IN BRIEF (Page 11)

United Kingdom

Govt investigates Muslim Brotherhood

British Prime Minister David Cameron has ordered an investigation into the Muslim Brotherhood over concerns that the group is planning radical activities from a base in London, his Downing Street office said on Tuesday. The intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 have been tasked to gather information on the "philosophy and activities" of the group after several leaders fled to London following the toppling of Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi last year.

Russia

Gas price for Ukraine hiked

Russia sharply hiked the price for natural gas to Ukraine on Tuesday and threatened to reclaim billions in previous discounts, raising the heat on its cash-strapped government, while Ukrainian police moved to disarm members of a radical nationalist group after a shooting spree in the capital. Alexei Miller, head of Russia's state-controlled Gazprom natural gas giant, said the company has withdrawn December's discount that put the price of gas at $268.50 per 1,000 cubic meters and set the price at $385.50 per 1,000 cubic meters for the second quarter.

Japan

Residents return to no-go zone

For the first time since Japan's nuclear disaster three years ago, authorities are allowing residents to return to live in their homes within a tiny part of a 20-kilometer evacuation zone around the Fukushima plant. The decision, which took effect on Tuesday, applies to 357 people in 117 households from a corner of Tamura after the government determined that radiation levels are low enough for habitation.

Guinea

Ebola epidemic 'unprecedented'

Guinea faces an Ebola epidemic on an unprecedented scale as it battles to contain confirmed cases now scattered across several locations that are far apart, medical charity Doctors Without Borders said on Monday. The outbreak of one of the world's most lethal infectious diseases has spooked a number of governments with weak health systems, prompting Senegal to close its border with Guinea and other neighbors to restrict travel and cross-border exchanges.

Uganda

President dismisses Western aid cuts

President Yoweri Museveni told a rally of religious leaders, politicians and thousands of supporters on Monday that Uganda could live without aid that Western donors suspended or diverted in protest of an anti-gay bill that became law in February. Western donors have halted or re-directed about $118 million in aid since Museveni signed the law, which toughened existing rules against gays and prescribed life in jail for what it called "aggravated homosexuality", such as sex with a minor.

India

US envoy resigns 1 week before vote

The US ambassador to India said she has resigned and will retire before the end of May, ending a two-year tenure after the strip-search of an Indian diplomat in New York that badly damaged US-India ties, according to a post on the US embassy website on Monday. The resignation of Nancy Powell comes at an awkward time, with India's national elections just one week away. It also comes as the two countries are still trying to mend ties following the diplomatic spat over the arrest of Devyani Khobragade in New York.

AP-Reuters-AFP

(China Daily 04/02/2014 page11)