IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Iran

New cruise missile built

A news agency in Iran reported that the Islamic republic has built a new surface-to-surface cruise missile capable of being launched from an airplane. The report on Sunday by the semi-official Fars news agency quoted General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the air space department of the country's Revolutionary Guard, as saying that the missile has a range of 700 kilometers. Hajizadeh said it can be launched from land-based pads, naval vessels, aircraft, helicopters and drones.

Cuba

Punishment for perfume maker

The Cuban government said on Saturday that it will punish officials of a perfume maker, Labiofam, for its plan to name two scents after prominent figures - guerrilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara and former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. "Because of this serious error, appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken," the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers said. Labiofam said earlier that the two fragrances would be named "Ernesto" and "Hugo".

Turkey

Tattoos banned for pupils

Turkey's Islamic-rooted government has banned pupils from wearing tattoos or body piercings in schools, a measure denounced by opponents as oppressive and unenforceable, reports said Sunday. While tattoos are frowned upon by conservative elements in Turkey's diverse society, they are highly fashionable among secular urban youths, including teenage students.

India

Former Tamil head convicted

Nadu J. Jayalalithaa, who was chief minister of the state of Tamil in southern India, has been sentenced to four years in jail on corruption charges involving "disproportionate assets" that have been pending for nearly two decades. A special court in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru found her guilty of amassing unaccounted wealth of more than $10 million, in the 18-year-old case. She was also fined $16 million, local media reported on Sunday.

France

Pilots decide to end strike

Air France pilots have decided to end a two-week strike that crippled the French airline, a union official said on Sunday. Air France had been locked in a dispute with pilots over plans to create a low-cost operation, triggering a walkout that has cost it up to $25 million a day. "I can confirm that the SNPL has decided to put an end to the strike," said Julien Doboz, spokesman for the sister Air France pilot union SPAF.

AP - Xinhua - AFP - Reuters

(China Daily 09/29/2014 page12)