Section: Independent Online (South Africa)
US provides more aid to Ukraine
America has signed a deal to provide $2bn in loan guarantees to help strife-torn Ukraine with social spending. ||| Kiev – The United States signed an agreement on Wednesday to provide $2 billion in loan guarantees to help war-torn Ukraine with “near-term social spending” in 2015 and said it was prepared to step up economic sanctions against...
Ex-spy’s autopsy world’s most dangerous
Pathologists examining the body of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko carried out the world’s most dangerous autopsy, an inquiry heard. ||| London – Pathologists examining the body of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned with a rare radioactive isotope nine years ago in London, carried out the world’s most dangerous-ever...
Report on MH370 due in March
Malaysia’s Department of Civil Aviation will release the interim report on the missing plane early in March. ||| Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia’s Department of Civil Aviation will release an interim report on the investigation into the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on March 7, a day before the one-year anniversary of the...
Emerging markets could get hurt – IMF
The “normalisation” of US monetary policy, no matter how well implemented, could hurt emerging markets and undermine financial stability, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said. ||| THE “normalisation” of US monetary policy, no matter how well implemented, could hurt emerging markets and undermine financial...
S&P downgrades Russia’s rating to junk
Russia’s first junk rating in a decade pushed the nation’s bond lower for a second day and stocks declined as the threat of fresh sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine and an oil-price slump batter its economy. ||| Vladimir Kuznetsov MoscowRUSSIA’S first junk rating in a decade pushed the nation’s bond lower for a second...
Putin skips Auschwitz event
Vladimir Putin won’t be at the main event marking 70 years since Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz death camp in Poland. ||| Oswiecim, Poland – Russia’s Vladimir Putin will be absent from the main event marking 70 years since Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz death camp in Poland, held against a backdrop of hostilities...
Litvinenko inquiry begins in UK
The public inquiry into former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko’s death begins in London this week. ||| London – A long-awaited public inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko begins in London on Tuesday, nine years after the former KGB spy died after drinking tea poisoned with a rare radioactive isotope in the British capital. From...
Russia: Ban on Ukraine imports of salt
Russia’s consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor had imposed a temporary ban on salt produced by Artyomsol which is based in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. ||| RUSSIA’S consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor had imposed a temporary ban on salt produced by Artyomsol which is based in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine,...
Fear for Ukraine pilot held in Russia
A Ukrainian female army pilot may die in detention in Russia where she is on hunger-strike, her lawyer said. ||| Moscow – A Ukrainian female army pilot may die in detention in Russia where she is on hunger-strike, her lawyer said on Monday, calling on President Vladimir Putin to release her. Nadezhda Savchenko was captured by pro-Russian...
Russia blames Kiev for Ukraine violence
Russia warned the West that any attempt to increase economic pressure on Moscow would be “absolutely destructive” blackmail. ||| Moscow – Russia blamed Kiev on Monday for a surge in fighting in Ukraine and warned the West that any attempt to increase economic pressure on Moscow would be “absolutely destructive” blackmail. Pro-Moscow...
