Eurozone countries running budgetary surpluses such as Germany should increase spending to shore up slowing growth in the eurozone, incoming European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday.
Lagarde told France's RTL radio that whereas eurozone members had successfully coordinated their fiscal policies to save the bloc during the 2008/2009 sovereign debt crisis, "since then the countries which have budgetary space have not really made the necessary efforts."
She said that "countries with chronic budget surpluses like the Netherlands and Germany and a few others in the world" should loosen their purse strings to help overcome the "current imbalances".
The former IMF chief, who will take over from outgoing ECB head Mario Draghi on Friday, called on those countries to increase spending in infrastructure, education and innovation.
She also echoed French President Emmanuel Macron's repeated calls for greater budgetary solidarity among the 19 countries that share the euro ...

New ECB chief Lagarde criticises Germany for low spending

PTI Automatic

China's mass detention and surveillance of ethnic Uighurs in Xinjiang province came under fire at the United Nations Tuesday, with 23 nations -- mostly western -- backing a British statement condemning Beijing's human rights record.
But China's allies countered with a statement of their own that won even broader support, with some 54 nations backing a Belarus text that heaped effusive praise on Beijing's "remarkable achievements in the field of human rights."
They included Pakistan, Russia, Egypt, Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Serbia -- which have all been criticised for their own rights records.
The duelling statements at the UN General Assembly are non-binding, but highlight the global divide on China's human rights record -- particularly as Beijing moves to flex its diplomatic and economic clout abroad.
Rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities have been rounded up in internment camps in Xinjiang.
After initially ...

UN members split on China's Uighur rights record

Kusal Perera top-scored with 27 as tight bowling from Australia restricted Sri Lanka to just 117 off 19 overs Wednesday in the second Twenty20 in Brisbane.
The home team emphatically won the first of the three-match series in Adelaide on Sunday, thrashing the visitors by 134 runs, with David Warner smashing a century.
It was Australia's biggest-ever win in the format and Sri Lanka's heaviest T20 defeat, with skipper Lasith Malinga urging his team to show character at the Gabba and bounce back.
But two wickets from the towering Billy Stanlake, in for Mitchell Starc who was attending his brother's wedding, and a brace each for Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins kept them in check.
Australia got an early breakthrough in the second over when Kusal Mendis was run out after a mix-up with Danushka Gunathilaka, who called for a run after hitting the ball then didn't move.
He attempted to make amends by opening his bat, clubbing a huge six off Stanlake, before his luck ran out and he was .

Australia restrict Sri Lanka to 117 in 2nd T20

Cricket South Africa said Wednesday it had placed three top officials on "precautionary suspension".
No names were given but South African media reported that they included Corrie van Zyl, the interim director of cricket, who was seen as a front-runner for the full-time role which holds responsibility for the national team.
The suspensions came less than two months before South Africa host England in a four-Test series, with the key positions of director of cricket and team director yet to be filled.
CSA said in a statement the suspensions were related to a dispute over unpaid fees to players following the Mzansi Super League T20 tournament last year. The 2019 version of the tournament starts on November 8. The other officials reportedly suspended are chief operating officer Naasei Appiah and sponsorship head Clive Eksteen.
The suspensions came a week after the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA), which represents professional players, declared a dispute with CSA over money ..

Cricket South Africa suspends three top officials

The family of a 21-year-old British tourist who went missing on a Cambodian island a week ago boarded boats with authorities Wednesday to continue a meticulous search around the waters and dense jungle territory.
The desperate search for backpacker Amelia Bambridge on Koh Rong includes more than 100 army, navy and police personnel as well as relatives and volunteers.
Bambridge did not check out of her hostel on October 24, while her bag and phone were later found on party spot Police Beach, where she was last seen hours earlier.
Her family members scrambled to the island to help with the investigation and have also been active on social media asking travellers for possible clues.
Brother Harry Bambridge posted a video on his Instagram showing him sitting on a racing boat with Cambodian officials.
"Still no Amelia," he wrote.
While her brother and father jumped on a speedboat, her mother joined a police canine team to search a jungle near the last sighting.
The mystery deepened after ..

