BEIJING: A Chinese court yesterday upheld an 11-year prison sentence handed to the brother-in-law of jailed Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, a lawyer said. Police had detained Liu Hui in January on suspicion of committing fraud in connection with a real-estate deal. Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese political activist, was jailed for 11 years in 2009 for “subversion” after he circulated a charter calling for democratic reforms. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.
Nail-clipping bus driver fired
SINGAPORE: A bus driver in Singapore has been fired after he was filmed cutting his nails behind the wheel. Stunned tourists whipped out their mobile phone cameras after they spotted the driver giving himself a manicure during an airport run in the Asian city-state. While driving, he suddenly looked at his fingernails, then took out a nail clipper with his right hand and spent some 20 seconds clipping his fingernails. The video was shared over 700 times and netizens blasted the driver for his rash act that could have caused a road accident.
UN needs $98m aid for N Korea
UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations is in urgent need of $98m to finance emergency aid for the people of North Korea, the UN coordinator for the impoverished country said Thursday. Of the $150m required to maintain food, health and sanitation programs by five UN agencies in the country for 2013, $98m is still needed, the world body said. Nearly 2.4 million North Koreans need regular food assistance and 28 percent of children under five suffer chronic malnutrition.
Korean Air settles lawsuit
SEOUL: South Korea’s largest carrier, Korean Air said yesterday it had agreed to pay $65m to settle a lawsuit by US passengers over alleged price fixing. It said it would pay $39m in cash and $26m in coupons to passengers who have accused the airline of conspiring with Asiana Airlines to establish high prices for travel between South Korea and the United States. Korean Air said it had reached an agreement with the passengers in July for a quick and smooth resolution of the lawsuit. AGENCIES
