IN BRIEF (Page 12)

United Nations

Ebola vaccine trials in January

Research into an Ebola vaccine will produce data about its safety by December, and could be in experimental field use by January. Dr Marie Paule Kieny, an assistant director general for World Health Organization, said clinical trials planned or underway in Europe, Africa and the US are being accompanied by a push among governments for immediate "real-world use" of an approved Ebola vaccine.

Australia

Runaway teenager surfaces in IS video

A teenager who ran away from Australia to join jihadists in Iraq and Syria has reappeared months later in a video of the Islamic State group, vowing he will "not stop fighting", reports said on Tuesday. The 17-year-old, whom local media called Abdullah Elmir but who calls himself Abu Khaled, carried a rifle and directly addressed Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in the video.

Nepal

Disaster leads to new trek rules

Nepal on Tuesday said it will introduce new rules, improve weather forecasts and better monitor the movement of trekkers after the country's worst hiking disaster last week. Tourism Department official Tulasi Gautam said trekkers will be required to take trained local guides, and will have to rent a GPS tracking unit.

Ukraine

Kiev says cluster bombs not used

Ukraine's armed forces on Tuesday rejected allegations that they used cluster bombs in the six-month conflict against rebels. The New York Times reported on Monday that it had identified 12 incidents in which cluster bombs were used.

Xinhua - AP - AFP

(China Daily 10/22/2014 page12)