Section: The Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
Fast-growing Asian aviation confronts safety challenges
For Asia’s aviation industry, the growing pains have just begun.A year of disasters, the disappearance of Flight 370 and financial turbulence highlight the challenges confronting the world’s biggest air travel market, where governments, regulators and airlines are struggling to keep up after a decade of astonishing growth.A U.N....
Ordinary folk take up military training over Russia threat
NATO aircraft scream across eastern European skies and American armored vehicles rumble near the border with Russia on a mission to reassure citizens that they’re safe from Russian aggression. But these days, ordinary people aren’t taking any chances. In Poland, doctors, shopkeepers, lawmakers and others are heeding a call to receive...
Pentagon chief heads east as US tries to maintain Asia focus
Islamic extremists grab parts of Iraq and Syria. Yemen slides into civil war. Iran’s nuclear program strains U.S. relations with Israel. Ukraine fights Russian-backed separatists.At a time of crisis across the Middle East and beyond, the Obama administration is trying to keep its focus on a widely advertised shift to Asia.The administration...
Pope, thousands brave rain for Easter in St. Peter’s Square
Urbi et Orbi: Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday. (AP/Andrew Medichini)In an Easter peace wish, Pope Francis on Sunday praised the framework nuclear agreement with Iran as an opportunity to make the world safer,...
Russian trawler with 132 crew sinks, at least 43 dead
A freezer trawler with an international crew of 132 sank Thursday morning in the Sea of Okhotsk off of the Kamchatka Peninsula and at least 43 crew members were killed, rescue workers said.The emergency services in Kamchatka, citing the head of the rescue operation, said 63 crew members were rescued and the fate of the remaining 26 from the Dalny...
French eye cockpit entry, psychological screening rules
French aviation investigators said Tuesday they will examine “systemic weaknesses” like cockpit entry rules and psychological screening procedures that could have led to the Germanwings plane crash — issues that could affect the worldwide aviation industry. Lufthansa, meanwhile, said its insurers had set aside US$300 million to deal...
Lithuania claims one-third of Russian diplomats are spies
Lithuania on Monday alleged that one-third of Russian diplomats in the EU and NATO Baltic state were working for spy agencies, and warned that Moscow could test the alliance with unconventional tactics. Lithuania’s intelligence agency said it kicked out three Russian spies last year, adding that Moscow was increasingly interested in the...
Govt urged to impose export tax on steel slabs
Local steel producers are demanding that the government impose an export tax on semi-finished steel so that domestic needs can be met and the industry can produce the goods more efficiently.Two major steel plate manufacturers — PT Gunung Raja Paksi and publicly listed PT Gunawan Dianjaya Steel — said a levy of around 10 percent would be necessary...
UEFA: Block on Russia-Ukraine draw could be lifted for Euros
UEFA’s block on teams from Russia and Ukraine being drawn to play each other could yet be lifted for the 2016 European Championship, according to its top official overseeing football in Crimea.UEFA executive committee member Frantisek Laurinec of Slovakia told The Associated Press on Sunday he believes the two countries could play “in...
European far-right politicians in Russia to support Putin
Nationalist supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin brought together controversial far-right politicians from across Europe on Sunday in an effort to demonstrate international support for Russia and weaken European Union commitment to sanctions imposed on Russia over its role in Ukraine.Putin’s many critics pointed to the irony of...
