IN BRIEF (Page 7)

United Kingdom

Govt was to equip rebels

Britain had planned to train and equip a 100,000-strong rebel army to defeat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad before it was deemed to be too risky, BBC Newsnight reported on Thursday. The BBC said the secret "extract, equip, train" proposal, put forward two years ago, was the idea of General David Richards, then chief of Britain's defense.

Middle East

Police out in force for funeral

Israeli police flooded east Jerusalem ahead of the funeral of a Palestinian teenager believed killed by Israelis and the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Mohammed Abu Khder, 16, who was kidnapped and found dead on Wednesday, was to be buried in east Jerusalem's Shuafat neighborhood after the midday prayers, with tensions running high after two straight days of violence.

Russia

'Will' seen on Iran talks

Russia signaled on Friday that a deal could be clinched in Iran nuclear negotiations, as there is "political will" and a sense of urgency among participants for an accord before a July 20 deadline. "One feels political will of the participants, and a certain fear that we may not be quick enough - that is a good sign in this situation. There is not much time left. But there are chances," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

France

Security tightens on flights to US

France is increasing security on flights headed for the United States this summer amid US concerns that al-Qaida is trying to develop a new kind of bomb. The French civil aviation authority said the measures might cause delays on US-bound flights. The Obama administration this week called for tighter security measures at foreign airports that have direct flights to the US, prompting British airports to increase security on Thursday.

Japan

Woman 'dies in exorcism'

Police probing the death of a woman who died after being forced to a drink a lot of water have arrested an 81-year-old professional exorcist, her younger sister and the victim's husband. Reports said Rie Fukuda, aged 51, was pinned down and made to swallow a large volume of water in what detectives said was an "exorcism" carried out by her husband and two elderly women.

Hungary

5 monitored for signs of anthrax

An infection of the deadly anthrax disease has been identified in beef in eastern Hungary and five people are being monitored in hospital for suspected infection from the disease, the health authority ANTSZ said in a statement on Friday. It said the disease was identified in frozen beef after two cattle were illegally slaughtered.

AFP-AP-Reuters

(China Daily 07/05/2014 page7)