IN BRIEF (Page 12)

United States

Former spy for Israel to be freed

Former spy Jonathan Pollard was set to be released from a federal prison on Friday, 30 years after he was caught selling US intelligence secrets to Israel. But he'll be on a short leash as he rebuilds his life as a free man. Pollard, 61, was given a life sentence in 1987 in a case that has complicated diplomacy between the two countries. He was expected to settle in the New York City area while he spends at least the next five years on parole.

Yemen

Al-Qaida attack claims 34 people

At least 15 Yemen soldiers and 19 militants have been killed in an attack by al-Qaida on a military post in the eastern region of Hadramawt, a security source said. The attack began with a suicide bomber detonating an explosive in his car at the military post, between the towns of Shibam and al-Qatn, followed by an assault by 25 to 30 militants, the security source said. Clashes in the area were still going on, he said.

Kuwait

Authorities break extremist cell

Kuwait's Interior Ministry said on Thursday it cracked down on an extremist cell that was aiding the Islamic State group with support that included brokering arms deals, arresting six people. Police arrested the alleged ringleader, a Lebanese citizen named Osama Khayat, who admitted to helping the Islamic State group recruit fighters and raise money that was sent to IS-related bank accounts in Turkey.

Middle East

Palestinian attacks leave five dead

A pair of stabbing and shooting attacks carried out by Palestinians killed five people on Thursday - three Israelis, a Palestinian and a US citizen - in one of the deadliest days yet in a two-month-long outburst of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The attacks are part of a wave of violence that erupted in mid-September over tensions surrounding a Jerusalem holy site sacred to both Jews and Muslims.

Singapore

Religion leaders sentenced to jail

The co-founder of a Singapore church and five other leaders were sentenced to jail terms of up to eight years on Friday for fraudulently diverting millions of dollars to support his wife's pop-singing career. The fraud has fascinated tightly regulated Singapore, where such cases are rare in an affluent city-state with little tolerance for corruption.

AP - AFP - Reuters

(China Daily 11/21/2015 page12)