IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Venezuela

VP to visit Moscow for talks with Lavrov

Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez will hold talks on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow over the South American country's political crisis, the RIA news agency reported. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the talks but provided no further details. On Wednesday, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said the United States was trying to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro and suggested talks with US President Donald Trump - an idea the US government immediately rejected. He suggested that Maduro and Trump meet to "try to find common ground and explain their differences", adding that his country had lost $30 billion in assets "confiscated" since November 2017 under US sanctions.

Canada

Trudeau dismisses call to resign as PM

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday dismissed an opposition call for him to step down following explosive testimony against him by former justice minister and attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould over alleged obstruction of justice. In the testimony before the House of Commons' justice committee, Wilson-Raybould said that she faced political pressure and "veiled threats" to drop a criminal prosecution against Montreal-based construction and engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. She said officials imposed "consistent and sustained pressure" on her from September to December last year to ensure SNC-Lavalin pay a large fine rather than go to trial. She resigned from Trudeau's cabinet earlier this month.

Indonesia

Rescuers pass water, food to mine buried

Rescuers have passed water and food to some of the dozens of people trapped in a collapsed Indonesian gold mine, an official said Thursday, calling the grueling rescue effort in a remote inaccessible location a race against time. Abdul Muin Paputungan, a disaster official, said 26 people have been rescued from the unlicensed mine as of early Thursday afternoon. The death toll rose to six and about three dozen miners remain trapped. He said that minutes before being interviewed, a trapped miner's leg had been amputated to free him.

United States

River flood swamps 2,000 buildings

A rain-swollen river in Northern California flooded about 2,000 homes and businesses on Wednesday along a valley famous for its wineries and left residents of one town stranded by high waters, officials said. Water rose to the roofs of homes and submerged cars as the Russian River overflowed its banks, forcing authorities in Sonoma County, about 110 kilometers north of San Francisco, to order the evacuation of 3,600 people, local authorities said. Residents got around flooded towns in kayaks, an indication that not everyone evacuated.

Italy

Venice to charge fees for tourists

The Venice council has voted to impose an entrance fee for visitors to help pay for the upkeep of the much-visited World Heritage Site in a first for an Italian city. Around 25 million tourists pour into the lagoon city each year, of whom around 14 million spend just one day there. Many take picnics with them, bringing no income to local businesses. Councilors overwhelmingly endorsed the entrance fee at a meeting on Tuesday, saying day-trippers would now have to pay 3 euros ($3.4) each this year to enter Venice. The sum will rise to between 6-10 euros from the start of 2020, depending on whether tourists come in high or low season.

Ap - Reuters - Xinhua

(China Daily 03/01/2019 page11)