Family joins desperate search for Brit tourist in Cambodia

The timing of the highly anticipated stock market debut of Saudi energy colossus Aramco will be dictated by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's energy minister said Wednesday.
Aramco was expected to launch the first part of a two-stage IPO earlier in October, but the process has been delayed, reportedly due to the prince's dissatisfaction with the valuation of the firm, which had been hoped to reach USD 2 trillion.
The long-awaited initial public offering will now happen on December 11 on the Riyadh stock market, Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television said on Tuesday.
Aramco did not confirm the report and Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman side-stepped the details when he spoke at a major investment conference in Riyadh where the listing has been a topic of discussion.
"I hate this time around to disappoint the media, because I'm not going to talk about OPEC or what we should do, and I'm not going to talk about the IPO," he said to laughs from the ...

Aramco IPO will be Saudi crown prince's decision: minister

Beijing will use facial recognition tools to speed up security checks in the city's overcrowded metro, using a 'credit system' to sort passengers into different channels, state-run media reported on Wednesday.
Long queues and commuters arguing with staff over slow security procedures are common sites during rush hour in the metro system of the 20 million-strong metropolis.
The city plans to install cameras that will scan the faces of passengers as they enter a subway station and sort them into different security channels, said Zhan Minghui, director of the Beijing Rail Traffic Control Centre.
He said the plan involves creating a "passenger credit system," and individuals on a "white list" will be offered expedited security clearance, Beijing Youth Daily reported.
Those who receive "abnormal feedback" after their faces are scanned will be subjected to extra checks.
Zhan did not offer details on the criteria used to sort passengers or what could trigger that type of feedback.
"The ...

Beijing eyes facial recognition tech for metro security

At least three people were killed and nine others injured in a shooting at a Halloween party in southern Los Angeles late Tuesday, authorities and local media reports said.
Aerial footage from local TV news channels showed paramedics treating the injured in a yard between a nail salon and a residential home in Long Beach.
Neighbours said the shooting took place at a Halloween party, according to broadcaster CBS.
The wounded were transported to local hospitals, the Long Beach Fire Department said on Twitter.

3 dead in Los Angeles Halloween party shooting

Australian retail giant Woolworths on Wednesday admitted underpaying workers up to 300 million Australian dollars (USD 206 million), the latest in a string of big businesses that have failed to properly pay staff.
The payment shortfall by one of the country's largest grocery chains is the largest in Australian history and follows a series of wage scandals that have affected some of the country's biggest names.
Woolworths estimated that about 5,700 staff had been underpaid between Aus$200 million and Aus$300 million dating back to 2010.
"We unreservedly apologise," CEO Brad Banducci said in a statement.
"The highest priority for Woolworths Group right now is to address this issue, and to ensure that it doesn't happen again."
The retailer said it would begin making back payments, including interest and retirement contributions, before Christmas.
Sydney-listed shares in Woolworths fell more than one percent in afternoon trade.  Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker described the underpayment 

Australia's Woolworths admits underpaying staff up to Aus$300 mn

Thailand's king has sacked four royal guards, two of them for "adultery", in a fresh wave of palace purges a week after his royal consort was stripped of all titles for "disloyalty".
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 67, ordered the dismissal of two male guards from the "bedroom section", the Royal Gazette announced late Tuesday.
"They have committed inappropriate acts and adultery," the statement said.
The other two officers failed to meet the standards of the royal guard and were dismissed without compensation, according to the gazette.
Thailand's royal family is protected by a defamation law that makes scrutiny of its actions all but impossible within the kingdom.
But the purges have offered a rare glimpse into the powerful palace, one of the wealthiest monarchies in the world.
The latest move comes after 34-year-old royal consort Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi was deprived of all royal titles three months after being appointed to the role for the first time in nearly a century.
She was ...

Thai king fires royal guards for 'adultery'

President Donald Trump's new national security advisor will represent the United States at the East Asia Summit, the White House said Tuesday, the lowest-level official to lead the Washington delegation since it was first invited to the regional forum.
With Trump embroiled in an impeachment inquiry, the muted presence at the November 3-4 summit in Bangkok is sure to renew charges that the United States is not focused on Asia at a time that China's clout is growing.
The White House said that Robert O'Brien, who took over the position in September from the hawkish John Bolton, would lead a US delegation that will include Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who will also travel separately to Indonesia and Vietnam.
Despite Trump's non-attendance, he is expected to go the following week to a separate summit of the Pacific Rim-wide APEC bloc in Santiago, Chile.
The East Asia Summit concept was promoted for years by Malaysia's veteran Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, an outspoken proponent of ...

