IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Egypt

Govt arrests top Islamist

Egyptian authorities have arrested a leading Muslim Brotherhood member who played key role in negotiations between his now-banned group and the government, a security official said. The arrest of Mohammed Ali Bishr early on Thursday at his home in the Nile Delta was linked to a call for demonstrations, the official said.

South Korea

CEO jailed over ferry disaster

The head of the company that operated South Korea's Sewol ferry was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday after being convicted of manslaughter over the disaster that killed more than 300 people. A court in the southern city of Gwangju determined that Kim Han-sik, CEO of Chonghaejin Marine Co, had allowed the ferry to be routinely overloaded and approved illegal renovations to increase its passenger capacity.

Thailand

Students held at film opening

Police detained three students on Thursday at the opening of the latest Hunger Games movie in Bangkok, where opponents of May's military coup have adopted the film's three-finger salute as a sign of defiance. The government has banned the gesture, which symbolizes rebellion against totalitarian rule in the film series.

Australia

Jolie ready to give up acting

Hollywood A-lister Angelina Jolie says she plans to give up acting after a "few more" films and switch her focus to directing. Jolie walked the red carpet in Sydney with husband Brad Pitt this week at the premiere of her new movie, World War II epic Unbroken, which was filmed in Australia. "I love directing, I'm much happier directing," added the 39-year-old.

Honduras

Beauty queen found shot dead

A Honduran beauty queen has been found shot dead in a suspected crime of passion just days before she was due to compete in the Miss World pageant in London, police said on Wednesday. The bodies of Maria Jose Alvarado, 19, and her sister Sofia, 23, were found buried near a river in the mountainous region of Santa Barbara in western Honduras, said Leandro Osorio, head of the criminal investigation unit.

United States

NBC scraps Cosby Show

NBC has scrapped a Bill Cosby comedy that was under development, and TV Land is to stop airing reruns of The Cosby Show. The moves come a day after another woman claimed that the once-beloved comic had sexually assaulted her. NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks said on Wednesday that the Cosby sitcom "is no longer under development". The Cosby Show was to have been part of a Thanksgiving sitcom marathon.

AFP - Reuters - AP

(China Daily 11/21/2014 page11)