IN BRIEF (Page 12)

China Daily | Updated: 2019-11-04 08:05

United Kingdom

PM apologizes for missing Brexit deadline

Britain's election campaign heated up on Sunday even before it officially started, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying he would apologize to Conservatives for failing to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union by Oct 31. Meanwhile, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said he won't run for a seat in Parliament. Asked by Sky News on Sunday if he was sorry about missing the deadline, Johnson said: "Yes, absolutely." Johnson's plan to leave by Oct 31 was blocked by Parliament, which forced him to seek an extension. The EU has granted a Brexit extension until Jan 31. Johnson pushed hard for the early national election on Dec 12. His political rival, Farage, has pushed for his one-theme party to team up in a coalition with Johnson's Conservatives for the December election, but the prime minister has refused the offer.

The Philippines

Toll in two powerful quakes climbs to 21

The death toll in two powerful quakes that struck the southern Philippines in the past week has risen to 21, authorities said on Sunday, as survivors struggled to access food and water. The 6.6-magnitude and 6.5-magnitude quakes hit the island of Mindanao two days apart, destroying buildings and displacing tens of thousands of residents. Rescuers had found more bodies, many crushed by falling debris and landslides caused by the violent shaking, the national disaster council said. The quakes also left 432 residents injured with two people still missing, it added. Temporary shelters have been set up to house more than 20,000 displaced individuals. On Sunday, rescuers continued their evacuation of families whose houses were endangered by landslides.

Agencies

(China Daily 11/04/2019 page12)