36 h. ago Luxury brands face probe over alleged Chinese worker exploitation in Italy

Italian prosecutors on Thursday named Gucci, Prada, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent as among 13 luxury brands suspected of using subcontractors who exploited migrant workers in Italy, as part of a growing investigation into sweatshop conditions. Milan prosecutor Paolo Storari issued requests for information about alleged abuses by the brands, although they are not yet under formal investigation. It is the biggest expansion to date of a probe launched last year into the luxury sector, which has...

Economics

3 d. ago EU’s former top diplomat Mogherini detained in training fraud probe: source

The EU’s former foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was taken into custody on Tuesday as police staged raids probing a suspected fraud scheme involving the training of European diplomats. Mogherini, who was high representative for foreign affairs from 2014 to 2019, now leads the College of Europe graduate school whose premises were searched along with the offices of the European External Action Service (EEAS) diplomatic service. The 52-year-old Italian was arrested in Brussels along with the...

Politics

3 d. ago EU’s former top diplomat Mogherini detained in fraud investigation

The EU’s former foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was taken into custody on Tuesday as police staged raids probing suspected fraud over contracts to train future European diplomats. Mogherini, who was high representative for foreign affairs from 2014 to 2019, now leads the College of Europe graduate school whose premises were searched along with the offices of the EEAS diplomatic service. The 52-year-old Italian was arrested in Brussels along with the training school’s deputy head, and...

Politics

7 d. ago China halts soy imports from Brazil plants, pivots to US amid food safety probe

China has halted imports of soybeans from five Brazilian exporters after inspectors found pesticide-treated wheat mixed into a cargo bound for Beijing, officials from both countries said on Thursday. The suspension by China’s General Administration of Customs was communicated to Brazil’s agriculture ministry on Wednesday and made public on Thursday. The ban covers two Cargill facilities and one plant each run by Louis Dreyfus Co., CHS Agronegocios and 3Tentos Agroindustrial. Four of the plants...

Politics

8 d. ago Fire probe centres on widespread use of flammable material by building firm

The investigation into a deadly fire at a Hong Kong housing estate has centred on the use of flammable material in the scaffolding that covered the residential blocks, officials said on Thursday. Police arrested three men from the maintenance firm responsible for the buildings on suspicion of manslaughter, while the city’s anti-graft agency said it was looking into a possible case of corruption. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung had revealed shortly before 2am that authorities...

Events

8 d. ago Swiss probe Rolex gifts to Trump over bribery concerns after tariff deal

Two Swiss lawmakers have asked prosecutors to examine whether gifts reportedly given to US President Donald Trump – including a Rolex watch and a gold bar - by Swiss business leaders may have violated Switzerland’s anti-bribery laws. Switzerland this month struck a framework agreement with the US to cut a 39 per cent tariff on Swiss goods to 15 per cent. The deal came 10 days after a delegation of Swiss business leaders visited Trump in the Oval Office, bearing the gifts, according to Swiss...

Politics

1 week ago Amazon sites in Italy raided by police in China smuggling probe, sources say

Amazon sites in Italy raided by police in China smuggling probe, sources say  Reuters

Events

1 week ago Russia academy breaks up with China naval institute chief scientist under probe

The chief scientist of China’s top naval institute has been suspended as a foreign academician to the Russian Academy of Engineering after he became the subject of a police probe over alleged academic misconduct. On Friday, the Chinese headquarters of the Russian Academy of Engineering said it had taken note of the case against Guo Wei, and was verifying information regarding his election as a foreign academician earlier this year, according to its statement posted on WeChat. The academy then...

Politics

1 week ago Ambani zoo, India cleared of probe curbing endangered animal imports

A UN wildlife trade body decided on Sunday not to restrict India from importing endangered animals after many countries supported reversing an earlier stringent recommendation that had embroiled the private zoo run by Asia’s richest family. Vantara, a 3,500-acre zoo in Gujarat run by the philanthropic arm of the Reliance conglomerate led by Mukesh Ambani and his family, faced allegations from non-profit and wildlife groups of improper imports of some animals, triggering higher scrutiny by...

