While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Feb 10 edition

No decision yet on Ukraine arms aid: US President Barack Obama

US President Barack Obama said Monday no decision had been made on whether to send weapons to Ukraine to help Kiev battle pro-Russian separatists, as he warned the West would not allow Russia to redraw Europe's borders by force.

Obama, who has faced increasing calls from domestic critics to supply the outmatched Ukrainian army with more weapons to shore up its faltering defences, said he was still mulling his options.

"The possibility of lethal defence is one of those options that's being examined. But I have not made a decision about that yet," Obama told a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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Show of support for Anwar Ibrahim ahead of sodomy verdict

A dinner was held in support of Pakatan Rakyat's de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who faces the verdict in his appeal against a sodomy trial today.

More than 1,000 people attended the event "Be with Anwar before his verdict" at the Padang Timur field opposite Amcorp Mall on Monday.

Anwar was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

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Secret HSBC 'tax dodger' files cause global shockwaves

Secret documents published online alleging banking giant HSBC helped wealthy customers dodge millions of dollars in taxes caused global shockwaves Monday and spotlighted the financial dealings of the world's ultra-rich.

The cache of files made public in the so-called SwissLeaks case included the names of celebrities, alleged arms dealers and politicians - though inclusion on the list does not necessarily imply wrongdoing.

The documents published at the weekend claim the London-based bank's Swiss division helped clients in more than 200 countries evade taxes on accounts containing US$119 billion (S$161 billion).

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Bahrain ready to back Jordan fight against ISIS

Bahrain's ruler has told his Jordanian counterpart that he is ready to assist the kingdom in its fight against ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), the royal palace in Amman said Monday.

King Hamad of Bahrain, quoted in a palace statement, told King Abdullah II that he was "proud to provide all the help Jordan needs to combat terrorism and protect Islam from Daesh (ISIS)".

Talks between the two monarchs in Amman on Monday focused on reinforcing military cooperation between their countries, notably their air forces, the statement said.

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Football: Egypt to compensate families of fans killed in clash with police

Families of fans who died outside an Egyptian soccer stadium on Sunday when security forces barred fans from entering will be offered 25,000 Egyptian pounds (S$4,438) in compensation.

A Health Ministry spokesman said the final toll was 19 dead, but the public prosecutor's office said there were 22 fatalities while Zamalek supporters group, the Ultras White Knights, said on their Facebook page they have "28 martyrs till now".

Most of the dead were suffocated when the crowd stampeded after police used tear gas to clear the fans trying to force their way into a league match between two Cairo clubs, Zamalek and Enppi, doctors and witnesses said.

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