<B>ANTANANARIVO. Cyclone Ivan killed 22 in Madagascar. </B> Cyclone Ivan killed at least 22 people on Madagascar this week and the death toll is expected to rise, government officials said yesterday.

Ivan, one of the largest cyclones ever to hit Madagascar, was packing winds of more than 125 mph (200 kph) when it hit the Indian Ocean island?s east coast earlier this week. It is also expected to bring heavy rains to flood-stricken Mozambique. The administrator of Madagascar?s Mangoro Alaotra region said it had been possible to identify 20 of 22 people killed. ?Eight of the victims were washed away, another 11 are victims of a collapsed house,? David Alexander Robinson said, without giving details of how the others died. The National Office of Disasters said the toll was expected to rise.

About 5,000 people in Madagascar are still in need of aid as a result of another cyclone, Fame, that hit the storm-prone island in late January and killed at least 12 people. Madagascar?s rainy season lasts from February to May. Last year, six cyclones hit the island, killing at least 150 people.

In Mozambique, Ivan is expected to worsen flooding that has already engulfed parts of the southern African country.

Flooding has forced thousands of villagers from their homes in Mozambique in recent weeks. Scientists say rising sea temperatures linked to climate change are likely to increase the frequency and intensity of cyclones in the tropics over the coming decades, and some suspect they have already.

<B> SYDNEY. Australia seeking fatter mailmen. </B> Australia?s postal service has increased the maximum weight for mailmen and women by 15 kg in an attempt to attract more ?posties,? local media reported recently. Australia Post had a weight limit of 90 kgs (198 pounds) for ?posties? because its 110cc motorcycles had a safe working limit of 130kg (286 pounds) ? that?s 40kg (88 pounds) for letters and up to 90 kgs for mailmen and women fully clothed.

But after talks with motorcycle manufacturer Honda it was agreed the bikes could safely carry a «postie» weighing 105 kgs (231 pounds), said Sydney?s the Daily Telegraph newspaper. But the ?posties? will only carry 25 kgs of mail. The union representing mailmen and women said the 90 kg limit had caused recruitment headaches for Australia Post, but the company denied it had staffing problems.

<B> Canada. Drunk driver parks at police station. </B> Police in the western Canadian town of Wetaskiwin didn?t have to do much work when they arrested a drunk driver at the weekend ? he had parked his car next to their offices and wandered inside. Police discovered the man as they drove by to respond to an unrelated call.

Although the police office was locked, the lobby was open. ?There was a vehicle parked about 10 feet (3 metres) outside our front door. The gentleman had walked into the front lobby and he was displaying many indications of being intoxicated,? Constable Mark Scheck said on Wednesday. ?So at that point we did take him into custody ... it?s pretty unusual,? he said over phone from Wetaskiwin, some 45 miles south of Edmonton, Alberta. The 28-year-old man has been charged with impaired driving.

<B> BERLIN. German puts out girlfriend?s cigarette with fire extinguisher . </B> A virulent anti-smoker in Germany was so angry when his girlfriend lit up he emptied a fire extinguisher to put out the cigarette, caking her and their apartment in powder.

?My colleagues said it looked like a bomb had gone off in there,? said a spokesman for police in the western city of Bielefeld. ?He managed to put the cigarette out though.? After the woman ignored his request not to smoke, the 42-year-old sprayed the contents of the extinguisher all around the flat shouting abuse, police said.

?He said he wasn?t bothered by the damage it caused,? the spokesman said. ?And that he?s through with his girlfriend.?