The Star Online: World Updates
The Star Online: World Updates |
- Singapore drops contempt charges against cartoonist in return for apology
- Japan government joining efforts to contain Fukushima toxic water
- Obama 'disappointed' with Russia, calls embassy threat significant
| Singapore drops contempt charges against cartoonist in return for apology Posted: SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore has dropped charges against a political cartoonist in return for an apology for publishing comic strips deemed to be in contempt of court, an offence that could have landed him in jail. Chew Peng Ee, known to followers of his "Demon-cratic Singapore" site on Facebook as Leslie Chew, had committed contempt "by scandalising the judiciary of the Republic of Singapore", the Attorney-General's Chambers said last month. The charges stemmed from four cartoons Chew had published in 2011 and 2012, three of which were about the perceived unfairness of the courts when imposing punishment. Some critics had described the charges as a sign that the long-ruling People's Action Party was becoming increasingly intolerant of opponents. Prosperous, multi-racial Singapore, a key U.S. ally, has long taken a tough stand against criticism of the government, with leaders saying they need to protect their reputations. But in Chew's case, the Attorney-General's Chambers had a change of heart. "Following a request initiated by counsel for Mr Leslie Chew, the Attorney-General's Chambers has today agreed not to pursue the contempt proceedings against him if the comic strips in question are taken down, with an apology and undertaking prominently posted on the Demon-cratic Singapore Facebook page," the AG's office said in statement that was put up on its website late on Tuesday. There are no set penalties for contempt of court in Singapore and the judge could have issued a warning or fine instead of a jail sentence. (Reporting by Kevin Lim; Editing by Nick Macfie) |
| Japan government joining efforts to contain Fukushima toxic water Posted: TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese government is joining efforts to contain a buildup of radioactive water at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, as operator Tokyo Electric Power Co struggles to contain the problem, government officials said on Wednesday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the buildup of radioactive water at the plant was a very serious issue and that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would order the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which regulates Tepco and other power utilities, to significantly step up its role. The ministry is considering requesting public funds for the cleanup, Suga told reporters. The Nikkei newspaper said the funds could be used to freeze the soil to prevent groundwater from leaking into the reactor buildings - a project with an estimated cost of up to 40 billion yen ($410 million). An official from the country's nuclear watchdog told Reuters on Monday that the highly radioactive water seeping into the ocean from the plant was creating an "emergency" that Tepco was not successfully containing on its own. Tepco has been widely castigated for its failure to protect the Fukushima Daiichi plant, 220 km (130 miles) northeast of Tokyo, from the massive 2011 tsunami and earthquake that led to the worst nuclear disaster in the world since Chernobyl. The utility has also been lambasted for its inept response to the reactor meltdowns and accused of covering up shortcomings. "It is necessary for the country to step forward and offer support (to Tepco)," Suga told a regular news conference. Abe, at a meeting of a government task force on the nuclear disaster, will instruct Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to "take prompt measures" on the problem, Suga said. ($1 = 97.6050 Japanese yen) (Reporting by Kentaro Hamada, Antoni Slodkowski, Mari Saito, Emi Emoto and William Mallard; Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Edmund Klamann) |
| Obama 'disappointed' with Russia, calls embassy threat significant Posted: BURBANK, California (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed on Tuesday that he would go to Russia this fall for a G20 summit but said he was "disappointed" that Russia granted temporary asylum to former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden. Speaking on NBC's "The Tonight Show" with host Jay Leno, Obama said Moscow sometimes slipped into a Cold War mentality, despite being cooperative with the United States on some issues, including counterterrorism efforts in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing. Obama was not asked and did not mention whether he would attend a separate meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Russian trip. That meeting was put in question after Moscow rejected U.S. pleas and granted Snowden a year's asylum. The White House has said it is evaluating whether a one-on-one with Putin makes sense. Washington wants Snowden, who was in hiding in Hong Kong before flying to Moscow in June, to be sent home to face criminal charges including espionage for disclosing secret American internet and telephone surveillance programs. "There have been times where they slip back into Cold War thinking and a Cold War mentality," Obama said of Russia. "What I say to President Putin is, that's the past and ... we've got to think about the future. And there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to cooperate more effectively than we do." During the interview, Obama also said the recent threat that caused the United States to close its embassies throughout the Middle East was significant. "It's significant enough that we're taking every precaution," Obama said. "It's a reminder that for all the progress we've made ... this radical, violent extremism is still out there," Obama said. "We've got to stay on top of it." The U.S. State Department issued a worldwide travel alert on Friday warning Americans that al Qaeda may be planning attacks in August, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. It initially announced the embassy closures would be only for Sunday, then extended the closures of some by a week. Asked whether the controversial surveillance programs helped lead to the intelligence that sparked the warnings, Obama said the programs were critical to counterterrorism work. But he said more needed to be done to assure Americans they were not being spied on themselves. "We don't have a domestic spying program," he said. "What we do have are some mechanisms where we can track a phone number or an email address that we know is connected to some sort of terrorist threat." The odds of dying in a terrorist attack were less than dying in a car accident, Obama said, and Americans should be careful but did not need to cancel planned vacations to places such as Europe as a result of the recent travel warnings. LIGHTER SIDE In lighter notes, Obama said he had invited his former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, to her recent lunch at the White House and described her as having a post-administration "glow." "We have become genuinely close, and I could not have more respect for her," Obama said. Asked by Leno whether the former first lady and potential 2016 presidential candidate had "measured the drapes" while she was there, Obama said no. "Keep in mind she's been there before," he joked. "She doesn't have to measure them." Obama also confirmed - more or less - a budding "bromance" with his former 2008 presidential rival, Republican Senator John McCain, who has been supportive of Obama's push to reform U.S. immigration laws. "That's how a classic romantic comedy goes, right? Initially you're not getting along and then you keep on bumping into each other," Obama joked. "John McCain and I have, you know, a number of philosophical differences, but he is a person of integrity. He is willing to say things regardless of the politics." Leno also poked fun at Obama for having told a group of young people that broccoli was his favourite food. "Me and broccoli, I don't know, we've got a thing going," Obama offered. |
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