IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Dprk

Assad to visit Pyongyang

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he wants to visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to meet with its top leader Kim Jong-un, the official Korean Central News Agency said on Sunday. When receiving credentials from DPRK Ambassador Mun Jong-nam on May 30 in Damascus, Assad said Syria cherishes "the cornerstone of the historic relations between the two countries laid by President Kim Il-sung and former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. I am going to visit the DPRK and meet His Excellency Kim Jong-un," he was quoted as saying by KCNA, without specifying any date for such a visit.

Libya

IS claims attack on checkpoint

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on Saturday on a security checkpoint south of the eastern Libyan city of Ajdabiya, which killed a woman and injured five others. The security department of Ajdabiya did not reveal any casualties among its members. IS said a number of security officers were killed and a number of vehicles were burnt in the attack.

India

Nation test-fires ballistic missile

India successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface nuclear-capable Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile off Abdul Kalam Island in the eastern state of Odisha, local media reported. The domestically developed ballistic missile was launched at 9:50 am local time.

United Kingdom

Policies ready for EU summit

Britain will have a good set of proposals on Brexit policy ready for a meeting of European Union leaders this month, interior minister Sajid Javid said on Sunday, adding that he expected a positive response from Brussels. Prime Minister Theresa May is struggling to find a proposal on post-Brexit customs arrangements to take into negotiations with Brussels as the clock ticks down to Britain's scheduled exit in March 2019.

Xinhua - Reuters

(China Daily 06/04/2018 page12)