IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Sweden

Pair win Nobel physics prize

Francois Englert of Belgium and Peter Higgs of Britain won the 2013 Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for their theoretical discoveries on how subatomic particles acquire mass. Their theories are key to explaining the building blocks of matter and the origins of the universe. They were confirmed last year by the discovery of the so-called Higgs particle, also known as the Higgs boson, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

Egypt

Sites may get security cameras

Egypt may install security cameras at tourist sites to deter militants from targeting visitors, an Interior Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, just hours after suspected militants mounted another fatal attack on police. "There's a security plan in place in tourist areas that will maintain stability in these areas and there is complete coordination," said the spokesman, Hany Abdel Latif.

European Union

Menthol banned to curb smoking

European lawmakers have approved sweeping new regulations to curb smoking, including limits on electronic cigarettes, bigger warnings on cigarette packs and a ban on menthol. The European Parliament vote in Strasbourg on Tuesday came after months of bitter debate. The parliament voted to impose warning labels covering 65 percent of cigarette packs, rejecting a measure for blank packaging instead.

Serbia

Govt to make budget cuts

Serbia's government will cut public sector wages and raise value-added taxes to cut public debt and avoid bankruptcy. Finance Minister Lazar Krstic, announcing the plan on Tuesday, said the reform of Serbia's economy is running at least 10 years late. He said that without the measures, the state will go bust in up to two years. Serbia is struggling with a 25 percent unemployment rate.

Reuters-AP-AFP

(China Daily 10/09/2013 page12)