IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Russia

Putin submits papers for election

President Vladimir Putin has submitted his endorsement papers to election authorities. Putin is running for his fourth term in office as an independent candidate. The law requires all independents to secure an endorsement from at least 500 people. If given the green light, the candidate will then be allowed to collect signatures necessary to be allowed on the ballot.

Republic Of Korea

12 years jail sought for Samsung heir

Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded a 12-year prison term for Samsung's jailed billionaire heir Lee Jaeyong, who maintained his innocence during an appeal of his conviction on bribery and other charges. In August, a lower court sentenced Lee to five years in prison for offering bribes to former president Park Geun-hye and her confidante while Park was in office. Both Lee and prosecutors appealed that ruling.

Turkey

Moscow to provide missile systems

Sergey Chemezov, chief executive officer of Russia's high-tech giant Rostec Corporation confirmed that Turkey has purchased four Russian S-400 missile defense systems worth $2.5 billion, local media reported on Wednesday. Chemezov also confirmed that the deliveries will start in March 2020. Turkey will pay a 45-percent advance while the rest will be covered by Russian loan funds, he said.

Liberia

Nation waits for election results

Vote counting was under way in Liberia on Wednesday following a peaceful runoff election for a new president, pitting former international soccer star George Weah against Vice-President Joseph Boakai. Voters were choosing a successor to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is stepping down after 12 years as Africa's first elected female head of state.

Peru

Fujimori apologizes following pardon

Former president Alberto Fujimori apologized to Peruvians on Tuesday for the wrongs committed under his government in the 1990s, issuing a vaguely worded statement two days after he received a presidential medical pardon that freed him from prison. The 79-year-old Fujimori received the pardon after serving less than half of a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses.

Japan

Confined woman froze to death

A couple have been arrested after allegedly imprisoning their daughter for more than 15 years before she froze to death aged 33 this month, media said on Wednesday. Osaka residents Yasutaka Kakimoto, 55, and his wife Yukari, 53, admitted to locking their daughter Airi in a small room from the age of around 16 or 17, Kyodo News said. An autopsy showed Airi had frozen to death and was extremely malnourished, weighing 19 kilograms.

(China Daily 12/28/2017 page12)