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From Times Online
August 17, 2007

World in Brief

13 die on Japan’s hottest day

TOKYO At least 13 people died and 886 were taken to hospital with heatstroke during a heatwave in Japan. Yesterday was the country’s hottest on record, with temperatures reaching 40.9C (105.6F), breaking the national record of 40.8C in 1933.

Tokyo Electrical Power Company gave warning of a power shortage as people turned up their air-conditioners. The company has reopened old thermal power stations and bought electricity from rivals since an earthquake damaged its largest nuclear reactor. (AP)

Britons held

THE HAGUE Two Britons have been arrested in Belgium in connection with the fatal stabbing of a bar owner in the Netherlands on Sunday. The men, aged 31 and 49, whose names were not released, were held in Antwerp on Wednesday night and face extradition. (AP)

Mafia feud fears

REGGIO DI CALABRIA Police searched 50 properties in San Luca, Calabria, amid fears of reprisals between rival factions after the Mafia killing of six men in Germany. Italian police said that the murders appeared to be in revenge for the killing of the wife of a clan leader. (AFP)

Poor thief

MADISON A would-be thief in Wisconsin tried to rob a nun who had taken a vow of poverty. He forced the nun, 61, to drive him around in her car for almost an hour in search of money, but eventually gave up and apologised to her. A 41-year-old man was later arrested. (AP)

I name this child @

BEIJING A Chinese couple named their child after the symbol @, “at”, to officials’ consternation. Only 129 surnames account for 87 per cent of all family names in China, which could be why parents are seeking more individualistic given names: @ sounds like the Chinese for “love him” . (AP)

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