Section: Independent Online (South Africa)
Outrage of kindergarteners with rifles
Pictures of Russian children posing with mock AK-47 rifles and other weapons at a kindergarten have provoked a storm of controversy. ||| Moscow – Pictures of young Russian children posing with mock AK-47 rifles and other weapons at a kindergarten have provoked a storm of controversy, but some defended them as patriotic education.Pictures...
Amnesty: world response to IS shameful
Amnesty International has accused world leaders of “pretending the protection of civilians is beyond their power.” ||| World leaders have proved “shameful and ineffective” in failing to protect civilians from groups like Islamic State (IS), Amnesty International said on Wednesday, calling 2014 a “catastrophic” year.In its 415-page annual report...
Bullion back in favour with central banks
Kazakhstan increased gold reserves for the 28th consecutive month, while Ukraine added to holdings for the first time since August, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said. ||| Phoebe Sedgman MelbourneKAZAKHSTAN increased gold reserves for the 28th consecutive month, while Ukraine added to holdings for the first time since August, the...
EU eyes Far East, Africa to export dairy after loss of sales to Russia
The EU was aiming to boost dairy exports to the Far East and parts of Africa as its sought to cope with increased production and the loss of sales to Russia, EU farm commissioner Phil Hogan said yesterday. ||| Nigel Hunt Birmingham, EnglandTHE EU was aiming to boost dairy exports to the Far East and parts of Africa as its sought to cope with...
Russia-Ukraine war ‘unlikely’ – Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that war with neighbouring Ukraine was unlikely. ||| Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday war with neighbouring Ukraine was unlikely. “I think that such an apocalyptic scenario is unlikely and I hope this will never happen,” he told a reporter with Russia State TV company, when...
Gold rush stalls as $4bn erased from funds
Judging by the barometer of hedge fund interest, there is less to get excited about in gold these days. ||| Megan Durisin ChicagoJUDGING by the barometer of hedge fund interest, there is less to get excited about in gold these days. Even as Greece battled with its creditors to avoid default and keep the euro zone intact, speculators retreated...
Russia cuts spending by 10%, defence ring-fenced
Russia’s military budget might shrink by about 10 percent in 2015, the chief executive of state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec said yesterday. ||| Stanley Carvalho Abu Dhabi RUSSIA’S military budget might shrink by about 10 percent in 2015, the chief executive of state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec said yesterday. The...
Rebel attacks prevent pullback – Ukraine
Continuing attacks from rebels are delaying Ukrainian forces who are preparing to pull heavy weapons from the front line. ||| Kiev – A Ukrainian military spokesman says continuing attacks from rebels are delaying Ukrainian forces’ pullback of heavy weapons from the front line in the country’s east.Under a peace agreement reached...
Ukraine, rebels swap prisoners
Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists have exchanged dozens of prisoners in east Ukraine. ||| Kiev/Donetsk, Ukraine – Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists have exchanged dozens of prisoners in east Ukraine, a Ukrainian Security Council aide confirmed on Sunday, a step towards implementing an...
‘Moody’s downgrade had political character’
Moody’s downgrade of Russia’s sovereign rating was based on “factors of a political character,” Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said. ||| Moscow – Moody’s Investors Service’s downgrade of Russia’s sovereign rating was based on “factors of a political character,” Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov...
