Briefly

CHINA

C. American Parliament delegates to pay visit

The president of the Central American Parliament, Amado Cerrud, will lead a delegation to visit China from Tuesday to Saturday. On Aug 22, the parliament revoked the "permanent observer status" of the so-called "Legislative Yuan" of the Taiwan region and accepted the National People's Congress of China as a permanent observer. China welcomes and commends the resolution, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday. "This again shows that the one-China principle represents the unstoppable trend of the times and has the overwhelming support of the people," Mao said. She added that China stands ready to develop friendly cooperation with the Central American Parliament based on the one-China principle.

SOUTH KOREA

Opposition leader on strike hospitalized

South Korea's main opposition leader was hospitalized on Monday, days into a hunger strike in protest against government policies, while prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for him over corruption allegations. Lee Jaemyung, leader of the Democratic Party, began the protest on Aug 31, citing the government's economic mismanagement and failure to oppose the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water release into the ocean, among other reasons. Lee was transferred to a hospital from the National Assembly in Seoul on Monday morning after suffering from dehydration and dizziness, his party said. Kim Gi-hyeon, head of the ruling People Power Party, has urged Lee to stop fasting, saying he was ready to talk with the opposition leader on policy issues. Hours after Lee was transferred to the hospital, prosecutors said they had requested an arrest warrant for him as part of an investigation into a development project and bribery allegations. Lee is accused of being in breach of his duty over losses of 20 billion won ($15 million) run up by Seongnam Development Corporation during his time as mayor of Seongnam, prosecutors said.

GERMANY

Climate activists defile Brandenburg Gate

German climate activists sprayed orange paint onto Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on Sunday morning to urge the German government to take more action against climate change. Members of the group Last Generation used fire extinguishers filled with paint to spray all six columns of the popular landmark in Germany's capital. Police cordoned off the area surrounding Brandenburg Gate and confirmed that they detained 14 activists affiliated with Last Generation. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the group's actions, saying their tactics go beyond legitimate forms of protest. Germany aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2045, but it missed annual targets for the last two years, Reuters reported.

SOUTH AFRICA

20 mine employees killed in road accident

At least 20 employees of mining giant De Beers have been killed in a road accident in South Africa, local officials said on Sunday. The bus involved was ferrying employees from the Venetia mine, one of the biggest diamond mines in the country, said a transport official in the northern Limpopo Province. "The bus came into collision with a lorry," Vongani Chauke said. Chauke told Agence France-Presse the accident happened in the village on the border with Zimbabwe, some 25 kilometers from the mine. The cause of the accident has not been established. The Venetia mine has been run by the De Beers Group for more than 30 years.

China Daily - Agencies