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≡ S. Korea Confirms 14th Case Of African Swine Fever
Another case of African swine fever has been confirmed in South Korea, raising the total number of cases to 14 amid nationwide disinfection efforts.
The agriculture ministry said the latest ASF outbreak hit a farm in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province near the inter-Korean border.
It is also the first case to be confirmed since last Thursday.
Local authorities said some 4,000 pigs were being raised at the farm and that there were more than 4,000 other pigs within a 3-kilometer radius.
The government has implemented a 48-hour lockdown on all pig farms, related facilities and vehicles in the town that's north of Seoul.
The total number of pigs culled in the country due to ASF is expected to surpass 150,000.■
[2019.10.10]
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≡ S. Korean Envoy Stresses Joint Efforts With US, Japan For Denuclearization
South Korea's top nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon has left the United States after holding talks with his American and Japanese counterparts on how to make progress in denuclearization negotiations with North Korea.
According to Lee on Wednesday, the three sides agreed not to disclose the details of their discussions.
He told Yonhap News TV before boarding his plane to Seoul, "We don't know what North Korea could latch on to use as an excuse," however, he said they had in-depth talks and would continue joint efforts to make progress on the denuclearization issue.
The envoy's visit came days after working-level nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and the North broke down in Sweden.
The meeting in Stockholm last Saturday marked the first time Washington and Pyongyang officials held formal discussions since February's second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that ended without any agreement.■
[2019.10.10]
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≡ World Leaders React Strongly To Turkey's Assault In Syria
World leaders have expressed strong concern after Turkey launched a military offensive on Kurdish forces in northern Syria that it has branded as terrorists but are viewed by much of the West as key partners in the fight against Islamic State.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged Ankara on Wednesday to show "restraint," but also acknowledged it had "legitimate security concerns."
U.S. President Donald Trump called the incursion into northern Syria a "bad idea" and insisted Washington did not endorse the attack despite having withdrawn U.S. troops from the area in what was interpreted as a green light for Turkey to assault Kurdish militias previously allied with the U.S.
Britain raised issue over the risk of a potential humanitarian catastrophe in the region while EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker demanded a halt to the attacks saying the bloc will not pay for any so-called safe zone that might be created.
The United Nations Security Council plans to hold an emergency closed-door meeting on Thursday to discuss the assault.■
[2019.10.10]
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≡ Global Stocks Rebound On Optimism Over US-China Trade Talks
Global stocks rebounded Wednesday, helped by reports that China was open to a partial trade deal with the U.S. in key talks this week.
At closing bell, the Dow Jones added 0.7 percent, the S&P500 advanced 0.9 percent while the tech-rich Nasdaq jumped 1 percent.
Over in Europe, London's FTSE climbed 0.3 percent, Frankfurt's DAX rose 1 percent while shares in Paris gained 0.8 percent.■[2019.10.10]
