Section: Kuwait Times (Kuwait)
ICC opens examination into Israeli war crimes – US blasts ‘tragic irony’ * Palestinians welcome probe
THE HAGUE: The International Criminal Court launched a preliminary probe Friday that could clear the way for a full-scale investigation into possible war crimes in Palestinian territories – plunging the court into the most politically charged conflict it has ever tackled. ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said her office would conduct an...
Little hope for future as east Ukraine ends nightmare year
MARINIVKA, Ukraine: Larissa Pogorelka began the year looking forward to seeing her son graduate college and planning for the future with cautious optimism. Now she will end 2014 homeless, after her house was destroyed in the fighting that swept through this region of east Ukraine, and counts herself lucky just to be alive. “Nobody ever expected...
Pope slams IS, decries suffering of children – ‘So many tears this Christmas’
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis yesterday condemned the “brutal persecution” of minorities by Islamic State insurgents and said the joy of Christmas was marred by the suffering of children in the Middle East and around the world. Tens of thousands of people flocked to St. Peter’s Square to hear the Argentine pope deliver his “Urbi et Orbi” (to...
Russia, Ukraine set for peace talks – Kiev step towards NATO
KIEV: Fragile peace talks aimed at ending the separatist war between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels are due to resume yesterday, a day after Kiev angered Moscow by taking a historic step towards NATO. The talks in the Belarussian capital Minsk are expected to bring together envoys from Ukraine, Russia, pro-Moscow separatists and the Organization...
Ukraine takes historic step toward NATO – Putin’s view of NATO as modern Russia’s biggest threat
KIEV: Ukraine took a historic step toward NATO yesterday in a parliamentary vote certain to stoke Russia’s anger ahead of talks on ending the ex-Soviet state’s separatist war. Lawmakers in the government-controlled chamber overwhelmingly adopted a bill dropping Ukraine’s non-aligned status-a classification given to states such...
Russia brands new sanctions roadblock to Ukraine peace
KIEV: Russia accused the West yesterday of fuelling unrest in Ukraine by adopting anti-Kremlin sanctions that further erode the prospects of peace talks to end the separatist war. A Ukranian conference mediated by European and Russian envoys in the Belarussian capital Minsk had initially been set for last week and meant to coincide with a new...
EU leaders seek long-term strategy to deal with Russia
BRUSSELS: European Union leaders gathered in Brussels yesterday seeking common ground on a long-term strategy to deal with an unfriendly but economically wounded Russia. Summit host Donald Tusk, the new president of the leaders’ European Council, said it was vital for stability on the bloc’s eastern borders to start a discussion about...
Ukraine death toll tops 4,600 – Russia threatens response if US sets new sanctions
MOSCOW: Russia responded angrily yesterday to news that US senators had passed a bill calling for fresh sanctions against Moscow and the supply of lethal military aid to Ukraine. “Undoubtedly, we will not be able to leave this without a response,” deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax news agency ahead of a meeting between the...
Drone revolution hovers on horizon – Drones used more and more in civilian roles
PARIS: Drones are about to have a big impact on our lives, even if they will not be delivering our orders from Amazon any time soon, say experts. Civilian drones began to make headlines in 2014, and hype aside, could soon be in everyday use, particularly in France and the United States, which are at the cutting edge of the technology. This...
Ukraine president finds promise tough to keep
KIEV: The Chocolate King is finding it difficult to relinquish his throne. Petro Poroshenko, one of Ukraine’s richest men and owner of a sweets empire, made an unusual promise last spring while campaigning to be president – if elected, he would sell most of his business assets. “As president of Ukraine, I only want to concern myself with...
