IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Iran

Budget submitted since US sanctions

Iran's president submitted next year's budget to parliament on Tuesday, the first since the United States restored sanctions that had been lifted under the nuclear deal. The $47.5 billion budget is less than half the size of last year's, mainly due to the severe depreciation of the local currency following US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The Iranian rial has fallen from around 42,000 to the dollar a year ago to around 100,000 today. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the sanctions have hurt Iran but will not bring the Islamic Republic "to its knees".

Japan

Nissan's Kelly granted bail by Tokyo court

Former Nissan Motor Representative Director Greg Kelly was granted bail by a Tokyo court on Tuesday, raising the possibility he could be freed before Christmas was over, although Carlos Ghosn, the automaker's ousted chairman, remains in custody. The court said in a statement that Kelly's bail was set at 70 million yen ($635,612). If released on bail, Kelly could be barred from leaving Japan or talking to people related to the case, NHK said, although exceptions can be made for overseas travel on a case-by-case basis.

United States

Kevin Spacey charged with indecent assault

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has been charged in connection with an allegation that he sexually abused an 18-year-old boy at a Nantucket, Massachusetts, bar more than two years ago, the local district attorney said on Monday. Spacey is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Jan 7 on a single charge of indecent assault and battery on a person who is at least 14 years old, according to court documents and a statement issued by Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe.

Australia

People evacuated after 'loud crack' in tower

Police evacuated thousands of people in west Sydney late on Christmas Eve, after residents reported hearing a "loud crack" from a 38-story building. Engineers were investigating after the apartment complex moved "one or two millimeters". Official said Police "identified there was a crack in the building" which alerted emergency services. Some residents of Opal Tower were also allowed to return, although not those living in the section of the building where the crack had been found.

Ap - Reuters - Afp

(China Daily 12/26/2018 page11)