IN BRIEF (Page 4)

United States

House Democrats seeks Trump tax returns

A House committee has formally asked the IRS to provide six years of President Donald Trump's personal tax returns and the returns for some of his businesses for 2013 through 2018 as Democrats try to shed light on the president's complex financial dealings and potential conflicts of interest. The request by Massachusetts Republican Richard Neal, who heads the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, is the first such demand for a sitting president's tax information in 45 years. Trump told reporters on Wednesday he "would not be inclined" to provide his tax returns to the committee.

Japan

Ghosn arrested again in financial misconduct

Tokyo prosecutors arrested Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn on Thursday, for a fourth time, cutting short his brief time outside detention. Ghosn and his lawyer protested against this latest arrest, saying it was arbitrary and unfair. Prosecutors said Ghosn was arrested this time on suspicion he diverted $5 million from funds that were being relayed from a Nissan subsidiary to an overseas dealership. In a statement, prosecutors said the money is suspected of going to a company controlled by Ghosn. It's unclear how long Ghosn may be detained under the latest arrest.

Indonesia

Komodo dragon island may close to tourism

Indonesia may temporarily shut an island that is home to komodo dragons in a bid to fix problems created by mass tourism and thwart attempts to smuggle the world's biggest lizard, the local tourism agency said on Thursday. The proposed closure, which is awaiting central government approval, would start from 2020 but does not apply to nearby islands where the giant, slavering carnivores are also found, the agency said. Komodo Island is home to about 2,300 dragons, which can grow to around three meters in length. An adult typically weighs from 70 to 90 kilograms.

AP - AFP

(China Daily 04/05/2019 page4)