US slams 'absurdity' of Putin's anti-West speech - The Straits Times

WARSAW – A top US official on Tuesday described President Vladimir Putin’s accusations that Russia had been threatened by the West as justification for invading Ukraine as “absurdity”.

“Nobody is attacking Russia. There’s a kind of absurdity in the notion that Russia was under some form of military threat from Ukraine or anyone else,” White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.

Speaking hours ahead of United States President Joe Biden delivering his own speech in Warsaw on the anniversary of Mr Putin launching the war, Mr Sullivan said the Kremlin leader was the aggressor.

“This was a war of choice. Putin chose to fight it. He could have chosen not to. And he can choose even now to end it, to go home,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Russia stops fighting the war in Ukraine and goes home, the war ends. Ukraine stops fighting and the United States and the coalition stop helping them fight – then Ukraine disappears from the map,” he added.

Previewing Mr Biden’s speech, Mr Sullivan said he would not “sketch out in any kind of specifics, a vision of a diplomatic end to the war”.

Rather, he will focus on the broader lesson of Ukraine in what he sees as an “inflection point” in a global struggle between democracies and autocratic regimes.

“So his remarks will speak specifically to the conflict in Ukraine, but of course, they will also speak to the larger contest at stake between those aggressors who are trying to destroy fundamental principles and those democracies who are pulling together to try to uphold it.”

Mr Biden is due to deliver his own speech after talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda, who has been a key advocate for support for Ukraine within the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and a day after a surprise visit to Kyiv. AFP

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2023-02-21 11:09:22Z
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How Biden's surprise trip to Kyiv was kept secret - but not from Russia - CNA

White House officials said Biden was taken to Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington and departed at 4.15am (5.15pm, Singapore time) on Sunday aboard an Air Force jet, accompanied by a handful of aides. A scaled-back news media presence went along with him: just one reporter and a photographer instead of his usual media pool.

The president flew overnight to the United States' Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The plane was refueled and he flew on to Rzeszow in southeastern Poland. After a one-hour drive, he arrived in Przemysl, a city along the Poland-Ukraine border.

Biden then boarded a train and travelled 10 hours to Kyiv. By then it was Sunday night, and Biden's train travelled in the dark with a heavy security presence on board.

The train came to a stop at the Kyiv-Pasazhyrsky station in the Ukrainian capital at roughly 8am local time (2pm, Singapore time) on Monday. The area around the platform had been cleared and the US ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, awaited Biden and his staff.

"It's good to be back in Kyiv," Biden said after stepping off the train.

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2023-02-20 23:19:00Z
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Billionaire Ziyad al Manasir's 90-Meter Yacht Dar Docks in Singapore - Bloomberg

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Billionaire Ziyad al Manasir's 90-Meter Yacht Dar Docks in Singapore  Bloomberg
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2023-02-20 11:15:49Z
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Malaysian minister Tengku Zafrul summoned by anti-graft agency for questioning - CNA

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz has been summoned by the country’s anti-graft agency to help with an investigation.

However, Tengku Zafrul said he was unclear about the case that he will be questioned on.

“I can confirm that I have been called by the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and God willing, I will meet them soon and give my full cooperation,” he was quoted as saying by the Star on Monday (Feb 20).

When asked if he was called in for the investigation of the Jana Wibawa project, he replied: “I don’t know. Let’s wait.”

According to local media, MACC chief Azam Baki said on Sunday that Tengku Zafrul will be called in “soon”.

The Jana Wibawa programme was an economic generation project during Malaysia’s COVID-19 movement control order. It was a stimulus aid package that was meant to help Bumiputera contractors.

The Star reported earlier that the anti-graft agency is investigating allegations that the chosen contractors for the aid programme had deposited RM300 million (US$67.69 million) into the account of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

Tengku Zafrul was the finance minister when the financial help was given out during Mr Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure as prime minister. Mr Muhyiddin is the president of Bersatu.

In a tweet on Saturday, Tengku Zafrul said that he will cooperate with MACC’s probe into the programme.

In a separate post on Facebook, the minister, who is also a supreme council member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) said: “The media asked me about Jana Wibawa. There is nothing for me to hide and I am always ready to give an explanation if asked to do so.”

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2023-02-20 09:56:58Z
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Living with the enemy: Tropical paradise Bali becomes refuge for thousands of Ukrainians, Russians - CNA

BALI: Russia and Ukraine may be at war, but thousands of their citizens are living alongside each other in the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

Many have made the island their home, after leaving their countries following the invasion of Ukraine that is approaching the one-year mark on Feb 24.

