IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Southeast Asia

Indonesia, Malaysia jointly rebuff EU plan

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad have inked a joint letter of refusal to the European Union over its plan to bar crude palm oil from being used in raw materials for biofuel, a senior Indonesian minister disclosed on Monday. The move came after the European Commission passed a delegated act classifying crude palm oil as not a sustainable product, leading to exemption of the commodity from the list of raw materials for the eco-friendly transport fuel. The act will be brought to the European Parliament, which will decide within two months whether to enforce by 2030.

South Korea

Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho dies at 70

Korean Air says its chairman, Cho Yang-ho, has died in the United States from an unspecified illness. His death follows a shareholder vote to remove the 70-year-old from the board over a series of scandals surrounding the company's ruling family. The company provided no further details in its statement on Monday. Cho had remained chairman, which is a non-board role, even after shareholders ousted him from the board and he expressed his intent to continue participating in management. Cho had been indicted on multiple charges, including embezzlement and tax evasion.

Libya

Clashes death toll rises to 32, govt says

At least 32 people have been killed and around 50 wounded in fighting with strongman Khalifa Haftar's troops near Tripoli, the government said. Health Minister A'hmid Omar gave the updated death toll in an interview with Libya's Al-Ahrar television station late on Sunday. Haftar's forces have so far said 14 of their fighters have died. Fierce clashes raged on Sunday near Tripoli between pro-Haftar fighters and troops loyal to the internationally recognized Government of National Accord. The two sides also exchanged airstrikes days after Haftar - who backs a government in eastern Libya opposed to the recognized government - launched an offensive on Thursday to seize the capital.

Japan

Nissan shareholders sack ex-chief Ghosn

Nissan shareholders voted on Monday to eject Carlos Ghosn from the board, as the detained former chairman fights multiple financial misconduct charges that have landed him in custody. The extraordinary shareholders' meeting at a Tokyo hotel was the first such gathering since the stunning arrest of the 65-year-old auto sector titan on Nov 19. The vote to remove Ghosn brings an end to the auto tycoon's storied tenure at the firm, which he was once credited with having rescued.

Xinhua - Ap - Afp

(China Daily 04/09/2019 page12)