Section: Africa&ME
Russia boasts a dynamic press despite risks to journalists
A couple passes coin-operated newspaper vending machines in the metro in Moscow. (John Macdougall/AFP/Getty Images) Moscow, Asharq Al-Awsat—The way some circles in the West put it, Russia has all but returned to the Soviet era with an omnipresent Vladimir Putin in tight control of the media. Putin, we are told, has built a cult of personality...
Bulgaria rejects Russian accusations on South Stream
Bulgaria’s president played down on Tuesday any responsibility for the shelving by Russia of the multi-billion-dollar South Stream gas pipeline project to deliver Russian gas to Europe. “It is clear to everyone that South Stream is not a project only between Russia and Bulgaria but between Russia and the EU… The decision is entirely in the...
Ukraine, pro-Russian rebels agree new truce
Moscow denies helping separatists in eastern region …read more Source: Gulf...
Ukraine, rebels ‘agree in principle’ on ceasefire in Lugansk: OSCE
Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels have “agreed in principle” on a ceasefire in the eastern war-torn region of Lugansk, the OSCE has said, as NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels …read more Source: Hurriyet Daily...
Ukraine, Afghanistan dominate NATO meeting
NATO foreign ministers are expected to announce on Dec. 2 the launch of a new advisory mission for Afghanistan and continuous NATO presence in Eastern Europe …read more Source: Hurriyet Daily...
New Cease-fire for Ukraine’s Luhansk Region
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says Ukraine’s military and pro-Russian separatist forces in the Luhansk region have agreed “in principle” to a new cease-fire effective Dec. 5. The OSCE said Monday the cease-fire would bring a truce include the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the area starting December...
New truce for Ukraine?
Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels “agreed in principle” on a ceasefire in one separatist province and were working to conclude a broader truce. …read more Source:...
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...
NATO ministers chart course on Ukraine, Afghanistan
NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday (02/12/2014) aiming to plot a new course after a “year of aggression” from Ukraine to the Middle East and the end of the alliance’s combat mission in Afghanistan. New chief Jens Stoltenberg said as he arrived that US Secretary of State John Kerry and other ministers from the 28-nation group...
