Briefly

AFGHANISTAN

Chinese embassy hands over humanitarian aid

The Chinese embassy in Afghanistan on Friday handed over $200,000 in emergency humanitarian cash aid provided by the Red Cross Society of China to support Afghanistan's earthquake relief efforts. Bao Xuhui, charge d'affaires of the embassy, met President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society Shahabuddin Dilawar on Friday and conveyed China's deep condolences over the earthquake victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured.

AUSTRALIA

Masked gang kills boys aged 12, 15

A gang of masked attackers armed with machetes stabbed and killed two boys aged 12 and 15 in a "horrific" attack in Melbourne, police said on Sunday. Up to eight people in a suspected youth gang attacked the children separately in nearby locations in western Melbourne on Saturday evening, they said. Police were first called to a street where they found a 12-year-old boy who had been stabbed, said Graham Banks, police detective inspector in the state of Victoria. "Despite resuscitation attempts by paramedics, he was unable to be revived," Banks told a news conference. Soon after, police found the boy's 15-year-old friend in a nearby street with "significant" stabbing wounds. He could not be saved.

Agencies - Xinhua