IN BRIEF (Page 12)

United Kingdom

Panel rules out currency union

A British parliamentary committee on Monday ruled out the possibility of "any kind" of currency union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The committee said Scotland would no longer be able to use the pound if it voted for independence in a referendum on Sept 18. "The Scottish government tries to give the impression that a currency union is still a possibility. It is not. This parrot is dead," said Ian Davidson, the chairman of the committee.

Cambodia

Rivals to hold fresh talks

Cambodia's prime minister and the leader of the opposition are set for their first face-to-face talks for nearly a year on Tuesday, their parties have said, in a bid to jolt the kingdom from its political stasis. The opposition has boycotted Parliament since elections in July, accusing the ruling Cambodian People's Party of vote-rigging and calling for electoral reforms before fresh polls.

The Philippines

President hit with complaint

Twenty-eight people, including prominent activists and a retired Catholic bishop, filed an impeachment complaint Monday against Philippine President Benigno Aquino III for his implementation of a major economic stimulus program that the Supreme Court has declared partly unconstitutional. The complaint accused Aquino of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust by funding projects outside the Congress-approved annual budget.

Germany

At least 15 swimmers died

At least 15 swimmers have drowned in German waters while bathing on the hot weekend, with several more people still missing, German media reported on Monday. According to the report, seven of them died in the lowly populated coastal state of Mecklenburg West Pomerania, while in the German states of North Rhine Westphalia, Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Hesse, there were also drownings reported.

South Africa

Park considers rhino evacuation

South Africa's Kruger National Park is considering a plan to move some rhinos out of the flagship wildlife reserve in an attempt to protect them from poachers. The goal is to "spread the risk" by evacuating rhinos to other game reserves because Kruger park is heavily targeted by poachers, park spokesman William Mabasa said on Monday. No decision has been made on the proposal and there is no guarantee that other parks are safe since "poachers are going everywhere", he said.

AP - AFP - Xinhua

(China Daily 07/22/2014 page12)