IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Israel

Ministers in landmark vote

Ministers voted on Sunday in favor of a controversial proposal to anchor in law Israel's status as the national homeland of the Jewish people, at the expense of its democratic character. Following a stormy meeting, the cabinet voted 14 to six in favor of the proposal, with ministers from the two centrist parties, HaTnuah led by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Yesh Atid of Finance Minister Yair Lapid, voting against, media reports said.

Cyprus

228 migrants saved at sea

About 228 migrants, apparently refugees from Syria, have been rescued after their damaged ship drifted for hours in rough seas off Cyprus' northern coast, an official said on Sunday. Hasan Tacoy, transport minister of the Turkish Cypriot breakaway state in the north of Cyprus, said the migrants, including 25 children, have received medical checkups and are now housed in a sports hall in the coastal town of Girne. Apart from suffering from seasickness during their 14-hour ordeal, the migrants are in good health, Tacoy said.

Afghanistan

Suicide bomber kills 40 at match

A suicide bomber walked into a crowd of spectators at a volleyball match in eastern Afghanistan and detonated his explosives vest on Sunday, killing at least 40 people, a provincial official said.

Paktika provincial spokesman Mukhles Afghan said at least 50 more were wounded in the attack in Paktika province, where more than 100 had gathered to watch a tournament final.

United Kingdom

Rail station evacuated

One of London's busiest railway stations, Charing Cross, was evacuated on Sunday after a fire caused by a suspected electrical fault, the British Transport Police (BTP) said. Pictures from the scene showed part of a stationary passenger train on fire with a crowd looking on.

Nobody was hurt and there was no suggestion the incident was malicious, a BTP spokesman told Reuters.

Romania

Police seize prosecutor

Romania's chief prosecutor tasked with investigating organized crime and terrorism was on Saturday arrested on corruption charges over a real estate deal alleged to have cost the government more than 60 million euros ($75 million), local media reported. The country's Supreme Court ordered Alina Bica to be remanded in custody for 30 days over the 2011 case. Anti-corruption investigators allege that Bica knowingly approved a compensation package for land that was greatly overvalued.

AFP - AP - Reuters

(China Daily 11/24/2014 page11)