Politics

1 week ago Singapore deepens probe into Chen Zhi’s alleged scam empire with fresh raid

Singapore authorities raided a car loan company that borrowed from a firm connected to Prince Holding Group, as the net widens on those linked to the alleged scam organisation and its chair, Chen Zhi. The premises of Singapore-registered SRS Auto Holdings were raided by police last week, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified disclosing sensitive information. The sole proprietor of SRS, Tan Yew Kiat, was arrested, they said. “The police are investigating...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong authorities launch probe into fatal industrial accident at sewage plant

Hong Kong labour authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a 49-year-old worker who was strangled by his clothing getting caught in a machine. The Labour Department’s statement on Sunday followed the man’s death at Tseung Kwan O Hospital on Saturday night, 10 hours after he collapsed in the basement of a sewage treatment plant in Wo Mei, Sai Kung. According to the department, the worker’s clothes became caught in the concrete core drilling machine he was operating on Saturday...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong launches probe after voters’ personal details posted on social media

Hong Kong authorities have launched an investigation after the personal details of “some voters were uploaded to a social media platform” ahead of the Legislative Council election next month, with the government strongly condemning the act. The government said that following the discovery on Friday, the Registration and Electoral Office had referred the case to a law enforcement agency, which was conducting a thorough investigation. “The [Hong Kong] government strongly condemns the illegal act...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Forgotten by everyone’: Namewee blasted for job hunt amid Iris Hsieh probe

Malaysian rapper Namewee has been criticised by Taiwanese model Sprite Fang for seeking part-time jobs amid ongoing investigations into the death of social media influencer Iris Hsieh, Oriental Daily reported. In a social media post on Wednesday, Fang, 42, wrote: “You don’t have money, but at least you still have your life. You can keep writing music to generate income. However, Iris had money but is no longer alive to spend it.” Fang urged Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, to take...

Politics

2 w. ago Harvard reopens probe into Larry Summers after release of Epstein emails

Harvard University has reopened an investigation into connections between former President Larry Summers and Jeffrey Epstein, a university spokesman said on Wednesday, and Summers’ office said he would resign from the board of OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. The university did not mention Summers by name, but the decision to restart the probe follows the release of emails showing that Summers, a former Treasury secretary, maintained a friendly relationship with Epstein long after the financier...

Politics

2 w. ago Larry Summers takes leave from teaching at Harvard after Epstein emails

Former US Treasury secretary Larry Summers abruptly went on leave on Wednesday from teaching at Harvard University, where he once served as president, over recently released emails showing he maintained a friendly relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, Summers’ spokesperson said. Summers had been retreating from his public commitments amid the fallout of the emails revelation, but he had maintained that he would continue teaching economics classes at Harvard. Yet by Wednesday evening, Summers had...

Politics

2 w. ago Top Democrat demands probe into 4 Chinese firms potentially supplying Nexperia

A senior US Democrat is urging the Commerce Department to investigate four Chinese semiconductor firms potentially tied to Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, warning they could threaten the safety and reliability of components used in cars across the US and its allies. The request marks the latest twist in the turmoil surrounding the Chinese-owned firm, which has become a flashpoint in broader disputes involving China, Europe, and the US, following months of internal conflicts, regulatory intervention...

Politics

2 w. ago Top Democrat demands US probe into Chinese firms potentially supplying Nexperia

A senior US Democrat is urging the Commerce Department to investigate four Chinese semiconductor firms potentially tied to Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, warning they could threaten the safety and reliability of components used in cars across the US and its allies. The request marks the latest twist in the turmoil surrounding the Chinese-owned firm, which has become a flashpoint in broader disputes involving China, Europe, and the US, following months of internal conflicts, regulatory intervention...

Politics

2 w. ago EU set to probe Chinese robotic lawnmowers in escalating trade dispute: sources

The European Union is expected to launch an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese robotic lawnmowers as early as this week, two sources familiar with the matter told the Post on Tuesday, marking another potential escalation of China-European trade tensions. China has been selling more robotic lawnmowers to Europe, and at higher prices. More than 40 per cent of China’s robotic-lawnmower exports, by volume, are shipped to the 27-member bloc, according to Chinese customs data. And in the first...

Politics

2 w. ago Exclusive | EU set to probe Chinese robotic lawnmowers in escalating trade dispute: sources

Exclusive | EU set to probe Chinese robotic lawnmowers in escalating trade dispute: sources  South China Morning Post

Politics

2 w. ago Netanyahu faces backlash for leading Israel’s October 7 probe

After repeated delays, Israel’s government has agreed to launch an investigation into the government failures that led to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, that triggered the war in Gaza. But questions about the investigation’s independence drew accusations Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to evade personal responsibility in the worst attack in Israel’s history. Israel has traditionally appointed an independent state commission of inquiry, led by a retired judge,...

Politics