Section: theSun (Malaysia)
Bulgaria PM quits after pro-Russia candidate wins presidential vote
SOFIA: Bulgaria’s centre-right Prime Minister Boyko Borisov stepped down Sunday after his presidential nominee suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a Moscow-friendly general backed by the Socialist opposition. Observers say the surprise win could tilt ex-communist Bulgaria, which has long walked a tightrope between Moscow and...
Safety pins: A pointed show of solidarity after Trump election
WASHINGTON: People have long used ribbons, flowers, colours or badges to symbolise political causes, from the carnations of Portugal’s 1974 revolution to the orange ribbons of Ukraine’s 2004 revolution to the gel wristbands now worn to promote almost any charity. Enter the lowly safety pin. That humble but practical device is fast...
EU sanctions six Russian MPs from Crimea
BRUSSELS: The European Union on Wednesday added six MPs from Crimea who were recently elected to Russia’s parliament to its sanctions blacklist for their role in supporting Moscow’s seizure of the region from Ukraine. “In line with its non-recognition policy, the EU considers that the persons who became members of the State Duma...
Russian hackers target cash before politics
MOSCOW: Just as the scandal over alleged Russian hacking of the US Democratic Party erupted in June, police in Russia were rounding up a group known as Lurk. In the underground world of Russian hackers, a shadowland of anonymous internet forums where users exchange the latest malware, Lurk was legendary. The group, active since 2011, was accused...
Estonia’s pro-West coalition collapses amid infighting
TALLINN: Estonia’s three-party coalition government collapsed on Monday as its two junior partners ended their cooperation with pro-Nato Prime Minister Taavi Roivas amid infighting over his leadership. “For the Social Democrats SDE and conservative IRL party the cooperation with the Reform party in this government has finished,”...
British spy chief warns of threats from ‘aggressive’ Russia
LONDON: The head of British intelligence agency MI5, Andrew Parker, on Monday warned of Russia acting in “increasingly aggressive ways” and utilising new technologies in its opposition to the west. “It is using its whole range of state organs and powers to push its foreign policy abroad in increasingly aggressive ways –...
Pro-Russia candidate ahead in Moldova election
CHISINAU: A pro-Russia candidate came out top in Moldova’s presidential election, according to incomplete results issued early Monday which left it unclear whether he could beat his pro-EU rival in the first round. Ex-Soviet Moldova went to the polls Sunday in its first popular presidential election since the 1990s, seen as a tug-of-war...
Moldova votes in first presidential polls in two decades
CHISINAU: Ex-Soviet Moldova went to the polls Sunday in its first popular presidential election since the 1990s, seen as a tug-of-war between supporters of closer relations with Russia and those seeking EU integration. The crisis-hit country of 3.5 million wedged between Ukraine and Romania is the poorest in Europe and has struggled with a string...
EU drops sanctions threat against Russia over Syria
BRUSSELS: EU leaders backed down Friday from an explicit threat of sanctions against Russia over the bombing of Aleppo but warned that they would consider “all available options” if atrocities in Syria continue. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi demanded that any mention of possible punitive measures against Moscow over the Syrian...
‘No miracles’ at Berlin talks on ending Ukraine conflict
BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said “no miracles” were achieved on the Ukraine crisis Thursday, but talks with the country’s leader and his Russian and French counterparts did lead to some progress on ending a deadlock in the peace process. After a five-hour summit billed as “difficult”, Ukrainian President...
