French judge to speak on war crimes

A French judge appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to spearhead the effort to prosecute war crimes in Syria will give her first press conference today. Ms Catherine Marchi-Uhel was given the job of documenting and prosecuting the most serious violations of international law in Syria, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity, in July.

Conference on tobacco control issues

Mayors, regents and public health officials from 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region are meeting in Singapore to discuss tobacco control matters.

The two-day meeting by the Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco Control ends today. The alliance was formed in November last year.

Australia unlikely to tweak interest rate

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low of 1.5 per cent at the end of its policy meeting today. Australia is stuck in an economic disconnect, with debt-laden households struggling with stagnant incomes. The central bank is treading carefully, wary that rate cuts would encourage more borrowing, with household debt already at a record 190 per cent of income.