Briefly

BRAZIL

Lula visits disaster zone after deluge

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has toured a resort region turned disaster zone where torrential rains killed at least 40 people. Dozens of others were reported missing. The disaster struck as the country's carnival celebrations were being held. Rescue workers were racing to find any survivors buried under the mud and rubble after 24 hours of record rain over the weekend triggered floods and landslides that devastated the area around the popular beach city of Sao Sebastiao, about 200 kilometers southeast of Sao Paulo. The federal government would help with reconstruction, Lula said, and he called for a stop to building on low-lying areas and hillsides vulnerable to such disasters, which are frequent in Brazil.

PAKISTAN

Ex-PM Khan granted court protection

A court granted the former prime minister Imran Khan protective bail in the eastern city of Lahore on Monday, providing him respite from arrest for two weeks in a case involving charges under anti-terrorism laws. Khan has had a number of cases registered against him since a parliamentary vote ousted him from power last year. The allegations range from gathering illegal funds for his political party to inciting violence against state officials. Khan appeared before the Lahore High Court on Monday along with hundreds of supporters, witnesses said. Earlier, Khan's lawyers had pressed for immunity for him from appearing in person, citing health and security concerns. The court had rejected those requests.

UNITED STATES

'Cold shocked' alligator captured in New York

A "very lethargic" alligator was captured in a New York park, city officials said on Monday, after it was probably released by its owner far away from the species' warmer habitat in the country's southeast. The reptile was spotted on Sunday in Prospect Park, popular among Brooklyn residents for picnicking and strolling with their pets, especially when winter temperatures are at 10 C to 15 C, as was the case over the weekend. Rangers captured the 1.2-meter-long alligator, which was "found very lethargic and possibly cold shocked", officials said. The alligator was later transported to the Bronx Zoo for rehabilitation, they said, adding that "thankfully no one was harmed".

Agencies via Xinhua