US scales back attendance at East Asia Summit

A new bribery trial opened Wednesday for the former confidante of ousted South Korean president Park Geun-hye in connection with the sprawling scandal that brought down her friend, media reported.
Choi Soon-sil -- who became close to Park through her father, a shadowy religious figure -- received a 20-year prison term last year for using her presidential connections to force companies including Samsung to donate to foundations she controlled, among other charges.
But the Supreme Court in August sent both their cases, along with several others, back to the Seoul High Court for retrials, saying there had been errors in the judgements.
In her first court appearance in court in 14 months, Choi, 63, denied the accusations, claiming she did not play an influential role in the Park government but only "helped" her longtime friend while "living an ordinary life".
"I can vow to the heavens I didn't know any of the companies," she was quoted as saying by the South's Yonhap news agency, adding: .

Retrial starts for confidante of S Korea's ex-president

The family of a motorcyclist killed in a crash involving the wife of an American diplomat has announced it is planning to sue US President Donald Trump's administration over an alleged cover-up.
Harry Dunn, 19, died on August 27 when his motorbike and a car driving on the wrong side of the road collided.
In a statement issued through her lawyers and reported in US media, Anne Sacoolas admitted she was driving. She left Britain claiming diplomatic immunity before she was interviewed by police.
Dunn's parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, have urged US President Donald Trump's administration to extradite Sacoolas to Britain, to no avail.
"We are bringing claims against both Mrs. Sacoolas in the USA for civil damages as well as the Trump administration for their lawless misconduct and attempt to cover that up," family spokesman Radd Seiger said.
"The Trump administration is not only hellbent on breaking international laws, rules and conventions on diplomatic immunity," he added, "but .

British family to sue American suspected of killing their son

Thousands of Chileans took to the streets in nationwide demonstrations tinged with violence, protesting against embattled President Sebastian Pinera and calling for economic and political change.
In Santiago alone, some 10,000 people gathered in the main Plaza Italia square on Tuesday, with some attempting to make their way to the heavily cordoned presidential palace and engaging in clashes with riot police.
The skirmishing, which marked an 11th day of protests, saw water cannon and tear gas rounds from police as well as rock-throwing by demonstrators.
On Monday, violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces broke out only hours after Pinera announced a cabinet reshuffle.
Shops were looted while one building was engulfed in flames, reminiscent of the violence that erupted in the early days of the protests, which began on October 18.
"It's not about people who want social justice, who want things to be better, they are people who want destruction, chaos," said Karla ...

Protesters take to the streets in Santiago, other Chilean cities

Lionel Messi made it clear he is fit and back to his scintillating best by tearing apart Real Valladolid on Tuesday in a thumping 5-1 victory for Barcelona.
Messi scored another spell-binding free-kick at Camp Nou after his sumptuous pass had already teed up Arturo Vidal for Barca's second. He then drove home his second late on before sliding through Luis Suarez to make it five.
Yet in truth his two goals and two assists were just the start of it, the defining moments of another mesmeric all-round performance that was dotted with flicks, passes and dribbles, not to mention two humiliating nutmegs.
"I don't know what more I can say," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.
"There were wonders coming out of his foot," said Valladolid's Michel. "You can only applaud and enjoy it."
Valladolid had threatened to make a game of it when Kiko Olivas benefitted from a rare Marc-Andre ter Stegen error to equalise, after Clement Lenglet had struck in the second minute.
But with Messi in this sort .

Messi fit and firing in Barca demolition of Valladolid

Drug overdoses have driven the first significant reduction in US life expectancy since the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s, an official report published Wednesday showed.
Americans have lost almost four months of longevity since 2014, the report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
"This is the first big drop since 1993, and the main driver behind that was the HIV epidemic," Renee Gindi, a health statistician for the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics told AFP.
An American born in 2017 can expect to live an average of 78.6 years, compared to 78.9 years in 2014, according to the report which confirms previously published preliminary data.
Up until the 1960s, life expectancy was under 70 years.
The recent decline illustrates the devastating impact of the opioid crisis, especially synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which can be deadly even in minute quantities of a few milligrams.
Opioid overdoses killed 32,000 people last year, according to provisional ...

