IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Thailand

Yingluck unveils reform plan

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra unveiled a plan on Wednesday to create an independent reform council to try to appease opponents who, angered by her family's political dominance, are calling for her resignation. The proposal, which comes after weeks of anti-government protests that have rallied more than 200,000 people at their peak, could be put into play soon, Yingluck said in a televised address.

Ukraine

$15b from Russia expected soon

Ukraine expects a $15 billion bailout package from Russia to be fully disbursed in early 2014, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Wednesday after Kiev received the first $3 billion tranche. Russia agreed to bail out Ukraine by purchasing its sovereign bonds after Kiev performed a sharp foreign policy U-turn and refused to sign deals on political association and free trade with the European Union.

Uruguay

President signs marijuana law

A spokesman for President Jose Mujica said the leader has quietly signed into law the government's plan to create a regulated, legal market for marijuana. Officials now have until April 9 to write the fine print for regulating every aspect of the marijuana market, from growing to selling in a network of pharmacies. They hope to have the system in place by the middle of next year.

Turkey

Ministers resign over graft probe

Three Turkish ministers resigned on Wednesday over a corruption probe that has pitted the government against the judiciary and rattled foreign investor confidence, officials said. Sons of Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Environmental Minister Erdogan Bayraktar and Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan were among the 24 people arrested on graft charges on Dec 17.

DPRK

Kim tells military to brace for war

Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong-un has urged the country's military to bolster its combat readiness, saying a war could break out "without any prior notice", state media reported on Wednesday. The call comes at a time of heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula following the execution of Kim's uncle, Jang Song-thaek.

United States

Ice storm knocks out electricity

Repair crews worked round-the-clock to restore power to nearly half a million customers who faced a cold and dark Christmas in parts of the central and northeastern United States and into eastern Canada after a weekend ice storm. It appears the bad weather isn't ready to take a break. The US National Weather Service said more snow is forecast to roll into the Great Lakes and Midwest by Wednesday morning.

AP-Reuters-AFP-xinhua

(China Daily 12/26/2013 page11)