Briefly

AUSTRALIA

Barrier Reef back in spotlight on listing

Australia's Great Barrier Reef should be added to a list of "in danger" World Heritage sites, according to United Nations experts who warned the fading wonder has been "significantly impacted" by climate change. A UNESCO-tasked report said on Monday that warming seas and agricultural pollution had put the reef at risk and that its resilience had been "substantially compromised". The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's premier tourist drawcards and putting it on the in-danger list could substantially tarnish its allure for international visitors. UNESCO considered listing the reef after a damning report last year, but held off following intense lobbying from Australia's previous conservative government.

PAKISTAN

Pakistani Taliban ends cease-fire with govt

The Pakistani Taliban ended a monthslong cease-fire with the government in Islamabad on Monday, ordering its fighters to resume attacks across the country, where scores of deadly attacks have been blamed on the group. In a statement, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, said it decided to end the 5-month-old cease-fire after Pakistan's army stepped up operations against them in former northwestern tribal areas and elsewhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan. Pakistan and the TTP had agreed to an indefinite cease-fire in May after talks in the Afghanistani capital Kabul. There was no immediate comment from the government or the military.

SOUTH KOREA

Return-to-work order issued to strikers

South Korea's transport ministry issued its first return-to-work order on Tuesday to truckers who have been on a strike demanding reasonable freight rates. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport issued the order that the truckers on strike should return to work after it was passed at a cabinet meeting. Around 2,500 truckers in the cement industry will be subject to the order. It is the first time that such an order has been invoked since relevant law was enacted in 2004.Anyone defying the order can be punished with up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,600). Thousands of truckers went on strike on Thursday, demanding the government extend the temporary rule guaranteeing minimum freight rates that are set to expire at the end of this year.

Agencies - Xinhua