Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "at an early date", the North's state media reported on Wednesday (Aug 15), amid a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula. Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "at an early date", the North's state media reported Wednesday AFP/Pavel Golovkin Putin invited Kim and the South's President Moon Jae-in in June to an economic forum in Vladivostok next month although it is not known whether the North Korean leader responded to the invitation. In a message to Kim on the North's National Liberation Day - marking the end of Japanese rule over Korea at the end of the Second World War - Putin reiterated his intention for a summit. "I affirm that I am ready to meet you at an early date to discuss urgent issues of bilateral relations and important matters of the region," Putin said in a message carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. … [Read more...] about Putin ready to meet North Korea’s Kim at ‘early date’: KCNA
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Australian’s Parliament speech on ‘final solution’ condemned
Updated 1:16 am PDT, Wednesday, August 15, 2018 Photo: Mick Tsikas, AP Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 Australian senator Fraser Anning sits in the chamber during a session at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. Aning is being condemned for his speech in Parliament advocating reviving a white-only immigration policy and using the term "final solution" in calling for a vote on which migrants to admit into the country. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP) less Australian senator Fraser Anning sits in the chamber during a session at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. Aning is being condemned for his speech in Parliament advocating reviving a ... more Photo: Mick Tsikas, AP Australian's Parliament speech on 'final solution' condemned 1 / 1 Back to Gallery CANBERRA, … [Read more...] about Australian’s Parliament speech on ‘final solution’ condemned
New Zealand bans most foreigners from buying homes
Nick Perry, Associated Press Updated 1:04 am PDT, Wednesday, August 15, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-4', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 4', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: Mark Baker, AP Image 1of/4 CaptionClose Image 1 of 4 In this Aug. 13, 2018, photo a house is pictured for sale in Christchurch, New Zealand. New Zealand has banned most foreigners from buying homes as it tries to tackle runaway housing prices. The government on Wednesday, Aug. 15 passed legislation that allows only New Zealand residents to buy homes as it attempts to improve housing affordability and increase the rate of home ownership. less In this Aug. 13, 2018, photo a house is pictured for sale in Christchurch, New Zealand. New Zealand has banned most foreigners from … [Read more...] about New Zealand bans most foreigners from buying homes
UN refugee agency demands end to Mediterranean impasses
Updated 12:49 am PDT, Wednesday, August 15, 2018 Photo: Claude Paris, AP Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 FILE - In this Aug.1, 2018 file photo, the French NGO "SOS Mediterranee" Aquarius ship leaves the Marseille harbor, southern France. he European Commission said Monday Aug.13, 2018 that it is in contact with a number of member states to identify a country willing to take 141 migrants picked up by a rescue ship, after the French aid groups operating the ship appealed for a safe port and Italy said Britain should take responsibility. less FILE - In this Aug.1, 2018 file photo, the French NGO "SOS Mediterranee" Aquarius ship leaves the Marseille harbor, southern France. he European Commission said Monday Aug.13, 2018 that it is in contact with a ... more Photo: Claude Paris, AP UN refugee agency demands end to Mediterranean … [Read more...] about UN refugee agency demands end to Mediterranean impasses
Afghan officials: Taliban attack in north kills 30 troops
Rahim Faiez and Amir Shah, Associated Press Updated 12:22 am PDT, Wednesday, August 15, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: Mohammad Anwar Danishyar, AP Image 1of/5 CaptionClose Image 1 of 5 In this Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, photo, Afghan security personnel patrol in the city of Ghazni province west of Kabul, Afghanistan. A Taliban assault on Ghazni, a key city linking areas of Taliban influence barely 75 miles from Kabul, has killed about 100 Afghan policemen and soldiers since Friday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said. A year after the Trump administration introduced its strategy for Afghanistan, the Taliban are asserting themselves on the battlefield even as U.S. officials talk … [Read more...] about Afghan officials: Taliban attack in north kills 30 troops
The Latest: Afghan officials: Taliban attack kills 30 troops
