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Straits Times
18 minutes ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Greek police arrest Moldovan tycoon Plahotniuc on Interpol notice
FILE PHOTO: Leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova Vladimir Plahotniuc delivers a speech during a rally demanding a creation of parliament coalition, in Chisinau, Moldova June 9, 2019. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo ATHENS - Greek police have arrested a Moldovan tycoon and a former political leader wanted for allegedly participating in a criminal organisation, money laundering and fraud, police said on Tuesday. Vladimir Plahotniuc, considered one of Moldova's richest men and a former lawmaker, was arrested at the Athens airport on an Interpol notice on Monday evening. He has been accused in connection with a $1 billion fraud against Moldovan banks in 2014-2015, a case known locally as the "theft of the century". He has denied wrongdoing. Police also arrested former Moldovan lawmaker Constantin Tutu, 38, who is wanted by Russia for allegedly trafficking drugs internationally, police officials said. Both suspects had an Interpol red notice issued against them. Moldova's General Inspectorate of Police confirmed that Plahotniuc, who was the leader of the Democratic party from 2016-2019, and Tutu had been arrested. Plahotniuc, 59, is suspected to have fled Moldova in 2019. Following a tip-off, Greek police launched an investigation which found that Plahotniuc was living with his partner in a luxurious villa in the southern suburbs of Athens. Tutu also lived in the same residence, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the confidentiality of the probe. In 2023, the European Union imposed sanctions on seven people from Moldova, including Plahotniuc, for actions that it said destabilised and undermined the territorial integrity of Moldova and neighbouring Ukraine. Since 2023, Plahotniuc has lived in 22 countries, changing residence regularly to avoid detection, the Greek police officials said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving The two men, carrying only backpacks, were arrested at the Athens airport after boarding a flight to Dubai. They will appear before a prosecutor on Wednesday to respond to charges. Moldova is expected to request his extradition, the country's General Prosecutor's office said. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Key dates in the US and UNESCO's on-again, off-again relationship
UNESCO logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Once again, the U.S. has said it will pull out of the United Nations culture and education agency UNESCO, with U.S. President Donald Trump repeating a move from his first term in office that his successor, Joe Biden, had reversed. Here are some important dates in the sometimes tumultuous relationship between the U.S. and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: * November 16, 1945: UNESCO's founding treaty is signed and its constitution is adopted in London, saying it intends to advance "international peace" and "the common welfare of mankind." * September 30, 1946: The U.S. ratifies the UNESCO treaty, becoming one of its founding member states. * June 1977: Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving The Fund for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Outstanding Universal Value, also called the World Heritage Fund, is established under UNESCO. It provides millions of dollars to support conservation programs at UNESCO-designated sites. * October 1979: The first 45 sites are inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, including three from the U.S.: the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Florida's Everglades National Park and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. * December 30, 1983: U.S. President Ronald Reagan's administration announces that the U.S. is withdrawing from UNESCO, effective December 1984, saying it had become "politicized," financially mismanaged, unduly focused on weapons disarmament during the Cold War and hostile to free markets and a free press. * October 1984: The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and California's Yosemite National Park are inscribed on the World Heritage List. * 1985–2003: Despite the U.S. withdrawal, UNESCO continues to add U.S. sites and cultural heritages to the World Heritage List, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello in Virginia and the Chaco Culture of the Pueblo people who occupied what is now a large region in the U.S. Southwest. * April 1994: U.S. Congress passes a law that blocks U.S. financing for any U.N. agency that accepts the State of Palestine as a full member. * September 12, 2002: U.S. President George W. Bush announces in a speech to the UN General Assembly that the U.S. will rejoin UNESCO, citing leadership reforms in recent years as he sought to build international support for the Iraq War. It does so formally the following year. * October 31, 2011: UNESCO accepts Palestine as its 195th full member, despite the risk of losing U.S. funds, which at the time reportedly accounted for about 22% of UNESCO's budget. U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, which had unsuccessfully sought to get Congress to relax the 1994 financing law in the runup to the vote on Palestinian membership, ends U.S. funding. * October 12, 2017: Trump's administration announces the U.S. will once again leave UNESCO, this time for what it called "anti-Israel bias." The U.S. became a non-member observer. * June 2023: Biden's administration announces it will rejoin UNESCO, saying the agency had "modernized its management and reduced political tensions." * July 22, 2025: Trump's administration announces the U.S. again will leave UNESCO for the third time, because of his government's belief that it "supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes." REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Health
- Straits Times
WHO raises concern about spread of mosquito-borne chikungunya virus
