IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Saudi Arabia

Deaths from MERS reach 348

Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry said that 348 people have died in the kingdom after contracting Middle East respiratory syndrome. The ministry's latest figures, released late on Tuesday, include two recent deaths recorded in the country's capital, Riyadh. They bring to 810 the number of confirmed cases in the country since the virus was first identified in 2012.

Thailand

More arrested in graft probe

Five more civilians have been arrested as part of a major corruption probe into a network of senior Thai police officers, bringing the number of those caught up in the scandal to 17, authorities said on Wednesday. The investigation - a rare move against the kingdom's top brass - has led to the public downfall of three senior officers who have been charged under the country's strict royal defamation law.

Australia

No debris found from MH370

More than 7,000 square km of the seabed have been searched so far but no debris has been found relating to missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, Judith Zielke, chief coordinator of the Joint Agency Coordination Center for the search, said on Wednesday. She also promised to update families of those who were onboard with the latest search information on a regular basis.

Egypt

Court drops ban on film

An Egyptian court has revoked a government ban on a film by Lebanese star Haifa Wehbe that was deemed sexually provocative, judicial sources said on Wednesday. In April, Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab suspended screening of Halawet Rooh (Beauty of Soul), a movie said to have been inspired by Monica Bellucci's 2000 hit, Malena.

AFP - Xinhua - AP

(China Daily 11/27/2014 page12)