Section: The Manila Times (Philippines)
Russia withdraws from ICC statute
THE HAGUE: Russia dealt the International Criminal Court (ICC) a new blow on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) as the court’s top officials appealed to nations to support the tribunal hit by a wave of unprecedented defections. Moscow has never ratified the world’s only permanent war crimes court, but in a heavily symbolic move on the...
Russian rejection of ICC mirrors US stance
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States expressed regret on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) that Russia had withdrawn from the International Criminal Court — 14 years after Washington made exactly the same decision. While Washington accuses Russian forces of brutal crimes in Syria and Ukraine, it does not accept the jurisdiction of the court over its...
Russia in new blow to ICC as court urges nations ‘Don’t go’
THE HAGUE: Russia dealt the International Criminal Court a fresh blow Wednesday as the court’s top officials urged nations to support the tribunal hit by a wave of unprecedented defections. Moscow has never ratified the world’s only permanent war crimes court, but in a heavily symbolic move on the opening day of the ICC’s annual...
Poroshenko appeals to Trump for support in phone call
KIEV: Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko asked Donald Trump for support against “Russian aggression” during a congratulatory telephone conversation with the US president-elect on Tuesday. Trump’s shock election victory has been met with trepidation in Kiev because of the outspoken reality TV star’s praise of Russian President...
Obama on farewell tour to Europe fearful of Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Barack Obama will travel on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) to Greece and Germany in a final official visit designed, in a strange bit of political contortion, at reassuring worried Europeans about a man he once warned was “unfit” for the presidency: Donald Trump. The irony is cruel: In the name of a peaceful transition, the American...
Bulgaria PM quits after pro-Russia candidate wins presidential vote
SOFIA: Bulgaria’s centre-right Prime Minister Boyko Borisov stepped down Sunday (Monday in Manila) 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...
Trump must learn about Europe says EU’s Juncker
LUXEMBOURG: US President-elect Donald Trump must get up to speed on how Europe works in order to avoid “two years of wasted time” when he assumes his new role, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said. “Mr. Trump, during his campaign, said that Belgium was a village somewhere in Europe,” Juncker said in his frank remarks to students in...
Trump begins White House transition as protests simmer
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump said Friday he had a “busy day” planned as the Republican president-elect — confronted with the magnitude of the task ahead — begins building his administration before entering the White House in 70 days. Trump’s challenge in unifying a restless nation after the most divisive campaign in memory was immediately put...
World leaders take stock of Trump win
PARIS: Politicians worldwide took stock Wednesday of Donald Trump’s shock US election victory, with the president-elect winning praise from far-right figures and cautious welcome from key US allies. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini : “EU-US ties are deeper than any change in politics. We’ll continue to work...
EU drops sanctions threat against Russia
BRUSSELS: The leaders of European Union 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...
