IN BRIEF (Page 12)

United States

Partial shutdown cost economy $11 billion

The record-long partial federal government shutdown cost the US economy approximately $11 billion, a report from the Congressional Budget Office said on Monday. It reduced real GDP in the fourth quarter of 2018 by $3 billion, or 0.1 percent, and could lower GDP in the first quarter of 2019 by $8 billion, or 0.2 percent, the report said. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a bill to fund the government through Feb 15, leaving more time for the White House and Democrats to negotiate over border security, the impasse over which led to the 35-day shutdown.

Two suspects dead in gunfight with police

It started as an attempt to serve a search warrant at a suspected drug house in Texas and quickly turned into a gunbattle that killed two suspects and injured five officers, including four who were shot, Houston's police chief said. The suspects were killed on Monday after firing at narcotics officers who were trying to enter a home on the city's southeast side where authorities allege black tar heroin was being sold, Police Chief Art Acevedo said. Four of the officers were shot and a fifth suffered a knee injury. Acevedo said two of the officers were hit in the neck by gunfire and were in critical, but stable condition at a hospital.

Korean Peninsula

Offer to celebrate key anniversary together

The Republic of Korea has proposed that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea jointly celebrate the 100th anniversary of the March 1 independence movement against Japan's colonial rule, local media reported on Tuesday. An unidentified official from Seoul's Unification Ministry told local reporters that the ROK has been waiting for the DPRK's response to its overtures. The Korean Peninsula was colonized by Japan during 1910-45.

Singapore

US man leaks data of 14,200 with HIV

An HIV-positive US citizens who had been deported from Singapore after serving a jail term has leaked online the personal data of 14,200 Singaporeans and foreigners diagnosed in the city-state with the virus. Mikhy Farrera Brochez lived in Singapore from 2008 and was convicted in 2017 on numerous drug-related and fraud offenses, including lying to the Ministry of Manpower about his own HIV status.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai airport world's busiest for intl travel

Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest for international travel in 2018, the airport authority said on Monday. The airport received over 89.1 million passengers in 2018, up from 88.2 million passengers in 2017, a statement on the airport's website said. The airport welcomed 89,149,387 customers in 2018, 1 percent more than the number in 2017. The Dubai International Airport surpassed London Heathrow Airport to become the world's busiest airport for international traffic in 2014 and has maintained the position.

France

No butter, no cream: Vegan rules at match

Contestants duking it out at this year's World Pastry Cup in Lyon on Monday had to wrestle with a challenge previously unthinkable in France's rich dessert history - no animal products at all: It's got to be vegan to take the cake. Twenty-one countries took part in the final of a competition organized every two years, under the banner of the Lyon Gastronomy Fair. Competitors had 10 hours to prepare a dessert based on chocolate and honey, a frozen desert made of fruit, and one without any butter, cream, eggs or any other animal product. Malaysia's team rose to the challenge, taking the cup with a meticulous crafting of monkeys dressed like Elvis.

Xinhua - AP - AFP

(China Daily 01/30/2019 page12)