IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Middle East

US could unveil peace plan in 2019

The United States has spoken with Israel about possibly presenting a long-awaited Middle East peace plan at the start of next year, which could avoid interfering with the country's election, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has been preparing a plan for peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. But the Palestinians are skeptical and have accused the Trump administration of siding with Israel on the core issues relating to the decades-old conflict, burying all chances for peace.

Australia

Mass evacuation over wildfire

Authorities have ordered the immediate evacuation of thousands of residents and dozens of schools after a massive wildfire broke through containment lines in central Queensland State on Wednesday. Despite the tireless efforts of fire crew, eight water-bombing aircraft and teams of extra firefighters flown in from other states, the conditions which have seen temperatures of 40 C and wind gusts of 50 km/h, have made battling the 138 separate blazes along the Queensland coast virtually impossible.

Republic Of Korea

Apology on human rights atrocities

The top public prosecutor apologized on Tuesday over what he described as a botched investigation into the enslavement and mistreatment of thousands of people at a vagrants' facility in the 1970s and 1980s nearly three decades after its owner was acquitted of serious charges. The remarks by Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il were the government's first formal expression of remorse over one of the worst human rights atrocities in modern ROK. They add pressure for parliament to pass legislation to start a deeper inquiry into what happened at the now-closed Brothers Home, whose owner was cleared of serious charges amid an obvious cover-up orchestrated at the highest levels of government.

France

Macron sticking to energy plans

In an hour-long televised address, French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday refused to bow to calls to change track and vowed to press ahead with his controversial energy plan. But he said he would listen to the public and change the way the government works. Macron's increase in fuel taxes ignited weekslong protests after the recent surge in oil prices. Over the past 10 days, demonstrators have blocked motorways and obstructed access to fuel depots and factories, in a show of growing public disenchantment with Macron's reforms. On Saturday, protests saw barricades and tear gas on Paris' famous Champs-Elysees.

United States

SpongeBob creator dies at 57

Stephen Hillenburg, who created SpongeBob SquarePants and the absurd undersea world he inhabited, has died at age 57, Nickelodeon announced on Tuesday. Hillenburg died on Monday of Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as ALS, the cable network said in a statement. Hillenburg had announced he had the disease in March 2017.

Reuters - Xinhua - Ap - Afp

(China Daily 11/29/2018 page11)