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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia on Tuesday to withdraw troops from Ukraine's eastern border in what the alliance says is Moscow's biggest build-up since 2014, ahead of an emergency meeting of allied foreign and defence ministers. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba flew to Brussels for talks with Stoltenberg a day after Kyiv accused the Kremlin of ignoring its request for talks between the two countries' presidents over a build-up of Russian troops near its border. "In recent weeks Russia has moved thousands of combat-ready troops to Ukraine's borders, the largest massing of Russian troops since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014," Stoltenberg said. Russia has said it moves its forces around as it sees fit, including for defensive purposes, and has regularly accused NATO of destabilising Europe with its troop reinforcements in the Baltics and Poland since the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. "Russia must end this ... » Learn More about NATO demands Russia end Ukraine build-up, West examines options

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Thursday vaccines should for now on only be given to the elderly and appealed to regional governments and individuals not to flout his guidelines. Unlike many other European countries, when Italy launched its vaccination campaign at the end of December, its army of pensioners were not given automatic precedence, despite the fact that they have borne the brunt of the killer disease. The failure to provide swifter protection has cost thousands of lives, experts say. "Stop vaccinating people who are under 60, stop vaccinating young people," Draghi told a news conference, raising his voice in an impassioned plea. Under Italy's constitution it is the country's 20 regions which have the final say on who gets vaccinated, and many have allowed professional groups such as magistrates and journalists to get a jab before people over the age of 70. "With what conscience does someone jump the queue, knowing that he or she is ... » Learn More about Italy PM Draghi appeals for elderly to get vaccine priority

KUALA LUMPUR: A man assaulted two of his bodyguards and pointed a gun at one of them, threatening to kill him. The suspect, a 43-year-old man, was supposedly upset that his two bodyguards were fasting during Ramadan. Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said they received a report on the incident at 3.04am on Wednesday (April 14). "The complainant, a 26-year-old bodyguard, claimed that he was with his colleague at a condominium on Jalan Pinang here when the suspect asked if they were fasting. "When they responded that they were, he got angry and slapped the complainant," he said when contacted on Wednesday. He said the complainant and his colleague then followed the suspect to his house at Batu Nilam, Klang. "The suspect then allegedly beat them with a cane. "He then pointed a gun belonging to his colleague at the complainant and threatened to kill him," he said, adding that police were now tracing the whereabouts of the suspect. ACP Mohamad Zainal said ... » Learn More about Man assaults his two bodyguards, threatens one with a gun

KUCHING: A wedding ceremony in Kampung Jepak, Bintulu, has resulted in a new Covid-19 cluster, which comes as Sarawak reported 489 new cases and five deaths on Wednesday (April 14). The state disaster management committee said the index case of the Jepak cluster was a woman from the village who organised the "doa selamat" ceremony for the wedding on April 3. She tested positive on April 7 after undergoing screening for symptomatic individuals at the Bintulu health clinic. "About 70 people attended the ceremony. After screening of close contacts, family members and casual contacts of the index case and those present at the ceremony, another 41 positive cases were detected," the committee said in a statement on Wednesday. It said 102 people had been screened from the cluster, with 36 testing negative and 24 still awaiting results. The committee also said new cases were detected in the Tembok Sri Aman prison cluster and Jalan Puncak Borneo police training centre cluster, ... » Learn More about Bintulu wedding source of new cluster in Sarawak

KOTA KINABALU: A new Covid-19 cluster here dubbed as "Jalan Khidmat" recorded 24 cumulative cases, with the index cases being two Form 2 students from a religious school. State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the boys were tested positive during symptomatic screening on Monday (April 12). "Following their cases, a control team has conducted sampling on all the contacts in the school. "Out of the 796 samples taken, 22 were confirmed positive, 228 samples came out negative, while 544 samples are still awaiting test results," he added in a statement to update daily Covid-19 developments in Sabah on Wednesday (April 14). The cluster was one of the two reported today, the second being "Batu 10" in the Tawau district, with a total of 16 cases. Masidi said the index case is a female teacher of a primary school, who was confirmed positive following a symptomatic screening. The husband of the index case, who works at Tawau Cocoa Board, was ... » Learn More about Covid-19: Two new clusters in Sabah involving students, teacher

