Section: The National (United Arab Emirates)
Russian rescuers find first parts of crashed military plane
SOCHI // Russian rescuers on Monday found the first parts of the Syria-bound military plane that plunged into the Black Sea a day before, as officials said they do not suspect terrorism as the reason for the crash.The Tu-154 jet, whose passengers included more than 60 members of the internationally-renowned Red Army Choir, was heading to...
Russian plane with 92 aboard crashes into the Black Sea
MOSCOW // A Russian plane headed to an air base in Syria with 92 people aboard, including members of a well-known military choir, crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday minutes after taking off from the resort city of Sochi, Russia’s Defense Ministry said.There was no indication anyone survived the crash of the Tu-154, which belonged to the...
Europe keeps a wary eye on Russian cyber warfare
DUBLIN // European governments are increasingly apprehensive of Russian state-sponsored propaganda and hacking in their political and economic affairs, as US security agencies confirm Moscow’s interference in the recent presidential election. British prime minister Theresa May will chair a session of the national security council early next...
Leaders of Russia and Japan hold hot spring meeting on island row
NAGATO // The leaders of Russia and Japan held talks at a hot springs resort in western Japan on Thursday on a territorial dispute that has divided their countries for 70 years.Following their discussions, Russian president Vladimir Putin and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe ordered a start to consultations on possible joint economic activity...
Europe pivots to Russia as capitalist dreams turn to revenge
This time next year, the United States and probably France, two of the world’s great democracies, might be led by admirers of Russian president Vladimir Putin. These countries will follow Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and most recently, Bulgaria and Moldova: Eastern European nations that have elected leaders advocating closer ties...
Trump picks ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as US secretary of state
New York // President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced Rex Tillerson, ExxonMobil chief executive, as his secretary of state, pitching him as a successful businessman with a history of striking major international deals.However, the choice of the 64-year-old Texan will raise questions about his ties to Russia and whether he will be able to...
Stand up to Russia, Obama advises Trump
BERLIN // Offering some pointed foreign policy advice to his successor, US president Barack Obama expressed hope on Thursday that his succesor, Donald Trump, will stand up to Russia when it deviates from American “values and international norms”. Mr Obama, in a joint news conference with German chancellor Angela Merkel during his...
EU foreign ministers gather to discuss Trump impact on US ties
BRUSSELS // European Union foreign ministers gathered on Sunday to discuss the impact of Donald Trump’s election on trans-Atlantic ties and whether it will complicate relations with an increasingly belligerent Russia.At informal dinner talks in Brussels, well away from the media, the ministers were to debate how many of Mr Trump’s...
Trump victory triggers bad Brexit memories in Europe
DUBLIN // In a shock result reminiscent of the Brexit referendum in June, Europe awoke on Wednesday morning to find Donald Trump within striking distance of victory in the US presidential election.Opinion polls leading up to the election had been assured of a win for the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton. If anything, the widespread...
Trump victory stirs bad Brexit memories in Europe
DUBLIN // In a shock result reminiscent of the Brexit referendum in June, Europe awoke on Wednesday morning to find Donald Trump within striking distance of victory in the US presidential election.Opinion polls leading up to the election had been assured of a win for the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton. If anything, the widespread...
