Section: Independent Online (South Africa)
Greece rejects EU ‘blackmail’
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has requested a meeting with top European leaders, as Athens insisted it would not be ‘blackmailed’ over its debt crisis. ||| Athens – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has requested a meeting with top European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel at this week’s EU summit,...
Putin health rumours persist
The Kremlin published new footage of Vladimir Putin, as rumours swirled that the Russian president had not appeared in public for a week. ||| Moscow – The Kremlin on Friday published new footage of Vladimir Putin, as rumours swirled that the Russian president had not appeared in public for a week.Pictures broadcast on state television...
Six former regime suicides ‘not linked’
Ukraine’s interior minister says he sees no links between a series of recent alleged suicides of officials who served under deposed President Viktor Yanukovych. ||| Kiev, Ukraine – Ukraine’s interior minister says he sees no links between a series of recent alleged suicides of officials who served during the regime of deposed...
Pope finds popularity at 2-year mark
Pope Francis marks his second anniversary riding a wave of popularity that has reinvigorated the Catholic Church. ||| Vatican City – Pope Francis marks his second anniversary on Friday riding a wave of popularity that has reinvigorated the Catholic Church in ways not seen since the days of St John Paul II. He’s also entering a...
Czechs mum on Russian espionage report
The Czech foreign minister has declined to comment on a magazine report about suspected espionage by Russian diplomats. ||| Prague – The Czech foreign minister declined to comment on Thursday on a magazine report about suspected espionage by Russian diplomats based in the country but he acknowledged that relations with Moscow were “not...
IMF wants ‘economic stabilisation’ in Ukraine
The IMF has agreed to pump $10 billion into Ukraine’s troubled economy over the next year. ||| Washington – The International Monetary Fund has agreed to pump $10 billion into Ukraine’s troubled economy over the next year, providing swift assistance for the country’s struggling finances as part of a larger four-year...
Merkel snubs Putin WWII ceremony invite
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not attend an official ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, an officials said. ||| Berlin – German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not attend an official ceremony in Moscow on May 9 to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two due to tensions of the Ukraine crisis,...
Nemtsov: Islamist motive ‘nonsensical’
A colleague of Boris Nemtsov said that suggestions he was killed by Islamists were nonsensical. ||| Moscow – A colleague of Boris Nemtsov, the Russian opposition figure shot dead near Moscow’s Red Square, said suggestions he was killed by Islamists were nonsensical and useful for the Kremlin because they deflected accusations that...
Putin decided to annex Crimea before vote
Russian president Vladimir Putin admits he decided to annex Crimea even before a Ukranian referendum on unification. ||| Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments released Monday that he took the decision to annex Crimea at a nightlong Kremlin meeting after former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February...
Putin reveals details of Crimea annexation
Vladimir Putin says he decided to annex Crimea after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February 2014. ||| Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments released Monday that he took the decision to annex Crimea at a nightlong Kremlin meeting after former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in...
