Briefly

BELGIUM

Alleged corruption shakes EU Parliament

The woman at the center of the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the European Union — former European Parliament vice-president Eva Kaili — must remain in custody until her next court appearance on Thursday, a Belgian court said. The lawmaker from Greece, who was arrested and charged along with three others on Dec 9 by police investigating alleged corruption at the EU, has been held since officers searched her home and other locations in Brussels, and seized 1.5 million euros ($1.59 million) in cash.

UNITED KINGDOM

Serious shortages of antibiotics admitted

The government on Thursday admitted there were serious shortages of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections in children, despite more than a week of denials. It came after at least 19 children died across the country from severe cases of Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) infection, and shortages of other types of antibiotics in Europe and North America.

ISRAEL

Netanyahu eyes deal with Saudi Arabia

Israel's designated prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday vowed to seek full diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia once he takes office, claiming that doing so would also promote peace with the Palestinians. The comments, made in a rare interview with an Arab news outlet, the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news channel, appeared to be aimed at easing concerns over the far-right makeup of the government that Netanyahu is forming.

PERU

Judge orders 18-month detention for Castillo

Peru's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered ousted president Pedro Castillo to remain in detention for another 18 months after his arrest last week, which has sparked deadly unrest in the South American nation. Castillo was removed from office and detained after he tried to dissolve the legislature and announced he would rule by decree, in what opponents say was a bid to dodge an impeachment vote amid several corruption probes. The former schoolteacher stands accused of rebellion and conspiracy and could be jailed for up to 10 years if found guilty.

Agencies - China Daily