Section: theSun (Malaysia)
Britain and Russia agree to resume talks on Syria
LONDON: Britain’s David Cameron and Russia’s Vladimir Putin (pix) have agreed to re-start talks on finding a solution to the crisis in Syria, a statement from Cameron said on Monday. The Russian president phoned Cameron to congratulate him on his re-election as prime minister and the two agreed that Syria talks should resume, a...
‘Tanks don’t need visas,’ blacklisted Russian official tells West
MOSCOW, Russia: An outspoken deputy prime minister in charge of Russia’s defence sector has dismissed Western concerns over Moscow’s increased assertiveness in the Arctic by saying that “tanks don’t need visas.” Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the defence industry, is known for his hawkish remarks and enjoys rattling...
Conservative newcomer Duda wins Polish presidential cliffhanger
WARSAW: Conservative opposition challenger Andrzej Duda (pix) on Sunday won a surprise victory in Poland’s presidential run-off, trumping incumbent centrist Bronislaw Komorowski with promises of change and generous social spending. An MEP and lawyer with a populist streak, Duda scored 53% support ahead of Komorowski, who mustered 47%, exit...
Ukraine rebels deny internal strife behind commander’s slaying
KIEV: Ukraine’s pro-Russian rebels rushed Sunday to dispel speculation that a bloody internal battle for control of Moscow’s money was behind the gangland-style slaying of a top warlord. Prizrak (Ghost) brigade commander Alexei Mozgovoi and at least six others — including his press secretary and armed guards — were shot dead Saturday...
German woman, 65 and mother of 13, has quadruplets
BERLIN: A 65-year-old German woman, who is already a mother of 13 children, has given birth to quadruplets after undergoing an artificial insemination procedure in Ukraine, RTL television reported early on Saturday. The three boys and one girl were born premature at 26 weeks in a Berlin hospital but have “good chances of surviving,”...
Ukrainians don embroidered shirts to show unity
MARIUPOL, Ukraine: Ukrainians led by President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday donned the country’s traditional embroidered dress – a yearly celebration that has become a manifestation of national identity and unity. On a visit to an EU-Eastern Partnership in Riga, Poroshenko was photographed wearing a colourful folk-style shirt for...
Poroshenko says Ukraine waging ‘real war’ with Russia
KIEV: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko sparked fresh Kremlin fury on Wednesday by warning that his crisis-torn country was fighting a “real war” against Russian aggressors that could escalate at any time. The pro-Western leader said the weekend capture of two purported Russian special forces members proved that the separatist...
Security chief accuses Russian soldiers of killing Ukrainian serviceman
KIEV: Ukraine’s state security chief on Monday accused two captured Russian servicemen of participating in the killing of a Ukrainian soldier and said they would be prosecuted for “terrorist actions”. Valentyn Nalivaychenko told journalists that the Russian soldiers, who were said to have been seized on Saturday near Luhansk in...
Pope Francis extends agenda of change to Vatican diplomacy
ROME: Pope Francis’ (pix) hard-hitting criticisms of globalisation and inequality long ago set him out as a leader unafraid of mixing theology and politics. He is now flexing the Vatican’s diplomatic muscles as well. Last year, he helped to broker an historic accord between Cuba and the United States after half a century of hostility....
Russia unveils bust of Putin as Roman emperor
SAINT PETERSBURG: A group of supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin (pix) on Sunday presented a bust of the strongman depicting him in the heroic guise of a Roman emperor. “We wanted to immortalise Vladimir Putin as a conqueror and statesman who returned Crimea to Russia,” said Andrei Polyakov, the head of a group of Cossacks...
