Section: South China Morning Post (China)
Global alarm over Ukraine fighting as death toll rises
The death toll from the latest escalation in fighting in Ukraine rose to 19 on Wednesday as international alarm rang out over the spike in bloodshed in the European Union’s back yard. Government forces and Russian-backed separatists exchanged mortar and rocket fire for a fourth day around the flashpoint eastern town of Avdiivka just north...
Trump, Putin in first formal phone call agree to cooperate in fight against terrorism
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged cooperation in fighting the Islamic State, the two sides said, as the pair seek to reverse tension after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its support for Syria,and allegations that Russian hackers sought to sway the US election. “The positive call was a significant start to...
Russia business world hopes for relief from Trump
Few people are more eager for Donald Trump’s arrival in the White House than those who do business in Russia. Hacking scandals? They expect that to blow over. Conflict in Ukraine? An artificial problem invented by Barack Obama, they argue. Russian magnates and American investors alike are anticipating a Trump administration that removes...
Tillerson surprises with tough talk on Russia, but refuses to call Putin a war criminal
Barraged by questions about Russia, Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state promised a far more muscular approach toward the Kremlin on Wednesday, abandoning much of the president-elect’s emphasis on improving ties between the Cold War foes. Instead, Rex Tillerson suggested the outgoing Obama administration responded too softly to...
Blizzards kill nine in Europe
Blizzards swept parts of Europe on Friday, causing at least nine deaths, closing roads and resulting in traffic accidents, travel delays and medical evacuations. In Poland, the cold snap was blamed for five deaths in 24 hours. Three people died from hypothermia, while two more died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by malfunctioning heaters,...
Ukraine, struck by 6,500 hack attacks, says Russia is waging ‘cyberwar’
Hackers have targeted Ukrainian state institutions about 6,500 times in the past two months, including incidents that showed Russian security services were waging a cyberwar against the country, President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday. In December, Ukraine suffered attacks on its finance and defence ministries and the State Treasury that...
Obama set to hit Russia with further sanctions over election hacking
The outgoing US administration is poised to hit Russia with further sanctions before Barack Obama leaves office next month, in response to allegations of Russian hacking and interference in the US electoral process. Russia, meanwhile, promised retaliation against Washington in the event of new economic sanctions. The Obama administration has had...
US blacklists seven Russian businessmen, eight companies over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine
The United States on Tuesday blacklisted seven Russian businessmen and eight companies and government enterprises over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine, the US Treasury said in a statement. The sanctions come a month before US President Barack Obama hands over power to President-elect Donald Trump, who has praised...
Russia, Syria and Ukraine loom large over European Union summit
Russia had no seat at the European Union’s table Thursday but it cast a shadow over the summit as a target for criticism of its role in the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s influence over the wars that have dragged on for years deeply frustrated a Europe limited to diplomacy, money or humanitarian aid...
Crimean gold treasures must be returned to Ukraine, Dutch court rules
A priceless collection of gold artefacts from Crimea that was on loan to a Dutch museum when Russia seized the peninsula must be returned to Ukraine and not Crimea, a Dutch court ruled on Wednesday in a judgement likely to anger Moscow. This is an important victory for Ukraine Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kiev and the four museums have been...
