in an auction live-streamed by Sotheby's in Paris.

AUSTRALIA

Flood recovery' strike force' mobilized

A multiagency "strike force" has been deployed to help with the cleanup following major flooding across eastern Australia, providing support and assistance to thousands of affected residents. Authorities said on Friday the initial priority is to remove debris and other waste to ensure roads are accessible and residents could safely return to their communities."Our emergency services personnel and volunteers have been outstanding in dealing with the wild weather and the floods, but the scale of rainfall has been enormous and the recovery process will be challenging," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Agencies - Xinhua