Updated 12:05 am PDT, Wednesday, August 15, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-3', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 3', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: Rahmat Gul, AP Image 1of/3 CaptionClose Image 1 of 3 Afghan police officers search a vehicle at a checkpoint on the Ghazni highway, in Maidan Shar, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. A Taliban assault on Ghazni, a key city linking areas of Taliban influence barely 75 miles from Kabul, has killed about 100 Afghan policemen and soldiers since Friday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said. A year after the Trump administration introduced its strategy for Afghanistan, the Taliban are asserting themselves on the battlefield even as U.S. officials talk up hopes for peace. That’s raising … [Read more...] about The Latest: Afghan officials: Taliban attack kills 30 troops
Pakistan parliament set to elect speaker in test for Khan
Updated 10:30 pm PDT, Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Photo: Muhammad Sajjad, AP Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 Pakistani police officers hold a national flag during a rally to mark the country's Independence Day, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, Aug 14, 2018. The anniversary comes amid political change with a new government taking over this week following the July 25 general elections. Pakistan gained independence when British left India and split the subcontinent in 1947. less Pakistani police officers hold a national flag during a rally to mark the country's Independence Day, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, Aug 14, 2018. The anniversary comes amid political change with a new ... more Photo: Muhammad Sajjad, AP Pakistan parliament set to elect speaker in test for Khan 1 / 1 Back to Gallery ISLAMABAD (AP) … [Read more...] about Pakistan parliament set to elect speaker in test for Khan
Tonga PM calls on China to write off Pacific debt
Tonga Prime Minister Akalisi Pohiva has called for China to write-off debts owed by Pacific island countries, warning that repayments impose a huge burden on the impoverished nations. Pacific islands nations faced huge bills to rebuild after a category five cyclone slammed into the parts of the region in February AFP/Handout Chinese aid in the Pacific has ballooned in recent years with much of the funds coming in the form of loans from Beijing's state-run Exim Bank. Tonga has run-up enormous debts to China, estimated at more than US$100 million by Australia's Lowy Institute think tank, and Pohiva said his country would struggle to repay them. He said the situation was common in the Oceania region and needed to be addressed at next month's Pacific Island Forum summit in Nauru. "We need to discuss the issue," he told the Samoa Observer in an interview published on Tuesday. "All the Pacific Island countries should sign this submission asking the Chinese government to forgive … [Read more...] about Tonga PM calls on China to write off Pacific debt
Erdogan says Turkey to boycott US electronic goods
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been repeatedly photographed with Apple products including the iPhone and iPad AFP/KAYHAN OZER The dispute between the NATO allies - brought to a new intensity by Turkey's holding of an American pastor for two years - has raised questions over the future of their partnership and fanned fears of a looming economic crisis in Turkey. "We will boycott US electronic goods," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara, again showing no sign of compromise in the dispute. "If (the United States) have the iPhone, there's Samsung on the other side," he said, referring to US giant Apple's iconic phone and the top South Korean brand. "We (also) have our Venus and Vestel," he said about homegrown Turkish electronics brands. Shares in Vestel jumped seven per cent on the Istanbul stock exchange after Erdogan's remarks. The White House did not respond directly to questions about Erdogan's threat, or possible retaliatory measures. "The president has a great deal of … [Read more...] about Erdogan says Turkey to boycott US electronic goods
Genoa bridge collapse a disaster ‘waiting to happen’
Genoa's Morandi motorway bridge, a 200-metre portion of which collapsed on Tuesday (Aug 14) killing dozens of people, has been riddled with structural problems since its construction in the 1960s, which has led to expensive maintenance and severe criticism from engineering experts. The Morandi motorway bridge, part of which collapsed, has been riddled with structural problems since its construction in the 1960s. (AFP/FEDERICO SCOPPA) CELEBRATED DESIGNER The Morandi bridge was built between 1963 and 1967. It has a maximum span of 219 metres, a total length of 1.18 kilometres, concrete piers (vertical structures that support the arches of a bridge) that reach 90 metres in height. The technology of pre-stressed reinforced concrete used in the construction was the hallmark of its designer, the celebrated Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi, who died in 1989. READ: What we know about the Genoa bridge collapse Dubbed patent "Morandi M5", he had used the technology for other works, … [Read more...] about Genoa bridge collapse a disaster ‘waiting to happen’