IN BRIEF (Page 12)

UNITED STATES

Dinosaur skull to return to Mongolia

A federal judge in New York has approved the transfer to Mongolia of a dinosaur skull once owned by National Treasure adventure films star Nicolas Cage. The order on Wednesday will lead to shipment of the 80-cm-long fossil to the Asian nation. A Cage publicist said in December the actor was the unwitting buyer of a skull prosecutors said previously had been stolen. The skull was auctioned in March 2007 for $230,000.

YEMEN

Rebels kill 13 despite cease-fire

At least 13 pro-government fighters were killed in a rebel attack on their positions near the Yemeni capital despite a UN-brokered cease-fire taking effect this week, military sources said on Thursday. The rebels attacked positions of Gulf-backed loyalist fighters in Nihm, northeast of Sanaa, where clashes have occurred for two weeks despite warring parties promising to abide by a cease-fire that took effect on Sunday.

MYANMAR

Pagodas damaged; no deaths in quake

Myanmar appeared to have escaped with only minor damage to buildings after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that rattled its remote north, police said on Thursday, as early reports said there not had been any casualties. The quake, which struck late on Wednesday more than 130 kilometers below the surface, was felt from China to Bangladesh, where scores of people were injured in stampedes as panic spread.

BRAZIL

Three parties abandon leader

President Dilma Rousseff's chances of surviving impeachment appeared diminished on Wednesday, with three parties decamping from her governing coalition in 24 hours as Brazilian legislators prepare for a crucial vote on the question expected this weekend. The pullouts of the mid-size centrist parties sparked growing despondency among members of Rousseff' left-leaning Workers' Party ahead of the vote expected on Sunday in the Chamber of Deputies.

PHILIPPINES

IS claims it killed 100 troops

The Philippines has dismissed as "purely propaganda" Islamic State's claim that its militants killed scores of government troops in ambushes and said there was no evidence directly linking southern Muslim rebels to the group. The Philippines has reported 46 people killed in battles this week between troops and rebels from a group known as Abu Sayyaf on the island of Basilan.

KYRGYZSTAN

New PM and Cabinet approved

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev on Wednesday signed a decree appointing Sooronbay Jeenbekov as the new prime minister and approving his Cabinet, the presidential press service confirmed on Thursday. Most of the former Cabinet members will remain in the cabinet.

(China Daily 04/15/2016 page12)