Floods claim 300 in China so far: More Than 20 million people have been after ted in the worm floods In half a century across southern and eastern China that have so far claimed more than 300 lives reports said yesterday. AFP says from Beijing
The floods, triggered by torrential rains earlier this week, have left hundred* of thousands homeless iwept away about 211.000 houses and severely damaged 510.000 more the China Daily reported
More than 1.3 million hectares (3 2 million acres) of farmland ha* been destroyed by a week of ram and by rivers that have burst their banks and left 12 million people ^n 3.094 village* stranded, the paper reported.
Rafsanjani congratulates Yeltsin: Iranian Preskfent All Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Friday welcomed Russian President Boris Yeltsins re-election, the official 1RNA news agency reported. AFP say* from Tehran
In a congratulatpry message to the Kremlin. Rafsanjani said Yeltsin's victory in Tuesday s second round election run off was proof of the approval of the Russian nation for his polices." the agency said
Rafsanjani said Yeltsin's policies were aimed not only on the development and prosperity of hlscountry. but also at the establishment of peace and stability in the region and in the world, on the basis of mutual respect
Suharto leaves for Germany today: President Suharto will leave for Hanover. Germany on Sunday for a medical check up. a presidential palace official said Saturday. AP reports from Jakarta
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the special plane that will fly the president and his family, will take.off from the Jakarta military airport of Halim Per danakusuma at 09:00 pm (1400 GMT). Sunday. On Friday. Cabinet spokesman Murdiono announced Suharto would go abroad for a medical check-up but refused to confirm that ne will be seeking treatment for kidney stones.
2 killed in NZ chopper crash: a civilian pilot and his aYmy officer passenger were killed Saturday when a helicopter crashed on the central North Island, army officials said. AP reports from Auckland
The Marine Helicopters Ltd Hughes 300 helicopter crashed in a deep gully between Taihape and Waiouru. army spokesman Major Fiona Cassidy said. Another army officer was seriously injured but is expected to survive. Names of dead or injured were not released. The two officers were carrying out land reconnaissance for - ah army exercise when (he helicopter went down.
Oldest German woman dies at 111: Karolina Kruger. Germany's oldest resident who credited her longevity to a healthy enjoyment of food and wine, has died of heart attack at the age of 111. her family announced Friday. AFP reports from Muenster
"After a small coronary followed by pneumonia, she fell peacefully asleep on Wednesday forever, her 80-year-old daughter Ruth Puffert said. Born-in Trier, southwest Germany on February 17. 1885, Kruger remembered waving a flag to salute Emperor William 11 as a schoolgirl. She called this "the most beautiful memory of my childhood,'
8 drown as boat capsizes in India: a shoddy rowboat capsized in a northern India river on Friday, killing eight teen-agers, police said, AP reports from Amritsar.
Rescuers saved five teens from the Beas river near Amrit sar. a Sikh holy town in northern state of Punjab, said L D Hans, additional deputy commissioner. Police retrieved the eight bodies — five boys and three girls from the waler. The teen-agers deciaea to go boating after visiting a Sikh shrine in Goindwal. 35 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of Amritsar, Hans said.
Estonia detains 2 DPRK diplomats: Two North Korean diplomats have been detained in Estonia for trying to smuggle 75.000 dollars worth of cigarettes into Sweden, the Swedish news agency reported Friday. AFP reports from Stockholm.
The two diplomats — the third secretary and an attache at the Embassy in Stockholm were about 'o drive a van in'c a ferry heading from Tallinn to Stockholm when Estonian cusr toms authorities asked to Inspect the vehicle. The Koreans refused saying they were protected by diplomatic immunity and carrying only diplomatic correspondence from Moscow Rare AIDS case found in US: Scientists have identified a Los Angeles-area woman as the first person in the United States known to carry a rare strai" of the AIDS virus, a finding that will fc.rc? changes In HA' screening tests to protect the nation's blood supply AP reports from Atlanta.
The rare form of HIV, called Group O. escapes detection by current antibody tests in about one of every five cases, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday Antibody tests failed to detect the virus in the Los Angeles County woman even though she had what appeared to be AIDS symptoms.