Section: theSun (Malaysia)
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...
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...
Russian poisoning denials ‘increasingly absurd’: UK’s Johnson
BRUSSELS: Moscow’s denials over its involvement in the nerve agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain are growing “increasingly absurd”, British foreign minister Boris Johnson said Monday. The Kremlin has rejected allegations by London and its allies that Russia was behind the March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his...
Cirque du Soleil aerialist falls to his death
MIAMI: An aerialist fell to his death while performing in a Cirque du Soleil show in Tampa, Florida, the Montreal-based company said Sunday. Yann Arnaud was suspended by straps above the stage during a performance of its VOLTA show on Saturday night when he fell, according to a statement. He was rushed to a hospital but died of his injuries....
Russian voters share concerns in predictable poll
MOSCOW: From frustration with corruption and poverty to Moscow’s showdown with the West, Russians shared their concerns as they voted in Sunday’s presidential election that is set to extend President Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin term to 2024. “Of course I’m for Putin, he’s a leader,” said Olga Matyunina, a...
Putin eyes fourth term as Russians go to polls
MOSCOW: Russians voted Sunday in an election set to hand President Vladimir Putin a fourth term, as the country is embroiled in a crisis with Britain and its allies over a spy poisoning. With the vast country stretching across 11 time zones, polls opened in the Russian far east at 2000 GMT on Saturday and will close in Kaliningrad, the...
Isolated but defiant, Russia set to re-elect strongman Putin
MOSCOW: Russia was on Sunday set to elect Vladimir Putin to a historic fourth Kremlin term, as the country faces increasing isolation over a spy poisoning in Britain and a fresh round of US sanctions. Since taking power 18 years ago, Putin has stamped his total authority on the country, silencing opposition and reasserting Moscow’s lost...
