IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Peru

19 dead after bus falls into ravine

A bus plunged into a ravine on Tuesday in the northern region of La Libertad, killing at least 19 people and injuring 25, according to Peruvian National Police. The bus crashed into a ravine measuring about 300 meters deep as it was heading toward the city of Trujillo, 550 kilometers to the north of Lima, said national police officer Luis Convenas. He told Radio Programs of Peru that the accident was probably due to the dense morning fog in the area. Peru's highways are scenes of frequent accidents due to the conditions and characteristics of the Andes Mountains, which are between 2,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level.

Middle East

2 more killed amid tension with Israel

Two more Palestinians were killed on Wednesday in two separate Israeli airstrikes on central and eastern Gaza amid tension between Israel and the Hamas-ruled territory, medics said. The Gaza Health Ministry said in statements that two Palestinian young men were killed in the airstrikes, one in central Gaza Strip and the other in eastern Gaza City. The statement said that since the start of the wave of tension on Tuesday, 12 Palestinians were killed and more than 50 injured during the series of intensive Israeli airstrikes waged on the coastal Palestinian enclave.

India

No relief in sight from heavy smog

Cooler temperatures and lighter wind trapped heavy smog over New Delhi on Wednesday, pushing pollution to "severe" levels in many places with no immediate relief in sight, government agencies said. The overall air quality index in the city soared to 494, according to the monitoring agency SAFAR. The index measures the levels of airborne PM 2.5 - particles that can reach deep into the lungs. Anything above 60 is considered unhealthy. With the cool season setting in, the city was likely to suffer for weeks. The Central Pollution Control Board said pollution levels had touched 500 in some parts of the city, putting even healthy people at risk. Farmers burning stubble in their fields in areas around the city have been generating clouds of acrid smoke, SAFAR said, and the smog could get even worse.

Canada

Billionaire held for growing cannabis

The billionaire founder of global acrobatic troupe Cirque du Soleil, Guy Laliberte, has been detained on charges of growing cannabis on his private island in the South Pacific, authorities said. The Canadian entrepreneur was arrested after exiting his plane in French Polynesia and was due to appear before a judge later on Wednesday, prosecutors and reports said. In a statement, his company, Lune Rouge, said Laliberte uses cannabis for "medical" and "strictly personal" purposes and denied that he was growing the drug on his private island of Nukutepipi for commercial gain.

United States

John Legend named 'Sexiest Man Alive'

R&B crooner John Legend has been named the Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine. The Grammy-winning singer known for his silky-smooth vocals was announced as this year's winner on Tuesday on NBC TV program The Voice. He serves as a coach on the singing competition series with singers Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton. Shelton, who was named Sexiest Man Alive in 2017, announced Legend's honor on show. The country singer then handed Legend some short shorts with bedazzled letters "EGOTSMA" to signify the singer's many honors: an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony and now, Sexiest Man Alive.

Xinhua - Agencies

(China Daily 11/14/2019 page11)