IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Russia

Norwegian sentenced to 14 years for spying

The Moscow City Court sentenced Frode Berg, a retired Norwegian border guard, to 14 years in a high security prison for spying, his lawyer said on Tuesday. "Berg said he would not appeal the verdict. We see no use in appealing it. Berg announced his intention to ask for presidential pardon after the verdict comes into force," Berg's lawyer Ilya Novikov said in a live broadcast by the Tass News Agency. Berg expects the Norwegian government to undertake diplomatic efforts and ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to pardon him, Novikov added.

Kazakhstan

Govt to host Syria talks this month

Kazakhstan said on Tuesday it will host fresh talks on Syria on April 25-26, backed by Iran, Russia and Turkey, as they eye an end to the eight-year conflict. Delegations from the Syrian government and opposition groups are expected to participate along with representatives of the three guarantor states, Kazakhstan's foreign ministry said in a statement. The United Nations and Jordan would attend as observers, it added. The situation on the ground in Idlib will be on the agenda of the talks, as well as "confidence-building measures" and the distribution of humanitarian aid.

Afghanistan

Heavy rains, floods kill 5 more people

Afghan officials said at least five more people have been killed and 17 are missing as a new wave of heavy rains and flooding swept across the country's western Herat province. Hamid Mubarez, disaster and humanitarian affairs director in Herat, said the 17 were last heard of while traveling in a van on Monday in the district of Obey. The country's disaster ministry says heavy rains and flooding have hit 16 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces in the past 24 hours, and that the floods have also destroyed and damaged houses and swept away livestock.

Xinhua - AFP - AP

(China Daily 04/17/2019 page12)