Section: The Jakarta Globe (Indonesia)
Malaysia Moves on MH17 Tribunal Plan at UN, Russia Dismisses
United Nations. Malaysia has asked the United Nations Security Council to set up an international tribunal to prosecute those suspected of downing a passenger airliner last year in eastern Ukraine, but Russia dismissed the move on Thursday. Malaysia, a member of the 15-member council, distributed a draft resolution late on Wednesday, which it...
Dutch Seek UN Tribunal to Prosecute Downing of Malaysian Plane
The Hague. The Dutch government is lobbying its political allies for the establishment of a UN tribunal to prosecute suspects in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines plane over territory held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine a year ago, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday. Rutte said a UN tribunal would give “the best guarantee of...
Commentary: Cautious Merkel on Verge of Biggest Risk With ‘Grexit’
Berlin. “If you break it, you own it,” former US Secretary of State Colin Powell warned President George W. Bush before his invasion of Iraq. Whether it will ever be fair to blame Angela Merkel for “breaking” Greece is debatable. But if the euro zone’s weakest link does default this week and is eventually forced out of the single currency,...
China Says Changing Position on Sea Dispute Would Shame Ancestors
Beijing. Changing position on China’s claims over the South China Sea would shame its ancestors, while not facing up to infringements of Chinese sovereignty there would shame its children, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday. China has become increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, building artificial islands in areas over...
International Tibunal Looks Like Best Chance for MH17 Justice
Amsterdam. The Netherlands is discussing with its allies an international tribunal to prosecute those suspected of downing a Malaysian airliner over rebel-held eastern Ukraine last year, sources familiar with the discussions have told Reuters. The chance of a successful prosecution is considered slim at best but the Dutch still hope that, by...
EU Keeps Up Pressure on Russia by Extending Economic Sanctions
Luxembourg. European Union foreign ministers extended economic sanctions on Russia until Jan. 31 on Monday, keeping up pressure on Moscow to help resolve the Ukraine conflict. The ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved a six-month extension of the sanctions, which were “introduced in response to Russia’s destabilizing role in eastern...
Cost of Violence Hits $14t in Increasingly Divided World
London. The cost of violence around the world reached a record $14.3 trillion in 2014, equivalent to the combined economies of Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, a global security report said on Wednesday. The divide between the most and least peaceful regions deepened with many Middle Eastern and African countries...
Putin Says Russia Beefing Up Nuclear Arsenal; NATO Denounces ‘Saber-Rattling’
Kubinka, Russia. President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia would add more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal this year, prompting NATO’s chief to accuse Moscow of dangerous “saber-rattling.” Putin made his announcement a day after Russian officials denounced a US plan to station tanks and heavy...
Malaysia Airlines Makes Emergency Landing in Melbourne
Sydney. A Malaysia Airlines flight returned safely to Melbourne on Friday, having turned back within minutes of take-off after an engine fire alert went off, Air Services Australia said. “There was an emergency declared, there was an ‘engine fire’ alert in the cabin. The plane proceeded to dump the fuel and returned to land and it landed...
Putin Says Russia Is Committed to Ukraine Peace Deal
Moscow. Russia fully backs the Minsk peace agreements in Ukraine, but progress is being stalled by Kiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Saturday. “Russia is interested in and will strive to ensure the full and unconditional implementation of the Minsk Agreements,” he said,...
