Section: AsiaOne (Singapore)
Cameron meets Obama, vows cyber security cooperation
WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama and Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron kicked off two days of talks Thursday at the White House, with the British leader promising progress on the “new threat” of cyber security.Cameron referenced the recent cyberattack allegedly launched by North Korea against Sony Pictures in a...
Worried about Russia? Lithuania says ‘Keep calm and read the war manual’
VILNIUS – Lithuania is publishing a manual to advise its citizens on how to survive a war on its soil as concerns grow that Russia’s intervention in Ukraine heralds increased assertiveness in its tiny Baltic neighbours.”Keep a sound mind, don’t panic and don’t lose clear thinking,” the manual explains....
Sanctions-hit Russia in risky bet on Ukraine talks
KIEV – It seems to have played out exactly as Western powers hoped: sanctions and falling oil prices have hit Russia hard, presumably making Moscow more willing to compromise on the conflict in Ukraine.But as is often the case with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the reality is far more complex.Despite its economic woes Russia still holds...
Obama, Cameron vow to stand firm against Islamist extremists
WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron vowed a united front on Wednesday against the threat posed by Islamist extremists and their “distorted ideology.”In a joint opinion article that appeared in Thursday’s Times of London newspaper and released on Wednesday night in Washington,...
Eleven Ukraine civilians killed when rocket hits bus
DONETSK, Ukraine – Eleven Ukrainian civilians were killed and nearly 20 injured on Tuesday when a long-range Grad rocket apparently fired by pro-Russian insurgents hit an intercity bus in the separatist east.Local police said the rocket appeared to have gone astray after being aimed by the gunmen at a checkpoint set up by government...
Ukraine summit called off over lack of progress on truce deal
BERLIN/KIEV – Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France have scrapped plans for a summit this week on the conflict in Ukraine because of a lack of progress in implementing a four-month-old ceasefire agreement.With bloodshed continuing between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists, there was no sign when a new attempt at a...
Putin will not attend Holocaust commemorations in Poland: Interfax
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend Holocaust commemorations in Poland this month, Interfax news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Tuesday.Sources told Reuters on Monday that Putin was unlikely to join world leaders gathering at the site of the Auschwitz death camp because distrust caused by...
Worldwide marches in solidarity with France
WASHINGTON – About a hundred thousand people rallied worldwide in solidarity with France on Sunday, with marchers across Europe and the Middle East chanting “Je suis Charlie” and holding pens in the air.From Berlin to Washington and Jerusalem to Beirut, crowds waved French flags and sang France’s national anthem “La...
Palace on a cliff
For those who enjoy the old world elegance of Singapore’s Raffles Hotel, you’ll feel right at home in Portugal’s Belmond Reid’s Palace Hotel.Reid’s was built on a high cliff overlooking the bay and harbour of Funchal, on the isle of Madeira, in 1891 – four years after the Raffles became an icon of Singapore....
Unlikely scenes as Netanyahu, Abbas march in historic Paris rally
PARIS – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas had their closest encounter in years on Sunday when they joined world leaders in a historic march against terrorism in Paris.On a day that was already heavy with symbolism, one of the most remarkable scenes was that of the two nemeses walking on the...
