World briefs

CHINA The defense ministry says it expects economic growth and a strengthened social security system to solve problems faced by former soldiers, following reports of new street protests by disgruntled veterans who say they’ve been denied their promised retirement benefits.

THAILAND The Supreme Court upholds but reduces the jail sentence of a magazine editor who is currently the longest-serving prisoner convicted of lese majeste — insulting the monarchy. The court cut to seven years the 11-year sentence given in 2011 to Somyot Pruksakasemsuk (pictured), who was the editor of a magazine found to have published two articles deemed insulting to the royal family.

JAPAN Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito marks his 57th birthday with a pledge to follow in his father’s footsteps as a symbol of the nation if his father’s wish to abdicate is realized.

JAPAN An endorsement by the wife of prime minister Shinzo Abe of a new elementary school run by a man with ultra-nationalistic views has been removed from the school’s website amid an escalating controversy over the low price the school paid for government land.

AUSTRALIA-ISRAEL Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he hopes to triple trade with Australia as the countries forge closer technology and aviation ties. Bilateral trade is currently worth about USD1 billion a year, with Israel sending less than 1 percent of its exports Down Under and Australian products accounting for just 0.3 percent of Israel’s imports.

USA Conservative activist James O’Keefe has announced plans to release recordings today that he says were made secretly inside CNN. O’Keefe tells the network in an interview that the media is a “huge target” of his and he’s targeting CNN because it “has a very important role as an arbiter of news.” The network has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly labeled it “fake news.”