World Briefs

RUSSIA-US Russia is ready to improve ties with the US and work with whomever is elected its next president, President Vladimir Putin said yesterday. He said his talks with Secretary John Kerry earlier this week showed that Washington is ready to “move toward settling the issues that can only be settled through joint efforts.” More on p21

UNITED NATIONS Finance ministers from the 15 Security Council nations will adopt a plan today aimed at disrupting outside revenue that the Islamic State extremist group gets from oil and antiquities sales, ransom payments and other criminal activities. The proposed Security Council resolution, sponsored by the United States and Russia, elevates IS to the same level as al-Qaida, reflecting its growing threat and split from the terror network behind the 9/11 attacks.

LAOS The US calls for Laos to immediately resolve the case of prominent activist whose abduction three years ago sent a “chilling message” to civil society. The State Department statement comes as the top US envoy for East Asia prepares to travel to communist-governed Laos. The activist, Sombath Somphone (pictured), was abducted from a police checkpoint in Vientiane on Dec. 15, 2012.

JAPAN US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy defends a controversial proposal to relocate a U.S. Marine Corps base on Okinawa as the best of many options considered.

USA Martin Shkreli, the former hedge fund manager under fire for buying a pharmaceutical company and ratcheting up the price of a life-saving drug, is in custody following a securities probe. Calls to an attorney that has represented Shkreli in the past were not immediately returned. His arrest was confirmed yesterday by FBI. A furor over the staggering price hike triggered multiple government investigations and pledges from politicians to rein in soaring prescription drug prices.

INDIA Each winter sees the arrival of tens of thousands of migratory birds, stopping to breed and feed around Kashmir’s many meandering waterways, wetlands and lakes. But decades of environmental degradation along with changing climate patterns have led to a sharp decrease in the number of birds and species.

UK The famous department stores and shopping streets are beautifully lit and decorated, but Christmas isn’t exactly in the air in Britain, where unexpectedly mild temperatures are causing some daffodils to bloom and some ice rinks to suspend operations. Forecasters say temperatures are expected to remain “exceptionally mild” in the run-up to Christmas. The prediction is that the mercury will approach 16 degrees Celsius over the weekend.