News in Brief -(25-03-2019)

Another cyclone bears down
on Australian coast
SYDNEY, Mar 24: Residents of Australia's northwest coast were bracing for a torrid night of fierce winds and heavy rain on Sunday as the country's second major cyclone of the weekend slowly wound toward land. A day after Cyclone Trevor hit a remote part of the Northern Territory coast, slow-moving Cyclone Veronica settled just off the coast about 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) to the west, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia state. — AP
Ramaphosa reaffirms need
to accelerate land reform
CAPE TOWN, Mar 24: The slow land reform in South Africa has caused impatience among the public and it needs to be accelerated if the country is to correct historical injustice, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Saturday. Ramaphosa made the remarks when handing over title deeds to descendants of the Griqua people in the Ebenhaeser community near Cape Town. — Xinhua
Two US troops die in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, Mar 24: US Department of Defense on Saturday announced the deaths of two soldiers, who were supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan to counter terrorism. The two soldiers, namely Spc. Joseph P Collette and Sgt 1st Class Will D Lindsay, died on Friday in the northern province of Kunduz "as a result of wounds sustained while engaged in combat operations," Pentagon said in a statement. — Xinhua
Rescuers airlift hundreds from crippled cruise ship
OSLO, Mar 24: Rescuers have airlifted hundreds of people stranded on a cruise ship off the west coast of Norway. The Viking Sky lost power on Saturday and sent out a distress signal after it began drifting towards land. It got into trouble in a notoriously difficult stretch of waters and was reportedly minutes from striking rocks. — BBC
Hungary's PM for quick
action against migration
BUDAPEST, Mar 24: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday called for an immediate action against migration at an international conference. "We need to act now on migration, on border protection, and European unity, because if European policy does not make immediate decisions, then processes that will be impossible to stop later will start," Orban said at the opening day of the Budapest Summit on Migration, hosted by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium. — Xinhua
Three protesters die in Yemen's Aden
SANAA, Mar 24: At least three protesters were killed when Yemeni security forces attempted to break up a demonstration in the southern port city of Aden on Saturday, residents told Xinhua. One of the local residents who asked to remain anonymous said that security forces loyal to Yemen's government carried out an anti-terror operation and raided a number of houses in Buraigah district of Aden province. — Xinhua
Palestinian dies of wounds
from Israeli fire
GAZA CITY, Mar 24: Gaza's Health Ministry says a Palestinian has died of wounds sustained from Israeli gunfire at protests along the perimeter fence. The ministry says Sunday that 24-year-old Habib al-Masri was shot in the chest at protests near Beit Hanoun the previous night, and that two others were wounded. Hundreds had gathered for protests in various locations, hurling stones and firebombs toward Israel. — AP
Cycling safety ad sparks outcry in Germany
BERLIN, Mar 24: An advertising campaign by Germany's transport ministry to persuade cyclists to wear helmets has sparked accusations of sexism, as it features a model wearing just a helmet and underwear. With the slogan "Looks like shit. But saves my life". — AFP