IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Yemen

Houthis set to head to Sweden peace talks

A Yemeni Houthi delegation was expected to leave for Sweden for United Nations-sponsored peace talks, the first since 2016, while the UN's humanitarian aid chief said he did not expect "easy or rapid process" in the talks. A rebel official said the Yemeni government and its allies have signed a UN-brokered prisoner exchange deal with the rebels. Houthi delegates were expected to fly to Stockholm on Wednesday, while other delegates were to head there on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Italy

Police arrest new mafia boss in Sicily

Italian police on Tuesday arrested new mafia boss Settimino Mineo and dozens of other suspects in a major swoop against a resurgent Cosa Nostra. Police arrested jeweller Mineo, 80, and at least 45 others in Sicily just before he was due to be officially anointed at a reconvened mafia commission or cupola, the police said. The suspects are accused of extortion, illegal gun possession, arson, mafia association and other crimes, investigators said. The Sicilian mafia managed to rebuild the cupola after it had not met for years, media reported. The cupola met in May for the first time since 1993 and was due to appoint Mineo official heir to notorious mafia boss Toto Riina, who died in prison last year.

Malaysia

Three killed in shopping mall blast

Three people were killed and 24 injured on Tuesday when a powerful explosion rocked a shopping mall in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, but a fire official said it was not caused by a bomb. The official Bernama news agency said the blast could have been caused by a leaking gas tank. The head of the fire rescue department said an investigation is under way and it is one of the worst tragedies in the state in years. Thirty-nine officers were sent to the scene and 24 people injured were taken to the nearby hospital.

Reuters - Afp - Ap

(China Daily 12/05/2018 page11)