Section: theSun (Malaysia)
Ukraine inaugurates comedian Zelensky as president
KIEV: Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky stepped into his new role as Ukrainian president with his inauguration on Monday, launching a new era for the country wracked by war and economic difficulties.A month after scoring a landslide election victory against incumbent Petro Poroshenko, the 41-year-old became Ukraine’s youngest post-Soviet...
US$100m cybercrime gang busted: Europol
THE HAGUE: US and European police said Thursday they have smashed a huge international cybercrime network that used Russian malware to steal 100 million dollars from tens of thousands of victims worldwide.Prosecutions have been launched in Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and the United States over the scam, while five Russians charged in the US remain...
Kiev will not recognise Russian passports from rebel areas: PM
KIEV: Ukraine said on Wednesday it will not recognise Russian passports issued to Ukrainian citizens in the territories occupied by Kremlin-backed rebels, comparing them to Nazi identity documents.“These passports will be considered illegal,“ Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman told the government meeting.“We will never recognise any citizenship...
Saint Petersburg police break up opposition rally, detain dozens
SAINT PETERSBURG: Police in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday broke up a sanctioned May Day opposition rally and detained more than 60 people after protesters chanted slogans critical of President Vladimir Putin, a monitor said.Supporters of top opposition leader Alexei Navalny were among some 2,000 anti-Kremlin protesters.Several thousand members of...
Ukraine says radiation levels safe after nuclear plant fire
KIEV: Ukrainian officials said Tuesday that radiation levels remained safe after a fire broke out at a nuclear power plant, leading to the shutdown of one of the reactors.The fire, which was extinguished within an hour, began late Monday at the Rivne nuclear power station in western Ukraine, around 300km (190 miles) from Kiev.It erupted in an...
Study says Russia holding 236 political prisoners
WASHINGTON: Russia is holding 236 political prisoners, a significant increase over the past few years as President Vladimir Putin goes on the offensive against perceived threats, a study backed by human rights advocates said Monday.The number compares with 46 political prisoners on a February 2015 list by Memorial, the veteran Russian civil...
Ukraine’s president-elect offers passports to Russians
KIEV: President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed an offer by Vladimir Putin to provide passports to Ukrainians, and pledged instead to grant citizenship to Russians who “suffer” under the Kremlin’s rule.The Russian president on Saturday said Moscow was considering plans to make it easier for all Ukrainians to obtain Russian citizenship,...
US records 695 measles cases, most since elimination in 2000
NEW YORK: The United States recorded 695 cases of measles in 2019, the most of any year since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, health authorities said Wednesday.“The high number of cases in 2019 is primarily the result of a few large outbreaks – one in Washington State and two large outbreaks in New York that started in late 2018,“...
Chinese navy shows off new warship in 70th anniversary parade
BEIJING: China celebrated the 70th anniversary of its navy on Tuesday by showing off its growing fleet in a sea parade featuring a brand new guided-missile destroyer.Under grey, foggy skies, Chinese President Xi Jinping stood on a warship to take the salute from 32 Chinese vessels, including submarines, and 39 planes off the eastern city of...
Ukraine comedian Zelensky wins presidency in landslide
KIEV: A comedian with no political experience won a landslide victory in Ukraine’s presidential election, drawing congratulations from global leaders while dealing a stunning rebuke to his country’s political establishment.Volodymyr Zelensky, whose only previous political role was playing the president in a TV show, trounced incumbent...
