IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Israel

US has permanent military base

The first US permanent military base unveiled in Israel on Tuesday reveals the two sides' readiness to enhance bilateral cooperation and further curb Iran. Israel and the United States have been working toward the base during the past two years, and all facilities necessary for a permanent military presence will be put in place soon, by when several dozens of US soldiers will be stationed, said Zvika Haimovitch, head of the Aerial Defense Division in the Israeli Defense Forces.

United Kingdom

$24 billion in Brexit bill, FT reports

British Prime Minister Theresa May will promise to pay a Brexit divorce bill of at least $24 billion, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Wednesday. The announcement will be formally made by May on Friday, during her highly-anticipated Brexit speech in the Italian city of Florence, the FT said. May's Downing Street office called the report "pure speculation".

Japan

New party to be formed this month

Independent lawmaker Masaru Wakasa announced plans on Wednesday to field 50 or more candidates to form a new party ahead of the general election expected to take place in Tokyo on Oct 22. Wakasa, who will jointly launch the new party with Goshi Hosono, the former environment minister who left the main opposition Democratic Party, said the party will be launched by Sept 28 and be comprised of candidates from a political academy he has founded.

Syria

Battle for IS capital in 'final stages'

US-backed forces in Syria said the battle for the Islamic State group's de-facto capital, Raqqa, has reached its "final stages" with the opening of a new front. The Syrian Democratic Forces said in a statement on Wednesday they have captured the city's grain silos from the militants in a surprise offensive on northern neighborhoods mounted five days ago. The IS group still controls broad swathes of eastern Syria and pockets of territory in neighboring Iraq.

United States

Suspect identified in woman's death

A Chinese woman has been found dead in her apartment near Atlanta, and the police are offering a reward for the whereabouts of the man suspected of killing her, local media reported on Tuesday. The victim, surnamed Li, is believed to be a 28-year-old alumni from Georgia Institute of Technology. She did not show up for work and was found dead late Monday in her Smyrna apartment by police. Police has identified the suspect as 24-year-old Brian Marsh Semrinec.

(China Daily 09/21/2017 page12)