IN BRIEF (Page 12)

United Kingdom

PM May hails new optimism in Brexit

Prime Minister Theresa May hailed "a new sense of optimism" in Brexit talks, telling Parliament on Monday an agreement to move negotiations on to future trade ties would reassure those concerned Britain may leave with no deal. May rescued an agreement last week to move the talks to unravel more than 40 years of union on to a second phase after easing the concerns of her Northern Irish allies over the future role of the border with EU member Ireland.

United States

Firefighters hold back wildfire

Firefighters, taking advantage of a lull in the winds, on Monday held in check a massive Southern California wildfire that has torched hundreds of buildings and charred an area larger than New York City. The Thomas Fire threatens 18,000 structures, including some in the wealthy enclave of Montecito where many celebrities have their homes.

India

Congress party has new president

Opposition Congress party named Rahul Gandhi as its new leader on Monday, capping years of speculation about the scion of the dynasty that has ruled the country for much of its independent history. The 47-year-old has long been seen as the likely successor of his mother Sonia.

Italy

Entry fee for Roman Pantheon

Visitors to Rome's Pantheon, one of the ancient world's best preserved monuments, will have to pay an entry fee from May unless they are going there to pray, officials said on Monday. Now a church, the vast cylindrical former temple whose undamaged exterior wall supports a 43.3 meter-high dome with a circular skylight at its summit, drew 7.4 million visitors last year.

Reuters - Afp

(China Daily 12/13/2017 page12)