International

Apple, Samsung take battle to US Supreme Court

by Sébastien BLANC WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The epic legal battle pitting Apple against its bitter rival Samsung over the design of the iPhone reaches a new level Tuesday when it heads to the US Supreme Court. The high court is set to hear arguments over financial damages the South Korean smartphone giant owes Apple for allegedly violating design patents by producing copycats of its groundbreaking smartphone. Observers are watching the case closely to […]

Australian state backflips on greyhound racing ban

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s most populous state made an embarrassing backflip Tuesday on its plan to ban greyhound racing after sustained industry and public pressure, admitting it “got it wrong”. New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced in July that his government would shut down the sport from July 1 next year after a series of scandals including “live baiting” and the slaughter of tens of thousands of dogs. But the controversial decision was […]

Clinton draws record crowd as Trump flounders

by Ivan Couronne COLUMBUS, United States (AFP) — An invigorated Hillary Clinton commanded a record crowd of more than 10,000 supporters Monday, leaving Donald Trump floundering as America’s top elected Republican all but conceded the White House. The former secretary of state looking to make history as America’s first woman commander-in-chief held an evening rally at Ohio State University ahead of the state’s deadline to register to vote Tuesday. The turnout marked a record for […]

At least 1.4 million need aid in Haiti after Matthew: UN

by Amelie BARON / with Marc Burleigh in Jeremie PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP) — Haiti faces a humanitarian crisis that requires a “massive response” from the international community, the United Nations chief said Monday, with at least 1.4 million people needing emergency aid following last week’s battering by Hurricane Matthew. The storm left at least 372 dead in the impoverished Caribbean nation, with the toll likely to rise sharply as rescue workers reach previously inaccessible areas. […]

House speaker won’t ‘defend’ Trump, as Clinton poll lead grows

by Ivan Couronne with Michael Mathes in Washington DETRIOT, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump’s presidential aspirations took more tough hits Monday as the nation’s top elected Republican all but conceded the race to Hillary Clinton, who returned to the campaign trail invigorated by polls showing her lead expanding. With Trump’s campaign already teetering on the precipice after revelations of his lewd comments about women, House Speaker Paul Ryan told fellow Republican lawmakers that he […]

Trump still alive, but Republican Party in tatters

by Jerome CARTILLIER WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — After nearly 18 months of vitriolic campaigning and two incendiary presidential debates, it is clear that the 2016 race for the White House is truly like no other. The release of a 2005 video containing lewd and sexist comments made by Republican nominee Donald Trump has further roiled his party, which was already in tatters and without a path forward. Now, many party stalwarts have abandoned their […]

Russia, Turkey sign pipeline accord after crisis

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) – by Fulya OZERKAN Stuart WILLIAMS Russia and Turkey on Monday signed an agreement to build a gas pipeline under the Black Sea, as President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to intensify relations after a bitter crisis. Making his first visit to Turkey since the shooting down of a Russian war plane by Turkey led to the worst dispute between Ankara and Moscow since the Cold War, Putin […]

Contract theory earns pair Nobel Economics Prize

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) – by Pia OHLIN Two US-based academics won the Nobel Economics Prize on Monday for groundbreaking research on contract theory that has helped design insurance policies, executive pay and even prison management. Oliver Hart, a British-American economist, and Bengt Holmstrom of Finland “have developed contract theory, a comprehensive framework for analysing many diverse issues in contractual design, like performance-based pay for top executives, deductibles and co-pays in insurance, and the privatisation of public-sector […]

Germany fetes Syrian ‘heroes’ who nabbed bomb plot suspect

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) – Germany on Monday hailed three Syrians who helped police capture a compatriot suspected of planning a jihadist bomb attack, with social media coming alive with jibes against anti-migrant protesters. “Syrian turns in terror suspect. I’m celebrating this. What about you, Pegida and co?” said Julia Frick on Twitter, in reference to the Islamophobic movement that has been ranting against migrants in the eastern city of Dresden. Another Twitter user took a […]

Trump, Clinton hit campaign trail after fiery debate

WHITE PLAINS, United States (AFP) – by Ivan Couronne Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on Monday headed back to the campaign trail after a fiery presidential debate, with the Republican looking to bounce back after a weekend that crippled his White House bid. With just over four weeks to go before American voters head to the ballot boxes to choose their next commander-in-chief, the candidates traveled to swing states — Trump to Pennsylvania and Clinton to […]

Saudi says $60 oil ‘not unthinkable’ by year-end

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Saudi Arabia said on Monday it was “not unthinkable” that the price of crude oil could surge to $60 a barrel by the end of the year but warned against drastic production cuts that might shock markets. Speaking in the opening keynote speech at the World Energy Congress in Istanbul, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said that whatever the oil price the kingdom was in good shape to implement its reform […]

Taiwan calls for renewed talks with China

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday called for a resumption of talks with China and pledged that “anything” can be on the table for discussion. Relations with Beijing have deteriorated under Taiwan’s first female president, whose China-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took office in May after a landslide victory over the Kuomintang party (KMT). Tsai has refused to accept the concept of “one China”, prompting Beijing to cut off all official […]