With no end in sight to the conflict, Indonesia’s top tourist destination has become a temporary refuge for citizens and businesses seeking an escape.

According to government data, more than 7,000 Ukrainians arrived in Bali last year, but last month alone, there were more than 2,500 arrivals.

Last year also saw more than 58,000 Russians arriving on the island. In January this year, there were more than 22,500 arrivals, making Russia the country with the second-largest foreign arrivals that month.

BUILDING A COMMUNITY IN BALI

Mr Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, head of the Bali Tourism Agency, said: “Last year, they hit a peak. The trend has increased since Bali began (opening its doors) without quarantine on March 7.

“Why Bali? Maybe even though they are at war, (the travellers) have increased significantly because, indeed, Bali is a place for peace. It is very peaceful, and instead (of being in their respective countries), they are living in Bali.”

The head of the Ukrainian community in Bali, who only gave his name as Dmytro, found himself on an extended stay, after the invasion happened while he was on holiday on the island.

Now, he is building a community in Bali for other Ukrainians.

“The last eight months, I've focused only on this,” he said. “Our goal is still the same – to help Ukraine, to find ways we can help, to build strong connections with the local people, with the local government, police…”

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2023-02-20 07:23:00Z
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North Korea fires ballistic missiles, warns on turning Pacific into 'firing range' - CNA

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles flew 390km and 340km and strongly condemned the launches as a "grave provocation" that should be ceased immediately.

"We will maintain solid readiness posture based on security cooperation with the United States and Japan and our ability to overwhelmingly respond to any provocations by North Korea," it said in a statement.

Seoul's foreign ministry announced sanctions on four individuals and five entities linked to Pyongyang's weapons programmes on Monday, including one South African national and two Singaporean shipping firms.

The US Indo-Pacific Command said the latest launch does not pose an immediate threat but highlight the "destabilising impact" of the isolated country's unlawful weapons programmes.

United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric urged Pyongyang to "immediately desist from taking any further provocative actions" banned under Security Council resolutions, and resume denuclearisation dialogue.

TENSIONS RISING

North Korean leader Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, warned against increased presence of US strategic assets following the joint air drills with its Asian allies over the weekend.

"The frequency of using the Pacific as our firing range depends upon the US forces' action character," she said in a statement carried by KCNA.

Analysts say tensions are likely to flare as South Korea and the US are set to hold simulated nuclear tabletop exercises aimed at improving operations of American nuclear assets this week and annual springtime Freedom Shield field training in March.

"Tension on the peninsula is likely to reach its peak in coming months as North Korea is accelerating its military actions with higher frequency, and her statement indicates that it would continue impromptu missile tests using the Pacific as its shooting range," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said Monday's missile launch and statement are in line with the North Korean foreign ministry's recent threat to take "unprecedentedly persistent, strong" responses to the allies' joint military drills.

"North Korea seems to be trying to reinforce its nuclear capability by raising issue over the drills, and the statement by Kim Yo Jong signals there would be additional provocations," Park said.

Monday's missile launch is the North's third known weapons test this year after it fired an unprecedented number of missiles last year, including ICBMs capable of striking anywhere in the US.

Kim Yo Jong also criticised some South Korean experts' assessment of its missile capabilities that it took over nine hours for the "sudden" missile launch to take place following an order from leader Kim, and said South Korea didn't even fly reconnaissance planes at the time of its launch.

"We have possessed satisfactory technology and capability and, now will focus on increasing the quantity of their force," she said. "We affirm once again that there is no change in our will to make the worst maniacs escalating the tensions pay the price for their action."

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2023-02-20 01:55:23Z
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Christian Atsu found dead in the rubble of devastating Turkey earthquake, agent confirms - Goal Singapore

Former Chelsea and Newcastle footballer Christian Atsu has been found dead following the devastating earthquake in Turkey, his agent has confirmed.

The body of Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu has been pulled from the rubble of the devastating earthquake in Turkey following a 12-day search, his agent has confirmed.

Atsu, 31, had been missing since the building he lived in in Hatay, southern Turkey, collapsed when the earthquake struck the region on February 6.

The former Chelsea and Newcastle winger's representative, Murat Uzunmehmet, confirmed his body had been found in a statement on Saturday morning, February 18.

"Atsu's lifeless body was found under the rubble. Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found," he told reporters in Hatay, where Atsu had been playing for Hatayspor.

On Friday, it emerged that Atsu had planned to leave the country to visit family but cancelled his flight after scoring a last-minute winner for his side against Kasimpasa the day before the earthquake.

The death toll across Turkey and Syria has reached 45,000 and is expected to rise further in the coming weeks with many still missing.

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2023-02-18 08:02:21Z
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