IN BRIEF (Page 12)

United Kingdom

Govt begins fight to pass key Brexit bill

The government is battling to pass a major plank of its Brexit plans through Parliament, amid faltering progress in divorce talks with the EU. Lawmakers are starting debate on Thursday on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, which will revoke thousands of EU laws and regulations and replace them with domestic statute on the day the UK leaves the bloc. The government said the legislation is crucial to disentangle Britain from the EU.

France

3 men detained over Paris explosive lab

French authorities say three men in custody in a probe into explosives found in a Paris suburb had talked about wanting to target banks and had spoken by phone with someone in Syria. The Paris prosecutor's office said a third man was detained on Thursday after two others were detained the day before. The prosecutor's office said the men are between 36 and 47 years old but provided no further information.

Israel

PM praises 'best ever' ties with Arab world

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday praised his country's "best ever" ties with Arab countries, citing "many levels of cooperation" that still cannot be exposed. Hailing a "breakthrough" in Israel's relations with the Arab world, he said these ties cannot yet be publicly acknowledged, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.

(China Daily 09/08/2017 page12)