IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Russia

Moscow is not trying to split EU

President Vladimir Putin is heading to Austria, one of the European Union's more Russia-friendly members, on his first foreign trip since being sworn in for a fourth term. Before meetings with Austrian leaders on Tuesday, Putin dismissed suggestions that Russia has any intention of dividing the 28-nation EU. In an interview with Austrian public broadcaster ORF, he said that Moscow wants the EU "to be united and flourish, because the EU is our most important trade and business partner".

Tunisia

60 migrants die in ship sinking

The death toll from a ship packed with migrants that sank off the Tunisian coast last weekend has risen to 60, the United Nations migration agency said late on Monday, one of the worst migrant boat disasters in recent years. The boat went down near the southern island of Kerkenna, overnight on Sunday. The victims were Tunisians as well as other nationalities, Tunisian authorities said. The Coast Guard is still searching for dozens of missing migrants.

Mongolia

Joint military exercise kicks off

An international military exercise, code-named Gobi Wolf 2018, began on Monday in the province of Khovd. Gobi Wolf 2018 is a five-day disaster response exercise and exchange event. It will involve more than 650 participants, including those from Mongolia, the United States, international organizations, and embassies of France, Sri Lanka, Britain, Canada, South Korea, Australia, Japan, Thailand and Nepal to Mongolia.

India

Govt plans bailout for sugar mills

The government is likely to announce a bailout package of more than $1 billion to the cash-starved sugar mills to help clear dues to farmers, the Times of India reported on Monday, citing the Press Trust of India. The government is keen to placate India's 50 million cane growers, who make up an influential political lobby, especially with national elections barely a year away in May 2019.

France

Van Gogh painting sells for $8 million

A painting by a young Vincent Van Gogh was sold at an auction in Paris on Monday for more than $8.2 million, the Artcurial auction house said. Raccommodeuses de filets dans les dunes (Women mending nets in the fields) dates from 1882 and was bought by a US collector in a hot bidding battle that boosted the selling price far above the estimated value of between $3.5 to $5.8 million.

Reuters - Xinhua - Ap - Afp

(China Daily 06/06/2018 page11)