Drug overdoses driving down US life expectancy: health officials

Hundreds of koalas are feared to have burned to death in an out-of-control bushfire on Australia's east coast, wildlife authorities said Wednesday.
A bushfire believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike on Saturday some 400 kilometres (248 miles) north of Sydney has ravaged an area of over 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) with authorities battling to bring it under control.
Wildlife rescuers in northern New South Wales state hold grave fears for a "very rare" population of hundreds of koalas living in the fire zone.
"The special importance of those koalas is that they are very genetically diverse," Sue Ashton, president of the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, told AFP.
Her fears are that "hundreds" in the known koala breeding area "have perished in the fire".
"It's a national tragedy because this koala population is so unique," she added.  Land clearing and development over time has meant a loss of habitat for the tree-dwelling koalas, leading to less connectivity between ...

Hundreds of rare koalas feared dead in Australia bushfire

California braced on Tuesday for the most powerful winds this season that threaten to spread destructive fires raging in the state and could spark new blazes.
Thousands of firefighters were racing against the clock to gain control of two major fires -- the Kincade Fire in northern California and the Getty Fire, west of Los Angeles.
The National Weather Service issued an extreme red flag warning indicating a high risk of wildfires for southern California, with gusts of up to 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers per hour) expected in the Santa Monica and Los Angeles County mountains.
"This Santa Ana wind event will likely be the strongest we have seen so far this season," the weather service said, referring to winds that kick up in southern California every year.
The windstorms are expected to peak at 3:00 am (10:00 GMT) Wednesday and continue through Thursday.
"It does take one ember, just one ember downwind, to start another brush fire," Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas ..

California braces for powerful winds that could feed fires

Daniil Medvedev suffered a shock second-round defeat by French world number 65 Jeremy Chardy at the Paris Masters on Tuesday, ending his bid to reach a seventh straight final, while his fellow Russian Karen Khachanov's title defence met a quick end.
Medvedev, who has climbed to world number four after his brilliant run of form, took the opening set but slipped to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 loss at Bercy Arena.
"It's a shame. At first, I was angry (after the match) for 10-15 minutes, but afterwards you understand that it's life," said the 23-year-old.
"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Even though I lost, I can take it as an experience." Chardy, roared on by the home crowd in the French capital, saved nine break points in a dramatic deciding set to book a last-16 clash against either 15th seed John Isner or Chile's Cristian Garin.
Medvedev's run of finals dated back to July, during which he had claimed the Cincinnati and Shanghai Masters titles and lost an epic US Open championship match to .

Medvedev stunned by Chardy at Paris Masters, Khachanov out

Arsenal will offer counselling to Granit Xhaka after the Gunners captain found himself in trouble for swearing at his own fans, according to reports in the British press.
Xhaka cupped his ears and gesticulated to towards Arsenal fans who booed him when he was substituted during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.
The 27-year-old appeared to shout "f**k off" at the crowd as he stormed towards the tunnel and pulled off his shirt.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery admitted Xhaka was wrong to react that way and refused to confirm if he would remain skipper Xhaka has held three meetings with Emery since the incident but the club are putting the player's welfare ahead of any quick decision over his future.
Reports in the British media on Tuesday said counselling will be offered should Xhaka decide on such a course of action, with Emery describing the midfielder's mood as "upset, devastated and very sad".
It is also believed the outburst was a reaction to cumulative ...

Arsenal to offer Xhaka counselling after fan feud: report

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow believes New Zealand will be intent on exacting World Cup revenge in the Twenty20 series that begins in Christchurch on Friday.
The Black Caps suffered the cruellest of defeats in the final of the one-day showpiece, when the scores were tied after a Super Over but England won because they had hit more boundaries.
Cricket chiefs have since scrapped the obscure tie-breaker rule but Bairstow said the New Zealanders would still be seething at the result and out to prove a point in their first meeting against England since the decider.
"What happened at Lord's is going to be quite tough for those guys, and there will be a fire in their belly and a hunger to put things right," he said.
However, New Zealand have played down talk of payback, insisting their focus is on building momentum for the T20 World Cup being held in Australia in October-November next year.
"We obviously have a lot of T20 cricket on the horizon ahead of next year's World Cup ...

AFP

AFP

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