IPOH: Several trees were uprooted following a thunderstorm here on Wednesday (April 14). One fell on the road adjacent to the North-South Expressway, just before the slip road into Bercham, causing traffic to stall. Other areas with reported incidents included Taman Ria, Kampung Tasek, Taman Bercham Maju, and Taman Kemuncak. According to a state Fire and Rescue Departments spokesman, they received reports of some of the incidents at 4.45pm. “Some of the trees fell due to strong wind. “Work to remove the trees is now underway, ” the spokesman said. Lawyer Anthony Law said fallen trees and branches were found in several areas in Bercham. Law, whose office is in Pusat Bandar Baru Bercham, said the obstructions caused by the branches caused traffic congestion in the area. “The thunderstorm, which started at about 2pm and lasted until about 3.30pm, was quite heavy. “The wind that blew was also quite strong, and similar to that of a whirlwind, ” he said. According to an ... » Learn More about Trees uprooted in storm over Ipoh

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin visited a Ramadan bazaar at Precinct 3 here, to observe the level of standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance among traders and patrons there. He arrived at 5pm and spent about 30 minutes at the bazaar on Wednesday (April 14). Muhyiddin also spent some time mingling with traders and was seen buying several dishes, such as kuih kaswi gula merah, laksa and mee kolok. Traders and visitors at the bazaar were pleasantly surprised when the Prime Minister turned up there. MyTalam Kuih stall owner, Wichi Yuso, 48, said at first, she did not notice the presence of Muhyiddin at her stall because the Prime Minister was wearing a face mask. "I was surprised as I did not know the Prime Minister was coming to the Ramadan bazaar today. He bought some traditional kuih and also asked how my family and I were doing. "I was thrilled but did not have time to take a selfie and have a long chat with the Prime Minister, in ... » Learn More about Muhyiddin visits Putrajaya ramadan bazaar to observe SOP compliance

SAN VICENTE DEL CAGUAN, Caqueta, Colombia (Reuters) - The dirt tracks winding through southern Colombia's tangled jungle often mark the beginning of the end for besieged patches of rainforest in this part of the Amazon. Across San Vicente del Caguan, one of the country's most deforested regions, illegal and informal roads fan out in an ever-expanding network, bringing visitors, commercial interests and farmers and ranchers who clear and burn the land. The result is the steady decay of Colombia's Amazon. A Reuters map of the region shows a lattice of lines that crisscross one another and creep southward into the forest and fan out on all sides. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/329ehRE) The destruction, which is striking on the ground, is significant enough to be visible from the sky. Patches of deforestation appear at the furthest extent of the roads, according to the map, which underlines the impact of unplanned roadbuilding by combining satellite imagery and local ... » Learn More about Road to ruin: informal byways sow seeds of destruction in Colombia’s Amazon

MELAKA: Ramadan bazaars will be cancelled without any hesitation if Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) violations continue, says Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali. The Melaka Chief Minister said organisers of such bazaars would also have their operation permits revoked if social distancing and other prerequisite SOPs are disregarded. "Our intention to allow the operations of these bazaars was meant for traders to generate revenue despite some states cancelling it due to the impact of Covid-19. "However, we have to review the permission if such violations continue," he said on Wednesday (April 14). Sulaiman said bazaar organisers who fail to ensure SOP compliance would be replaced at once after their permits are revoked. He was commenting on the report by Melaka government's mouthpiece outlet Melaka Hari Ini on overcrowding at one of the bazaars here on Tuesday (April 13). The report showed a picture of people making a beeline to the bazaar while ... » Learn More about Follow Covid-19 SOP or risk losing Ramadan bazaars this year, warns Melaka CM

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German parliament's budget committee on Wednesday approved a 3 billion euro ($3.59 billion) contract for the development of a European military drone to be built by Airbus, Dassault and Leonardo a parliamentary source said. The German military will receive 21 drones, 12 ground control stations and four simulators from the joint project with France, Italy and Spain, with delivery expected to start in 2030, according to a separate defence source. The new drones are supposed to eventually replace drones from Israel Aerospace Industries which Germany has leased and has been operating in military missions in Afghanistan and Mali. The European drone will be technically capable to carry weapons but any such move would be conditional on the approval of the German parliament which only in December blocked a push to arm the drones currently leased by the German military. With an expected length of more than 15 metres and a wingspan of 30 metres, the drone will ... » Learn More about Germany backs 3 billion euro contract for European military drone