IN BRIEF (Page 12)

PHILIPPINES

Alert level raised for Mayon volcano

The Philippines volcanology institute on Sunday raised the alert level for the Mayon volcano to level two, indicating that the volcano is exhibiting signs of "increasing unrest" that may trigger more ash clouds, rockfalls and landslides. The public were urged to stay more than 6 kilometers from the volcano, which is on Luzon island and erupted on Sunday morning.

INDIA

2 students killed in ferry sinking

Indian police say a ferry carrying schoolchildren sank in the Arabian Sea off the country's western coast, killing two students and leaving six missing. The Press Trust of India news agency quoted police as saying another 32 children were rescued after Saturday's incident in Maharashtra state. India's Coast Guard officials say they are carrying out search operations.

RUSSIA

Cafe poisoning victims up to 133

The number of people poisoned in a cafe in the Republic of Buryatia in Russia's eastern Siberia region rose to 133, the press service of local authorities said on Sunday. The victims, 12 of whom are children, had visited the Shulendo cafe, located in the downtown area of the city of Ulan-Ude, capital of Buryatia, on Jan 8-11, said the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Buryatia.

FRANCE

Macron: Baguette deserves UN spot

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday joined calls by bakers for France's traditional baguette to be recognized as one of the world's cultural treasures on UNESCO's list of "intangible heritage". "The baguette is envied around the world. We must preserve its excellence and our expertise, and it is for this reason that it should be heritage-listed," Macron told a group of master bakers at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris.

(China Daily 01/15/2018 page12)