Section: Cyprus
Poroshenko says terrorist threat in Ukraine has ‘significantly risen’
President Petro Poroshenko said on Friday the threat of terrorism had “significantly risen” in Ukraine, describing the country as awash with weapons trafficked from the east where a shaky ceasefire has eased fighting against pro-Russian rebels. At a meeting with Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, Poroshenko said:...
Iran nuclear deal close; impasse over weapons, missiles persists
By Louis Charbonneau and Parisa Hafezi Iran and six world powers were close to an historic nuclear agreement on Thursday that could resolve a more than 12-year dispute over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, but they remained deadlocked on the issue of Iranian arms and missile trade. Over the past two weeks, Iran, the United States, Britain,...
Iran nuclear talks extended, source says 48 hours left for deal
By John Irish and Arshad Mohammed Iran and major powers gave themselves at least until Friday to negotiate an agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme, but a source from one of the powers said on Tuesday they had to wrap up in the next 48 hours. “We are continuing to negotiate for the next couple of days,” EU foreign policy chief Federica...
Former Russian prime minister Yevgeny Primakov dies
Yevgeny Primakov, a former Russian prime minister, foreign minister and spymaster, has died, the Kremlin said on Friday. Primakov, whose political career began in the Soviet era, was 85. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that President Vladimir Putin had been informed of Primakov’s death and was deeply saddened, but gave no...
Putin adds another year to ban on Western food imports
President Vladimir Putin has extended Russia’s ban on food imports from the West by one year, longer than had been expected, in retaliation to the extension of European sanctions against Moscow over Ukraine. The ban, which prohibits most food imports from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway, was expected to...
EU keeps up pressure on Russia by extending economic sanctions
By Adrian Croft European Union foreign ministers extended economic sanctions on Russia until Jan. 31 on Monday, keeping up pressure on Moscow to help resolve the Ukraine conflict. Russia described the move as a triumph for the “Russophobe” lobby in the EU and signalled it would respond by extending a ban on Western food imports, imposed in...
Russia orders cuts in World Cup spending
By Katya Golubkoca The Russian government has ordered 30 billion roubles ($560 million) in cuts in spending on the 2018 World Cup finals, Russian news agencies reported on Monday. No reason was given for the decision, but Russia has been hit by an economic downturn worsened by Western economic sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine and a fall in...
Putin says Russia is weathering sanctions storm
By Timothy Heritage President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russia had a “sufficient supply of inner strength” to overcome its economic problems and assured investors that his country remained open to business with the West. Addressing foreign and Russian business leaders at an economic conference in the city of St Petersburg, Putin set out no...
Tsipras optimistic on Greek debt deal as banks bleed (Update 2)
By George Georgiopoulos and Lefteris Papadimas Greeks pulled more than 1 billion euros out of their banks in a single day, banking sources said on Friday, as the country edged closer to default despite assurances from Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that the doomsayers are wrong. The Greek central bank – which has warned that the country’s...
Greece, Russia to cooperate on Turkish Stream pipeline
By Timothy Heritage Greece and Russia signed a memorandum on Friday on extending the planned Turkish Stream gas pipeline to Europe through Greek territory, with financing coming from Russia. Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis said at the signing ceremony in the Russian city of St Petersburg that Greece needed support and not pressure...