Find out what's new on ST website and app. GENEVA - The World Health Organisation issued an urgent call for action on July 22 to prevent a repeat of an epidemic of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus that swept the globe two decades ago, as new outbreaks linked to the Indian Ocean region spread to Europe and other continents. An estimated 5.6 billion people live in areas across 119 countries at risk from the virus, which can cause high fever, joint pain and long-term disability, Dr Diana Rojas Alvarez, a medical officer at the WHO, told reporters in Geneva. 'We are seeing history repeating itself,' she said, drawing parallels to the 2004-2005 epidemic, which affected nearly half a million people, primarily in small island territories, before spreading around the world. The current surge began in early 2025, with major outbreaks in the same Indian Ocean islands which were previously hit, including La Reunion, Mayotte and Mauritius. An estimated one-third of La Reunion's population has already been infected, Dr Rojas Alvarez said. The virus is now spreading to countries such as Madagascar, Somalia and Kenya, and has shown epidemic transmission in South-east Asia, including India. Of particular concern is the increasing number of imported cases and recent local transmission within Europe. There have been approximately 800 imported chikungunya cases in continental France since May 1, Dr Rojas Alvarez said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving Twelve local transmission episodes have been detected in several southern French regions, meaning individuals were infected by local mosquitoes without having travelled to endemic areas. A case was also detected last week in Italy. Chikungunya - for which there is no specific treatment and which is spread primarily by Aedes mosquito species, including the 'tiger mosquito' which also transmits dengue - and Zika, can cause rapid and large outbreaks. As the mosquitoes bite in the daytime, prevention is key, through the use of insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Trump says US, Philippines ‘very close' to finalising trade deal
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (left) meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House on July 22. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on July 22 welcomed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to the White House, saying the two countries were close to finalising a trade agreement. 'We're going to talk about trade today and we are very close to finishing a trade deal, a big trade deal actually,' Mr Trump told reporters at the start of his meeting with the Philippine leader. Mr Marcos is the first South-east Asian leader to meet Mr Trump in his second term. Mr Trump has already struck trade deals with two of Manila's regional partners, Vietnam and Indonesia, but had been driving tough bargains in talks even with close allies Washington needs to keep onside in its strategic rivalry with China. The United States had a deficit of nearly US$5 billion (S$6.3 billion) with the Philippines in 2024 on bilateral goods trade of US$23.5 billion. Mr Trump this month raised the threatened 'reciprocal' tariffs on Philippine imports to 20 per cent from 17 per cent threatened in April. Mr Trump said the two countries did 'a lot of business' with each other, saying he was surprised to see what he called 'very big numbers' that would only grow under a trade agreement. Mr Gregory Poling, a South-east Asia expert at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said Mr Marcos might be able to do better than Vietnam , with its agreement of a 20 per cent baseline tariff on its goods, and Indonesia at 19 per cent. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving Mr Trump underscored the importance of the US-Philippine military relationship. 'They're a very important nation militarily, and we've had some great drills lately,' he said. US President Donald Trump (left) welcoming Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to the White House on July 22. PHOTO: REUTERS Mr Marcos, who arrived in Washington on July 20, went to the Pentagon on July 21 for talks with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and later met Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During his trip, he will also meet US business leaders investing in the Philippines. Philippine officials say Marcos will stress that Manila must become economically stronger if it is to serve as a truly robust US partner in the Indo-Pacific. Philippine Assistant Foreign Secretary Raquel Solano said last week trade officials have been working with US counterparts seeking to seal a 'mutually acceptable and mutually beneficial' deal. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Prague's St Vitus Cathedral installing new, long-overdue pipe organ
A worker sits as he installs parts of a new organ built in El Papiol, Spain, at the workshop of world-renowned organ builder Gerhard Grenzing, in St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, in Prague, Czech Republic, July 22, 2025. REUTERS/Eva Korinkova PRAGUE - Workers are installing more than 6,000 organ pipes to resonate through St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, seen as the symbolic completion of one of Europe's greatest Gothic architectural monuments after more than 700 years. Installation of the new organ began in April and is set to conclude in August, before the painstaking work of tuning the pipes begins. The new organ will be inaugurated on June 15 next year, the feast day of St Vitus. The cathedral, where construction began in 1344, kings were crowned throughout the centuries and former president Vaclav Havel's funeral mass took place, now has an organ installed from 1932, but its sound does not carry through the entire basilica. "The significance of this organ is not only liturgical and cultural, but I think it is also fundamentally social," said Vojtech Matl, a supervisory board member of the foundation established by the Catholic Church for the project. The foundation, started in 2017 to raise money for the organ, has collected more than 109 million crowns ($5.2 million) from thousands of donors, including 20,000 small donors who adopted parts of the new instrument. Spanish organ workshop Gerhard Grenzing has built the new organ, which has been delivered in smaller pieces to speed up installation. After installation, each of the pipes will need to be tuned by hand, checking its sound and strength, which according to organologist Stepan Svoboda will take until the end of the year. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving
