World News

EU's High representative for foreign affairs and security policy Federica Mogherini answers journalists' questions at the European Council in Brussels. (JOHN THYS/AFP) European leaders sought to build support from Asia on Thursday (Oct 18) in defence of free trade and the fight against climate change, to counter the growing protectionism of President Donald Trump's America. The 28 EU states were joined at a summit in Brussels by more than 20 Asian leaders including Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Japan's Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is also attending, despite tensions over Moscow's alleged cyber attacks on international institutions and European democracy. Amid bitter tariff disputes with Washington, the leaders are expected to use the two days of talks to give their backing to the global trading system based on the World Trade Organisation (WTO). "To those who prefer quick fixes without clear rules I say it's not worth it. A … [Read more...] about EU builds ties with Asia in face of US protectionism

The US crackdown on price fixing has netted another big fish in canned tuna, the Justice Department announced on Thursday (Oct 18). Charlie the Tuna was netted by US authorities as part of a canned tuna price fixing conspiracy, as Korean-owned StarKist was fined up to US$100 million. (AFP/Brian Ach) StarKist, whose mascot Charlie the Tuna has long been a fixture in American supermarkets, agreed to plead guilty and pay a fine of up to US$100 million for conspiring with other companies to fix prices of canned tuna, the Justice Department announced on Thursday. StarKist representatives engaged in discussions and meetings with other packaged seafood firms to manipulate prices from as early as November 2011 and as late as December 2013, according to a statement. "The conspiracy to fix prices on these household staples had direct effects on the pocketbooks of American consumers," said US Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim. "All Americans have the right to the benefits of … [Read more...] about US authorities reel in StarKist in canned tuna scandal

Indonesian authorities on Thursday (Oct 18) used helicopters to drop disinfectant on parts of the earthquake-and-tsunami-ravaged city of Palu, where thousands of decomposing bodies are still buried beneath once-thriving neighbourhoods. Indonesia?s disaster mitigation agency has begun dousing the ravaged areas of Palu to prevent flies, cockroaches and rats spreading disease AFP/YUSUF WAHIL The magnitude 7.5 quake and a subsequent tsunami razed swathes of the city on Sulawesi island on Sep 28. More than 2,100 bodies have been recovered since the twin disasters. But there are fears that 5,000 more could be buried beneath the ruins in the neighbourhoods of Balaroa, Petobo and Jono Oge, which were swallowed by soil in a process known as liquefaction. Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency began dousing the areas Thursday to prevent flies, cockroaches and rats spreading disease. Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement the drops were necessary due the "high number … [Read more...] about Indonesia drops disinfectant on quake hit Palu

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (Oct 18) said the mass school shooting in Crimea a day before was the result of "globalisation" and the continuation of an American trend. A rescuer with one of the victims injured in an attack on a technical college in Russian-annexed Crimea AFP "It's a result of globalisation. On social media, on the internet, we see that there is a whole community that has been created. Everything started with the tragic events in schools in the US," he said at a forum in Sochi. He said unstable young people were creating "fake heroes for themselves" and "reaching out for a surrogate for heroism" in the absence of the real thing. "We're not creating healthy (Internet) content for young people ... which leads to tragedies of this kind," he said. "But there is a place for real heroism in today's life," he said. An 18-year-old identified as Vladislav Roslyakov on Wednesday killed at least 20 students at a college in the Moscow-annexed peninsula … [Read more...] about Putin says Crimean school shooting result of ‘globalisation’

Special forces servicemen patrol a blast site at a college in the city of Kerch. At least 18 people died in a blast in a technical college on the Crimean peninsula. (KERCH.FM/AFP) Speaking to journalists and parents of missing students in the city of Kerch, where the shooting took place, Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov said the death toll stood at 18 plus the killer. He added that 53 people were injured in the attack. 12 of whom were in an extremely serious condition. Russia's Investigative Committee named the shooter as 18-year-old Vladislav Roslyakov, a student at the college. He was captured on security camera footage and later found dead with gunshot wounds in the college library. Aksyonov said he had seen the body of the killer, whom he described as "not a Crimean, not even a person", adding that Roslyakov had acted alone. Facing a crowd of angry parents, some of whom still did not know where their children were, Aksyonov said authorities were seeking to establish the gunman's … [Read more...] about 18 dead in Crimea college rampage