Cuba keen on S'pore embassy

FOREIGN Minister K. Shanmugam welcomed the interest of the Government of Cuba to establish a resident embassy in Singapore, the Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday, after Mr Shanmugam's official visit to Cuba from Monday to Wednesday this week.

It said this would be a milestone in bilateral relations and will facilitate greater cooperation between the two countries.

In his meetings with Cuban leaders, Mr Shanmugam, who is also Law Minister, reaffirmed the excellent state of relations.

He also signed a bilateral Visa Abolition Agreement with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parilla. The agreement will ease travel between Singapore and Cuba, and encourage more trade and people-to-people links.

EU lifts ban on airlines

MANILA - All Philippine carriers can now fly into Europe, aviation authorities said yesterday, after the European Union removed the remaining carriers from its safety blacklist.

The EU list bars from operating in European airspace any airline it deems unable to meet international safety standards, or whose civil aviation authorities cannot provide the necessary safety oversight.

It lifted the safety ban on flag carrier Philippine Airlines in July 2013. Last year, it also released Cebu Pacific.

The latest decision lifts restrictions on the seven remaining Philippine carriers, said Mr Eric Apolonio, a spokesman for the Philippine civil aviation authority.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE