IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Zimbabwe

Cyclone Idai kills at least 31 people

At least 31 people have been killed and dozens are missing as tropical cyclone Idai hit eastern parts of the country after lashing neighboring Mozambique, the government said on Saturday. Most of the deaths were in Chimanimani town, officials said. Two of the victims were students who died after a landslide sent a boulder crashing into their dormitory, collapsing the wall of the dining room and trapping 50 of them, official said.

Afghanistan

Taliban kill 22 Afghan forces in north

An overnight Taliban assault on checkpoints in northern Afghanistan killed 22 troops, after about 100 Afghan forces fled heavy fighting in the country's west last week and tried to cross into neighboring Turkmenistan, officials said on Sunday. Officials said the insurgents launched the attack late on Saturday against checkpoints manned by police and pro-government militias in Qaisar district, setting off a fierce gunbattle that lasted into Sunday morning.

Austria

Town claims the tallest bonfire

An Austrian town has burned what organizers said is the world's tallest bonfire, clocking in at 60.646 meters. The local bonfire group in Lustenau, near the Swiss border, took three months to build the structure. It burned down in less than half an hour on Saturday evening. The previous record structure was a 47-meter bonfire in Alesund, Norway in 2016.

Afp - Ap - Xinhua

(China Daily 03/18/2019 page12)