IN BRIEF (Page 12)

ISRAEL

Netanyahu gives up bid for coalition

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he had failed to form a majority government in parliament, marking a major setback for the embattled Israeli leader that plunges the country into a new period of political uncertainty. In a statement, Netanyahu said he had worked "tirelessly" to establish a unity government with his chief rival, former military chief Benny Gantz, but been repeatedly rebuffed. Facing a Wednesday deadline, Netanyahu said he was returning the "mandate" to President Reuven Rivlin, who will now ask Gantz to try to form a coalition. Gantz, however, could face an equally difficult task.

THAILAND

Rama X strips his consort of royal titles

Thailand's king has stripped his royal consort of her titles and military ranks for disloyalty, accusing her of seeking to undermine the position of his official wife, the country's queen, for her own benefit. The royal command by King Maha Vajiralongkorn - known as Rama X of the Chakri dynastywas made public on Monday. It came just three months after he granted 34-year-old Sineenatra Wongvajirabhakdi the consort title, reviving an old palace tradition of taking a junior wife. Sineenatra had her title of Chao Khun Phra Sineenatra Bilasakalayani withdrawn, along with other royal and military titles and decorations.

RUSSIA

Putin, Erdogan hold talks on Syria in Sochi

Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday to discuss the situation in northern Syria, where Turkey had vowed to resume an offensive against Kurdish fighters. "The situation in the region is very serious," Putin told Erdogan at the start of talks in the Russian city of Sochi, adding he hoped that the good rapport between Russia and Turkey "will let us find an answer to even the most difficult questions". Putin said the meeting is very important for the current tense situation in Syria.

Agencies

(China Daily 10/23/2019 page12)