News in Brief

130 killed in Myanmar fighting: army
Afp, Naypyidaw

Myanmar's army yesterday said more than 130 people had died in a deepening battle with rebels in the northeast, declaring it would not rest until stability was restored to the border area which tens of thousands have fled. Fighting is being raged in the remote Kokang region of Shan state since  February 9.

Australia braces for floods after cyclones
Afp, Rockhampton

Australia was clearing up yesterday after two severe cyclones, Tropical Cyclone Marcia and Tropical Cyclone Lam, left a trail of destruction, wrecking hundreds of homes and cutting electricity to tens of thousands, even as authorities warned of more flooding and gusty winds to come. Both cyclones have since ceased, but the Bureau of Meteorology warned of further flooding, heavy rains, damaging winds in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales state.

Caracas mayor held over 'coup plot'
Afp, Caracas

Caracas mayor and opposition politician Antonio Ledezma remained in custody yesterday following his arrest over what Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro alleges is a coup plot financed by the United States. The US dismissed the claims as "baseless and false".

Liberia lifts Ebola curfew, opens borders
Afp, Monrovia

Liberia said Friday it was lifting nationwide curfews and re-opening borders shut last year at the height of the Ebola crisis which has killed more than 9,500 people. The move comes with Liberia and its neighbours Guinea and Sierra Leone seeing new infections drop to a tenth of the numbers being reported at the peak of the outbreak.