Section: Independent Online (South Africa)
Ukraine’s lawmakers read oath in unison
Kiev’s MPs face the mammoth task of dragging Ukraine back from the brink of collapse. ||| Kiev – Ukraine’s Parliament on Thursday held its first sitting since pro-Western parties won a crushing poll victory, with lawmakers facing a mammoth task to drag the war-wracked nation back from the brink of collapse.Deputies in the...
Europe feels sting of Russia sanctions
“The impact on business couldn’t be clearer. Fewer stands, fewer companies.” ||| Brussels – At a technology fair in Moscow last month, European executives faced the new reality of doing business in Russia since the West imposed sanctions: the number of companies at the international showcase had shrunk by half from a year ago. “The...
Sanctions, cheaper oil cost Russia
Lower oil prices and Western financial sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis would cost Russia around $130 billion (R1 trillion) to $140bn a year – equivalent to about 7 percent of its economy – Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said yesterday. ||| Reuters MoscowLOWER oil prices and Western financial sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis...
Huge Moscow mall opens as recession looms
The opening in Moscow of Europe’s biggest shopping mall comes at an inopportune moment for investors backing the project. ||| Bloomberg MoscowTHE opening in Moscow of Europe’s biggest shopping mall comes at an inopportune moment for investors backing the project.The Aviapark mall opens its doors on Friday, just as Russia is headed...
Russia puts losses at R1.5 trillion
Lower oil prices and Western sanctions will cost Russia around $130-140 billion (R1.5 trillion) a year. ||| Moscow – Lower oil prices and Western financial sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis will cost Russia around $130-140 billion (R1.5 trillion) a year – equivalent to around 7 percent of its economy – Finance Minister...
Russia puts annual losses at R1.5 trillion
Lower oil prices and Western sanctions will cost Russia around $130-140 billion (R1.5 trillion) a year. ||| Moscow – Lower oil prices and Western financial sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis will cost Russia around $130-140 billion (R1.5 trillion) a year – equivalent to around 7 percent of its economy – Finance Minister...
Putin backs Russian central bank
Russian President Vladimir Putin has allowed the central bank to administer strong medicine. ||| Moscow – With Russia’s economy battered by economic sanctions and plunging oil prices, President Vladimir Putin has allowed the central bank to administer strong medicine, sharply raising interest rates even as it freed the rouble to...
MH17 wreckage cleared from crash site
The wreckage will be transported to the Netherlands and reconstructed as part of the investigation into the cause of the disaster. ||| Amsterdam – A week long operation to clear the wreckage from the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine has been completed, the Dutch government said on Sunday. A cargo train took pieces of...
Planned rail link to boost ties with Chinese
Russia is seeking to build a high-speed rail link to further bolster ties with China after agreeing on the biggest natural gas supply deal in history. ||| Ekaterina Shatalova MoscowRUSSIA is seeking to build a high-speed rail link to further bolster ties with China after agreeing on the biggest natural gas supply deal in history.Russian Railways...
Kiev: Russia has 7 500 troops in Ukraine
Russia has 7 500 troops in the east of Ukraine’, where pro-Moscow separatists have been fighting government troops, defence minister said. ||| Kiev – Russia has 7 500 troops in the east of the country, where pro-Moscow separatists have been fighting government troops for months, Ukraine’s defence minister said.“Unfortunately,...