IN BRIEF (Page 11)

China Daily | Updated: 2014-09-19 07:24

Russia

Putin criticizes west's sanctions

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Western sanctions against Russia violated the basic principles of the World Trade Organization, and the main way to combat them was to develop the domestic market. "The sanctions violated the principles of fair and free competition ... (and) ignore the most-favored-nation treatment," he told a state council meeting.

Philippines

43 arrested in cybersex raids

Philippine authorities said they have arrested 43 suspected members of a syndicate that runs a lucrative online cybersex operation catering to clients worldwide. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said government agents arrested 43 men and women and seized 115 computers in raids on three locations late Wednesday in Dinalupihan town in Bataan province, west of Manila. Police said on Thursday that the syndicate operated a website at which clients could ask women to perform lewd acts for a fee.

United Kingdom

Duchess won't go to Malta

Prince William will replace his wife Kate on this weekend's official visit to Malta because the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge is still suffering from acute morning sickness. Palace officials said on Thursday the decision to cancel what would have been the duchess's first official solo voyage overseas was made in consultation with her doctors. The palace said William instead will represent his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Malta's independence.

Slovenia

Vote targets Japan's whaling

Nations agreed on Thursday to measures that toughen scrutiny of future Japanese bids to kill whales in the name of scientific research, which critics say is a cover for commercial hunts. A New Zealand resolution to tighten the review process was approved 35-20, with five abstentions, on the closing day of the International Whaling Commission's 65th meeting. Japan killed more than 250 minke whales in the Antarctic in the 2013-14 season and 103 the previous year.

AP - AFP - Xinhua

(China Daily 09/19/2014 page11)