Section: Free Malaysia Today (Malaysia)
Trump on Russia meddling in US election: ‘I don’t believe it’
WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald Trump dismissed a brewing storm over Russian cyber meddling in the US election, rejecting as “ridiculous” US intelligence reports that Moscow tried to help him win the White House. “I don’t believe it,” Trump said in a pre-recorded interview that was broadcast Sunday on Fox News. “I think it’s...
From Dracula to Prince Charles: Romanian facts
BUCHAREST: Romania holds legislative elections on Sunday with the left-wing Social Democrats (PSD) expected to emerge as the largest party, a year after a deadly fire forced them out of office. Here are some facts about the former communist country of 20 million people in southeastern Europe, a member of NATO since 2004 and of the European Union...
Germany wary of Fillon’s cosy attitude to Russia
BERLIN: Francois Fillon, frontrunner to become France’s next president, has sparked unease in Germany with his friendly attitude toward Russia, which could make him an uncomfortable ally for Chancellor Angela Merkel. Fillon secured the nomination of the French conservative Republicans on Sunday with a resounding victory over his more...
Conservative Fillon wins French presidential primary
PARIS: Francois Fillon, a conservative reformist promising to shrink the French state, on Sunday clinched the rightwing nomination for next year’s presidential election with a resounding victory over his rival Alain Juppe. Ex-prime minister Fillon, 62, will now become a favourite to be France’s next leader after winning the US-style...
Leaders pay tribute to Fidel Castro, but critics scathing of ‘tyrant’
PARIS: The death of Cuba’s Fidel Castro prompted reaction across the spectrum Saturday with some world leaders describing him as a friend and ally, while rights groups recalled his repression of basic freedoms. Here are some responses to the death of the 90-year-old Cold War icon, whose life was defined by his resistance to the capitalist...
Profiles of first three Trump cabinet appointees
WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald Trump announced three important cabinet appointments Friday, for the posts of CIA director, attorney general and national security advisor. The following are thumbnail sketches of the three men: CIA director Mike Pompeo, the Republican legislator nominated to lead the CIA, is a well-known hawk and strident...
Obama says hopes Trump will ‘stand up’ to Russia
BERLIN: US President Barack Obama said Thursday he hoped his successor Donald Trump would “stand up” to Russia when it breaches international norms, citing the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. Obama said he hoped Trump, who has voiced admiration for President Vladimir Putin, “is willing to stand up to Russia where they are deviating from our...
Celebrities launch T-shirt campaign for imprisoned artists
NEW YORK: Major names in entertainment including Peter Gabriel and Johnny Depp launched a campaign Wednesday to free jailed artists by appearing on T-shirts with the prisoners’ names. In an initiative of advocacy group The Voice Project, arrest-style mugshots of the celebrities emblazon the T-shirts. Instead of their own names, each star...
Russia withdraws backing for International Criminal Court treaty
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Wednesday withdrawing Russia’s signature from the International Criminal Court’s founding treaty, whose pronouncements Moscow has derided as one-sided. The order, which took immediate effect, said Russia would not ratify the ICC’s founding treaty, something it signed...
Merkel to be the new ‘leader of the free world’?
BERLIN: The shock election of Donald Trump as US president has forced greater responsibility for defending Western values and interests onto German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s shoulders, analysts say, with some even crowning her the new “leader of the free world”. While the last decade has been defined by Britain, France, Germany and the US...
