Section: Malaysia
‘Wagner Group’: The mercenaries serving Putin in Syria
MOSCOW: The deaths of several members of the so-called “Wagner Group” in Syria last month shone a light on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mysterious private army. Questions had already been raised on its role in the Syrian conflict and intensified when Washington said on Feb 7 it had killed at least 100 pro-regime troops in...
Kiev tightens requirements for Russians traveling to Ukraine
Ukraine’s restrictions on Russians entering the country are a direct response to Russia’s actions in the region. (Reuters pic) KIEV: Kiev will tighten control over travel by Russian citizens to Ukraine, according to a decree signed by President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday, a further move by the authorities to distance Ukraine from...
Trump congratulates Putin, summit on cards
MOSCOW: US President Donald Trump congratulated Vladimir Putin Tuesday on his re-election, as the leaders raised the prospect of a summit in the near future — while sidestepping both the issue of election meddling and a spy attack that has rocked Moscow’s relations with the West. Trump told reporters at the White House he had spoken with...
Putin, Trump want better ties, planning summit
MOSCOW: US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Tuesday discussed holding a possible summit as the American leader congratulated the Russian President on his re-election. “I had a call with President Putin and congratulated him on his electoral victory,” Trump said, two days after Putin’s re-election. “The call had...
Trump congratulates Putin, summit on cards
Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to meet with candidates who participated in the last presidential election, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 19, 2018. (Reuters pic) MOSCOW: US President Donald Trump congratulated Vladimir Putin Tuesday on his re-election, as the leaders raised the prospect of a summit in the near future —...
Military pilot blamed by Russia for MH17 crash ‘kills himself’
People put candles in front of the Dutch embassy in Kiev on July 17, 2015 in memory of the people who died in the MH17 crash -© AFP/File A Ukrainian military pilot blamed by Russia over the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 has killed himself, Ukrainian media reported. According to the BBC, reports had said Capt Vladyslav Voloshyn...
Russia hits back in spy poisoning row as experts called in
LONDON: Russia hit back at Britain in the spy poisoning row, demanding proof of its alleged involvement in a nerve agent attack, as international weapons experts arrived to take samples of the toxic substance. The March 4 poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal, which took place just two weeks ahead of Russia’s presidential poll in...
US State Dept has deal with under-fire UK data-miner
WASHINGTON: The US State Department has a US$500,000, (RM1,955,750) contract with the British analysis firm facing allegations it misused Facebook user data and offered to dig dirt on its international clients’ election opponents. A State Department official told AFP on Monday the agency’s Global Engagement Center has a contract with...
Putin pledges to reduce Russia military spending this year
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia would cut its military spending, a day after he won a presidential election with a landslide. “We have plans to decrease our defence spending both this year and next. But this will not lead to any decline in the country’s defence capacity,” he said during a meeting with...
Russia will remain ‘difficult partner’ after Putin re-election: Germany
BRUSSELS: Russia will remain a “difficult partner” after President Vladimir Putin’s re-election but will be needed to help resolve international tensions, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Monday, questioning the vote’s fairness. “The result of the election in Russia did not surprise us any more than the...
