IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Peru

Ex-president shoots himself before arrest

Peru's former president Alan Garcia shot himself early on Wednesday after police arrived at his home in the capital Lima to arrest him in connection with a bribery investigation, a police source said. Garcia, 69, was immediately taken to the Casimiro Ulloa hospital, the source said. Local TV channel America reported that Garcia was undergoing emergency surgery and was in critical condition. Garcia was under investigation in connection with Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, which triggered Latin America's biggest graft scandal when company officials admitted publicly in 2016 that it won lucrative contracts in the region with bribes.

India

At least 47 die in dust storm, heavy rains

A powerful storm bringing dust, lightning and unseasonal rain has killed at least 47 people in central and western India, officials said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish in a tweet over the loss of lives and announced relief for the victims' families. Tuesday's storm had winds reaching 50 km/h and damaged homes and uprooted trees and power lines in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan states. The worst hit was Rajasthan state, where at least 24 people died, relief officer Ashutosh Pednekar said. The Press Trust of India news agency said 13 other deaths were reported in Gujarat and Maharashtra states.

Egypt

Parliament takes steps to extend Sisi's term

Egypt's parliament on Tuesday approved amendments to the constitution that could keep President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in power until 2030, though they still have to be endorsed in a referendum to take effect. The changes would extend Sisi's current term to six years from four and then allow him to run again for a third term, which would last six years. The 596-member parliament, which is dominated by Sisi supporters, voted 531 to 22 in favor of the amendments. A date for the referendum has not yet been confirmed, but Cairo is full of banners encouraging Egyptians to participate.

New Zealand

Security threat level revised to medium

New Zealand's national security threat level has been revised down to medium after it was raised to high in the wake of a mass shooting in Christchurch on March 15 that killed 50 people, the prime minister's office said in a statement on Wednesday. "While the threat level has been revised to medium, and there is no current specific threat agencies are responding to, people will continue to notice a clear police presence at public events, including on ANZAC Day," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in the statement. The country celebrates ANZAC Day, a day of war remembrance also observed in Australia, on April 25.

Australia

Pet deer kills man in rare attack

A pet deer killed an Australian man and badly injured his wife, police said on Wednesday, the first known attack in years. It occurred during mating season when the animals are bad tempered. The animal, a cross between an elk and deer, attacked shortly after the man entered the enclosure on his property near the town of Wangaratta, 200 kilometers northeast of Melbourne in Victoria state. The deer badly injured his wife when she came to her husband's aid, police said. Police shot the deer when they arrived. Deer were introduced to Australia in the 19th century and are regarded as a pest, with up to 1 million wild deer in Victoria state. They are most aggressive during the annual mating or rutting season in autumn.

Reuters - AP - Xinhua

(China Daily 04/18/2019 page12)