IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Republic Of Korea

Sanctions lifted for railway survey

The Republic of Korea said on Saturday that the United Nations Security Council granted an exemption to sanctions that will allow surveys on railroad sections in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The surveys would require the ROK to bring to the DPRK fuel and a variety of goods, including possibly cars to test on tracks. The neighbors plan to hold a groundbreaking ceremony by the end of the year on a project to connect their railways and roads as agreed by the DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un and ROK President Moon Jae-in.

Japan

Ghosn denies allegations: media

Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn has denied allegations of financial misconduct, claiming he had no intention of making false reports, Japanese media said on Sunday. The Brazil-born tycoon, who has not spoken publicly since he was arrested last Monday, told prosecutors he did not intend to understate his income on financial reports, public broadcaster NHK said. Ghosn was sacked as Nissan chairman on Thursday after prosecutors accused him and fellow executive Greg Kelly of under-reporting the former chairman's income by around 5 billion yen ($44 million).

Nigeria

Soldiers lash out after attack

Troops fighting on the frontlines of the Boko Haram conflict in northeastern Nigeria have released a video claiming at least 100 soldiers died in a recent attack and deploring the poor state of their equipment. In the five-minute video, a soldier narrating in the background shows the burnt shells of several tanks and vehicles at the Metele base, which was attacked by the IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province on Nov 18. At least 43 soldiers were killed in the attack according to military and civilian sources, though the army disputes the death toll.

United States

NASA spacecraft nears Red Planet

NASA's first robotic lander designed to study the deep interior of a distant world hurtled closer to Mars on course for a planned touchdown on Monday after a six-month voyage through space. Traveling 548 million kilometers from Earth, the Mars InSight spacecraft was due to reach its destination on the dusty, rockstrewn surface of the Red Planet at about 2000 GMT. If all goes according to plan, InSight will streak into the pink Martian sky at 19,310 km/h. Its descent will be slowed by atmospheric friction, a giant parachute and retro rockets. When it lands 6-1/2 minutes later, it will be traveling at 8 km/h.

AP - AFP - Reuters

(China Daily 11/26/2018 page12)