IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Indonesia

Cleaner jailed for sex abuse of boy

A cleaner was jailed for seven years on Monday for sexually abusing a young boy at one of Indonesia's elite international schools, in a scandal that has rocked Jakarta's expatriate community. Presiding judge Mohamad Yunus told the South Jakarta district court that Afrischa Setyani, the only female cleaner among five defendants, "was found guilty of assisting in violence and sexual abuse of children".

India

Fog grounds 36 flights in capital

At least 36 flights and 50 trains were delayed as dense fog enveloped New Delhi on Monday, reducing visibility to less than 50 meters at the airport. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 15 C on Sunday, the lowest so far this winter, during a cold snap that has claimed the lives of four people.

Middle East

Jihadis behind attack detained

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said on Sunday that Hamas detained members of a global jihadi group in the Gaza Strip who fired a rocket into southern Israel at the weekend. "It turns out that it's one of the global jihad organizations, one of those so-called rogue organizations," Ya'alon said.

The Philippines

Court grants Arroyo furlough

A Philippines court ruled on Monday that ailing former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, detained on corruption charges since 2012, can spend Christmas with her family at home, although police guards will be posted at the residence. Arroyo was barred from leaving the country in October 2011, and has been detained in a military hospital since 2012 on corruption charges over the misuse of charity funds.

Spain

Princess faces tax fraud charges

Cristina de Borbon, sister of Spain's King Felipe VI, has been ordered to stand trial on charges of tax fraud, a court said on Monday, prolonging the embarrassment of the royal family which has sought to distance itself from a corruption probe. The charges were brought as part of an investigation into Cristina's husband, former Olympic handball player Inaki Urdangarin, who was accused of embezzling millions in public funds through his nonprofit Noos Foundation.

Colombia

Mudslide claims four victims

A mudslide in Bolivar in the southwestern department of Cauca, on Sunday, left four people dead and two others missing. The disaster also cut water and electricity supplies to some 500,000 people, said Cauca Governor Temistocles Ortega.

AFP - Xinhua - AP - Reuters

(China Daily 12/23/2014 page12)