IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Honduras

Tsunami warning after strong quake

An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 that struck near remote islands belonging to Honduras on Tuesday was felt across northern Central America, prompting a tsunami warning for parts of the Caribbean. The quake rattled windows in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa and was felt at least as far north as the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, but no damage was immediately reported.

Japan

Anger boils over chopper mishaps

Japan lodged an official protest with the United States on Tuesday regarding two emergency landings made by US military helicopters in Okinawa as locals' anger and fear at the frequency of US military-linked accidents continues to rise. Foreign Minister Taro Kono told US Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty that the frequency of US military-linked accidents is causing increasing anxiety to Okinawans.

Malaysia

Renewed bid to find MH370

Malaysia's government said on Wednesday it will pay US company Ocean Infinity up to $70 million if it can find the wreckage or black boxes of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 within three months, in a renewed bid to solve the plane's disappearance nearly four years ago. Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said there was an 85 percent chance of finding the debris in a new 25,000 square kilometers area identified by experts.

Italy

170 arrested over mafia businesses

Authorities carried out a major anti-mafia operation on Tuesday, targeting a powerful clan of the 'Ndrangheta mob based in the southern Calabria region. About 170 people were arrested in Italy and Germany, where the group was believed to have extended its illegal businesses, local media reported. All of the people arrested were variously charged with mafia association, extortion, embezzlement, corruption and collusive tendering.

France

Probe launched on slowing iPhones

Authorities have opened an investigation into Apple over revelations it secretly slowed down older versions of its handsets, the Paris prosecutor's office said on Tuesday. The preliminary probe was opened last week over alleged "deception and planned obsolescence" of some Apple products, the office said.

United States

Bannon leaves Breitbart News

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is stepping down as chairman of Breitbart News Network after a public row with President Donald Trump. Breitbart said on Tuesday that Bannon would step down as executive chairman of the conservative news site, less than a week after Bannon's explosive criticisms of Trump and his family were published in a new book.

Reuters - Xinhua - AP

(China Daily 01/11/2018 page12)