Section: Independent Online (South Africa)
Shrinking oil revenues could dig into funds
Energy-exporting countries which have stashed billions in windfalls in sovereign investment funds may be forced to draw down on them as oil revenues shrink, sending a chill through stock, bond and property markets worldwide. ||| Chris Vellacott LondonENERGY-EXPORTING countries which have stashed billions in windfalls in sovereign investment funds...
AK-47 makers fight sanctions with fashion
The makers of Russia’s iconic AK-47 assault rifle are moving into fashion to get around Western sanctions on its weapons. ||| Moscow – The makers of Russia’s iconic AK-47 assault rifle are moving into fashion to get around Western sanctions on its weapons.At a flashy event in Moscow on Tuesday, Kalashnikov Concern unveiled a new...
Carter tapped to succeed Hagel
US President Barack Obama has reportedly settled on technocrat Ashton Carter as his fourth defence secretary. ||| Washington – Can a career Washington technocrat break into US President Barack Obama’s tight-knit inner circle and oversee the world’s most powerful military? It looks like former Pentagon official Ashton Carter is...
Russian economy heading for recession
Russia’s economy may enter its first recession since 2009 in the first quarter, Deputy Economy Minister Alexei Vedev said, as the Ukraine conflict and lower oil prices exact a toll on the world’s biggest energy exporter. ||| Olga Tanas MoscowRUSSIA’S economy may enter its first recession since 2009 in the first quarter, Deputy...
New peace deal for Luhansk?
Ukraine’s military and separatist forces have agreed “in principle” on a new ceasefire in the rebel-held Luhansk region. ||| Kiev – Ukraine’s military and separatist forces have agreed “in principle” on a new ceasefire from December 5 in the rebel-held Luhansk region in the east of the country, the OSCE security group said. The...
Shanghai surges to three-year high
Asian shares rose on Tuesday, with energy firms clawing back some losses as oil prices recovered from multi-year lows. ||| Asian shares rose Tuesday, with energy firms clawing back some losses as oil prices recovered from multi-year lows, while Shanghai surged to a three-year high on hopes for more Chinese government easing.The Russian ruble...
Moldova pro-European parties eye coalition
Pro-European parties in Moldova pledged to pull together a coalition to steer the ex-Soviet country on a path towards EU integration. ||| Chisinau – Pro-European parties in Moldova pledged on Monday to pull together a coalition to steer the ex-Soviet country on a path towards EU integration after securing a narrow win in a weekend...
The bank where women rule
How about a central bank where women outnumber men? This is the Bank of Thailand… ||| Bangkok – Janet Yellen’s appointment as Federal Reserve chair this year was hailed as another step toward gender equality. How about a central bank where women outnumber men?This is the Bank of Thailand, which runs monetary policy in Southeast...
MH17 wreckage ‘to be reassembled’
Wreckage of flight MH17 recovered from its crash site in eastern Ukraine will reportedly be reassembled for an investigation in the Netherlands. ||| Amsterdam – Wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 recovered from its crash site in eastern Ukraine will be reassembled for an investigation at a military base in the Netherlands, Dutch...
Russian ruble extends record slide
The ruble lost another 1.5 percent of its value as it extended a record slide after the OPEC oil cartel’s decision to leave its output ceiling unchanged. ||| Moscow – The ruble lost another 1.5 percent of its value on Friday morning as it extended a record slide after the OPEC oil cartel’s decision to leave its output ceiling...
