MANILA: Two people were killed and seven others missing in the Philippines after a tropical depression spawned huge waves and flash floods, forcing hundreds to flee their homes, authorities said. Pre-emptive evacuation of people in areas prone to floods and landslides helped keep the casualties low, but others along the coast were hit hard by the storm, locally code-named “Queenie”. One woman was swept away by floodwaters on the central island of Cebu while a man was fatally injured when his boat was battered by huge waves off the island of Bohol. Four people went missing while at sea while three others were carried away by huge waves. The storm, with maximum winds of 55km per hour, hit the eastern coast of Mindanao late on Wednesday, then moved westward, across the central islands before heading to Palawan island.
Rank of Kim’s sister revealed
SEOUL: North Korea revealed yesterday the official title of Kim Jong-Un’s younger sister, who is widely tipped to become a close and influential aide to the young leader. Kim Yo-Jong, believed to be 26, made her first public appearance during the funeral of her father and longtime ruler Kim Jong-Il in December 2011. Since then, she has occasionally been seen accompanying her brother to political events, but without any specific title attached to her name. That changed when the North’s official KCNA news agency listed her as a “vice department director” in the central committee of the ruling Workers’ Party.
Taipei mayoral vote drama
TAIPEI: It is the most dramatic contest of Taiwan’s biggest ever local elections — a high-flying surgeon takes on the man whose life he helped save after he was shot in the head on the campaign trail. Emergency doctor Ko Wen-je led the team which operated on financier Sean Lien after Lien was attacked at a rally in November 2010. Now they are rivals in the intense battle for the influential post of Taipei mayor, with voters going to the polls tomorrow.
Agencies
