Briefly

DPRK

Images reveal new military construction

A new satellite image of a factory in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which makes military equipment used to launch long-range missiles shows the construction of a new structure. The release of several images from Planet Labs comes amid concern that the DPRK could launch a rocket or missile as it seeks concessions in stalled nuclear negotiations with the United States. One of the satellite images taken on Dec 19 shows the completion of a new structure at the March 16 Factory near Pyongyang, which is believed to be developing and manufacturing vehicles used as mobile launchers for long-range ballistic missiles.

VENEZUELA

11 held over weekend raid on military outpost

Venezuela has arrested 11 people in connection with a weekend raid of a remote military outpost in southern Bolivar state, but some suspects have fled across the border to Brazil with stolen weapons, President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday. Authorities have accused Brazil, Colombia and Peru of complicity with the attack, in which one Venezuelan soldier was killed. All three countries' governments have denied involvement. In a television address, Maduro called on Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to cooperate.

INDONESIA

At least 25 die after bus plunges into ravine

At least 25 people died and 14 others were injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in Indonesia, a rescuer said on Tuesday. The bus carrying dozens of passengers careered into a 150-meter ravine in South Sumatra Province just before midnight on Monday and ended up in a river, police said earlier. Originally, the death toll given by police was 24, but the head of the local search and rescue team, Berty Kowas, said another body was found, taking the number to 25.

AFGHANISTAN

Eight Taliban militants killed in airstrikes

Eight militants were killed and nine others wounded after Afghan Air Force planes pounded Taliban positions in two provinces, the military said on Tuesday. In one incident, three Taliban roadside bomb experts were killed and two others wounded when the air force launched a strike in eastern Laghman Province earlier on Tuesday, the army's 201 Selab Corps said in a statement. "On specific intelligence inputs, Afghan Air Force targeted five militants, who were busy in planting improvised explosive devices along a road in Shakarman Valley in Alishing district roughly at 3 am local time on Tuesday," the statement said.