By AP and published by US News & World Report Washington – US President Joe Biden on Friday announced he’s nominating one of his top national security aides as ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, aiming to underscore his administration’s commitment to the Pacific region. Biden announced his decision to nominate Yohannes Abraham,
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Biden looks to nudge Asean leaders to speak out on Russia
By AP and published by US News & World Report Washington — US President Joe Biden is looking to nudge southeast Asian leaders to be more outspoken about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the issue continues to be a delicate one for many members of the region’s 10-country alliance with deep ties to Moscow. Biden
Read moreRally held in front of US embassy to draw attention to Thai political prisoners
TWO activist groups held a rally in front of the US embassy this afternoon (May 10) to send a message to US President Joe Biden and Asean leaders that they also focus on Thai political prisoners at their talks this week, Matichon newspaper said. The Asean-US Special Summit is being held in Washington with
Read morePutin gets what he didn’t want: Ukraine army closer to West
By AP, and published by US New & World Report Washington — The longer Ukraine’s army fends off the invading Russians, the more it absorbs the advantages of western weaponry and training — exactly the transformation President Vladimir Putin wanted to prevent by invading in the first place. The list of arms flowing to
Read moreWhite House drops airplane mask mandate for now after federal judge overturns rule
By AP and The Dallas Morning News MOST major US airlines are no longer requiring passengers or employees to wear masks after the White House said it was lifting the Covid-19 restriction on Monday, at least temporarily, after a federal judge struck down the public health measure. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines and Fort Worth-based American Airlines,
Read moreUS rocked by 3 mass shootings during Easter weekend
By AP, published by CBC Hampton, S.C. – Authorities in South Carolina say they are investigating shooting at a club in Hampton County early Sunday that left at least nine people injured. It was the third mass shooting in the US over the Easter holiday weekend. The three shootings in South Carolina and Pittsburgh left
Read moreSearch mission for missing US fighter pilot launched in Lampang
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE UNITED STATES government today (Mar. 3) launched a search mission in Lampang for remains of a US fighter/bomber pilot reported missing in action for more than seven decades. The US Air Corps pilot who flew a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter/bomber during World War II was believed to have crashlanded
Read morePutin orders Russian troops into Ukraine after recognising breakaway regions
By Reuters and published by The Straits Times Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent on Monday (Feb. 21) and ordered the Russian army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area, a move that Washington said was part of Moscow’s attempt to create
Read morePutin says he may recognise breakaway regions of Ukraine
By Dmitry Antonov and Michel Rose, Reuters, and published by Swissinfo.ch Moscow/Paris –Russian President Vladimir Putin said today (Feb. 21) he was considering a request by two regions of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists to be recognised as independent – a move that could give Moscow a reason to openly send troops. Separately,
Read moreAlarm as east Ukraine’s most intense shelling for years enters second day
By Reuters and published by Gulf News Moscow/Kyiv – Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels reported increased shelling in eastern Ukraine for a second straight day today (Feb. 18), an escalation that Washington and other Western allies say could form part of a Russian pretext to invade. A diplomatic source with years of direct experience
Read moreUS and Nato say Russia is building up troops near Ukraine, not withdrawing
By Alexander Marrow and Alexander Vasovic, Reuters, and published by Swissinfo.ch Moscow/Kyiv –The United States and Nato said Russia was still building up troops around Ukraine on Wednesday despite Moscow’s insistence it was pulling back, questioning President Vladimir Putin’s stated desire to negotiate a solution to the crisis. In Ukraine, where people raised flags
Read moreEuropean and US stocks climb as Russia starts returning some troops to base
By Chloe Taylor, CNBC London – European stocks were higher today (Feb. 15) after Russia announced it had begun returning some troops to deployment bases, tentatively raising hopes of de-escalation on the borders of Ukraine. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index climbed 1.2% during afternoon trade, with healthcare stocks adding 2% to lead gains as
Read morePutin, Biden plan high-stakes phone call on Ukraine
Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibly imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the US announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. Before talking to Biden, Putin is to have a call
Read moreWest warns of ‘dangerous moment’ in Ukraine standoff as Russia holds military drills
By Yuliya Talmazan, Oksana Parafeniuk, Tatyana Chistikova and Alan Kaytukov, NBC News and published by MSN News RUSSIA began major military drills with close ally Belarus today (Feb 10), the latest stage in a massive military buildup near Ukraine’s borders that has stoked fears Moscow could invade its neighbour. The joint exercises were expected to
Read moreUS approves US$100 million sale for Taiwan missile upgrades
By Reuters and published by Channel NewsAsia Washington – The United States has approved a possible US$100 million sale of equipment and services to Taiwan to “sustain, maintain, and improve” the Patriot missile defence system used by the island, the Pentagon said on Monday (Feb. 7), drawing an angry threat of retaliation from Beijing. China,
Read moreCobra Gold 2022 numerically downsized due to pandemic situation
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THAI AND UNITED STATES TROOPS taking part in Cobra Gold 2022 joint military exercise will be numerically downsized in response to the sustained pandemic situation, an army general said today (Feb. 4). Thai Armed Forces chief-of-staff Lt.Gen. Chidchanok Nudchaya confirmed the total of troops from Thailand, the US and several other
Read moreUS asks UN Security Council to meet on Russia, Ukraine
By Reuters and published by The Straits Times United Nations – The United States has asked that the United Nations Security Council meet publicly on Monday to discuss Russia’s “threatening behaviour” against Ukraine and its troop build-up on Ukraine’s borders and in Belarus, the US Ambassador to the United Nations said on Thursday (Jan. 27).
Read moreUS troops to take part in Cobra Gold 2022 at Pranburi army camp
By Thai Newsroom Reporters A BATCH OF 350 Thai and United States soldiers will be provided a combat training ground under the Cobra Gold 2022 joint military exercise at an army camp in Prachuap Khiri Khan next month, officials said today (Jan. 26). Thailand’s Infantry Centre at Fort Thanarat in Pranburi area of the
Read moreTonga volcano causes ‘significant’ damage but no deaths: Ardern
By AFP, Reuters and Xinhua, published by The Straits Times Wellington – Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa suffered “significant” damage in the powerful volcanic eruption which triggered a tsunami but there had been no reports of injury or death, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today (Jan. 16). “The tsunami has had a significant impact on
Read moreNo concessions: Russia takes hard line before vital talks with US
By Reuters and published by Swissinfo.ch Moscow – Russia said today (Jan. 9) it would not make any concessions under US pressure at talks this week on the Ukraine crisis and its demands for Western security guarantees, and that there was a risk they might end quickly. The hard line from Moscow underscored the
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