IN BRIEF (Page 12)

France

2 jailed over death of Chinese designer

A Paris court on Tuesday sentenced two men to prison for their role in the death of a Chinese textile designer in 2016. One defendant was given a 10-year term and the other five years with a 12-month suspension for causing Zhang Chaolin's death while trying to steal his bag. A friend of the designer was also injured in the incident. Zhang was in a coma for five days before dying of his injuries.

Israel

Hamas hit after rocket attacks

Israeli warplanes struck Hamas positions in Gaza after Palestinian militants there fired dozens of rockets and mortars at southern communities early on Wednesday, the military said. Israel has been battling large fires caused by kites and balloons rigged with incendiary devices or burning rags, launched by Palestinians in Gaza that have destroyed forests, burned crops and killed wildlife and livestock.

United Kingdom

Station explosion 'not terror-related'

At least five people were injured after a minor explosion at a Tube station in north London, police said on Tuesday. Two people were taken to hospital and three others were treated for minor injuries at the scene at Southgate station, according to the London Ambulance Service. The incident was not terror-related, with police saying it appeared to be caused by an electrical short circuit.

Germany

Police say ricin attack foiled

A Tunisian man arrested last week in possession of the deadly poison ricin was planning a biological attack, the national police chief said on Wednesday. "Very concrete preparations had been made for an act with a, if you will, biological bomb," Holger Muench, head of the Federal Criminal Police Office, told public broadcaster ARD.

Xinhua - Ap - Afp

(China Daily 06/21/2018 page12)