Section: AsiaOne (Singapore)
Ukraine leader sacks defence minister ahead of Russia talks
KIEV – President Petro Poroshenko will nominate his fourth defence minister of the year Monday, after dismissing the incumbent ahead of high-level talks with Moscow aimed at bringing peace to the Western-backed former Soviet state.Poroshenko’s official website said he would nominate a new defence chief after “accepting the...
Putin orders Russian troops withdrawal from Ukrainian border
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops to withdraw to their permanent bases after military exercises in Rostov region near the border with Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported late on Saturday, citing Kremlin spokesman.The troops pullout came before an expected meeting between Putin and his Ukrainian...
Families of MH17 victims to seek damages from Dutch state: Lawyer
AMSTERDAM – Dutch relatives of victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17, downed over Ukraine in July, will hold the Dutch government liable for damages for its handling of the aftermath of the crash, a lawyer representing families said on Friday.There were 196 Dutch nationals onboard the Boeing 777 when it crashed on July 17 over eastern Ukraine,...
Trade, rights on agenda as China’s Li visits Germany
BERLIN – China’s Premier Li Keqiang will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, the third top-level talks this year between the export powers, amid growing disquiet over human rights and business rules.Berlin and Beijing say they are seeking to bolster their already massive trade and investment links by deepening their...
China, Germany to sign vital pact
Premier Li Keqiang, starting his second visit to Germany on Thursday since taking office, aims to maximise Sino-German ties through a unique “innovation programme” to help China’s economic transformation.Besides a large number of business agreements to be signed during his trip, innovation will be a leading theme for a landmark...
Russia’s Putin may have talks with Ukraine leader next week – Kremlin
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin could hold talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko next week on the sidelines of a summit of Asian and European leaders in Milan, the Kremlin said on Thursday.Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed Putin would attend the ASEM (Europe-Asia Meeting) summit in the northern...
Five civilians killed in Ukraine’s Donetsk: city officials
KIEV – Five civilians were killed during intensified shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, local authorities said Thursday.The fresh casualties came Wednesday amid fighting close to the army-held Donetsk airport, they said.Artillery strikes continued to be heard Thursday morning in the city, where deadly clashes between...
Russia moves closer to adopting compensation for sanctions law
MOSCOW – The Russian parliament moved a step closer on Wednesday to adopting a law that would allow for foreign assets inside the country to be seized and for the state to pay compensation for the loss of property due to Western sanctions.The pro-Kremlin deputy who submitted the draft law says the bill would protect the interests of...
Staff numb the horror as bodies pile up in Ukraine morgue
DONETSK, Ukraine – Like most staff at this east Ukrainian morgue, Olga Georgiyevna takes sedatives to numb the horror of seeing the bodies pile up. The ceasefire deal has done nothing to make her job easier.”I know I’m crazy to still work here,” the nurse says, her eyes welling with tears in the central hospital of...
Women take up arms on both sides of conflict in east Ukraine
DONETSK/DNIPROPETROVSK Ukraine – Before fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine, Irina was a croupier in a casino who never dreamt of taking up arms. Now she is gambling with her life.Using the nom de guerre “Gaika”, a cartoon character that translates as Gadget, she has joined an artillery unit in a pro-Russian separatist group...
