Section: AsiaOne (Singapore)
Prime suspect in Nemtsov killing likely confessed ‘under torture’: Russia rights commission
MOSCOW – A former Chechen police officer who admitted to taking part in the murder of Russian opposition activist Boris Nemtsov “likely confessed under torture”, a member of the Kremlin’s rights council told AFP Wednesday.”There are reasons that lead us to believe Zaur Dadayev confessed under torture,” said...
US condemns ‘reign of terror’ in Crimea, east Ukraine
WASHINGTON – The top US diplomat for Europe declared Tuesday that Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine were subject to a “reign of terror”, blaming Russia for a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.”Even as Ukraine is building a peaceful, democratic, independent nation across 93 per cent of its territory, Crimea and...
Ukraine, land of plenty running on empty
KAGARLYK, Ukraine – A Soviet tank mounted on a plinth outside a primary school attests to the last time the central Ukrainian town of Kagarlyk saw war up close.The tank is a leftover from the Soviet force that routed Nazi troops from Ukraine during World War II.More than 70 years later, tanks have again been churning up the rich black soil...
Russia could be ‘single greatest threat’ to Britain: Minister
Russia could pose the “single greatest threat” to Britain, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned in a speech Tuesday, while criticising “apologists” for Islamic State (IS) group militant “Jihadi John”.Hammond accused Russian President Vladmir Putin of “subverting” international rules which keep...
Ukraine’s military says eastern rebels using truce to amass arms
Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday pro-Russian rebels were amassing heavy weapons in depots around separatist-held Donetsk city despite a ceasefire deal.Attacks have fallen in the past week, but accusations from both sides of violations show the fragility of the peace deal agreed in Minsk last month, which calls for the withdrawal of heavy...
Abe, Merkel in accord over Ukraine, ISIL
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday agreed to co-operate over a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine and counterterrorism measures against such insurgents as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.”Japan and Germany agreed to take active roles for realizing peace and stability in...
Merkel says honesty, generosity key in postwar reconciliation
TOKYO – German Chancellor Angela Merkel waded into the fraught area of wartime forgiveness during a visit to Japan on Monday, saying that “facing history squarely” and “generous gestures” are necessary to mend ties.Merkel was speaking in Tokyo ahead of the 70th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II, in...
Kremlin critic Navalny freed from latest prison stint
MOSCOW – Top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Friday vowed to keep up his fight against President Vladimir Putin as he was released from his latest jail term, a two-week stint for organising an illegal gathering.The charismatic opposition leader also said he would pay a visit to the cemetery where outspoken activist Boris Nemtsov was buried...
Russia’s exclusion from Swift a last resort ‘nuclear weapon’: Polish, British ministers
WARSAW – Excluding Russia from the Swift banking system would be a measure of last resort if the crisis in Ukraine escalates, the British and Polish foreign ministers said Friday.”When it comes to sanctions, Swift is the nuclear weapon. It is the last resort and we are all aware of that,” Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz...
Italy’s Renzi seeks key role for Russia in Libya crisis
MOSCOW – Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Thursday Russia could play a decisive role in resolving the crisis in Libya, during a rare visit by a European leader to Moscow.Renzi held talks with President Vladimir Putin in a visit that also focused on the conflict in Ukraine and Russia’s chilly relations with the European Union...
