Section: Singapore
Ex-minister Kudrin warns of ‘full-fledged crisis’ in Russia
Russia’s government has pushed the country into an economic crisis by not tackling its financial problems fast enough, former finance minister Alexei Kudrin said on Monday, as evidence mounted of trouble spreading through the economy.The central bank bailed out its first victim of the collapsing currency, authorities announced a tax on...
Ukraine’s Poroshenko to hold peace talks with rebels ‘this week’
The talks will be held in the Belarussian capital Minsk on Wednesday and Friday and were announced after the Ukrainian leader spoke by phone with his counterparts from Russia, France and Germany. …read more Source: Channel...
Russia entering “full-fledged economic crisis”, says ex-minister Kudrin
MOSCOW – Russia’s government has pushed the country into an economic crisis by not tackling its financial problems fast enough, former finance minister Alexei Kudrin said on Monday, warning the full effects would be felt next year.Kudrin – a darling of investors who is credited with building Russia’s $170 billion worth of...
China foreign minister says willing to help Russia
BEIJING – China is willing to help Russia if needed but believes that the country has the ability to overcome its current economic problems, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted as saying in a state newspaper on Monday.The rouble has dropped about 45 per cent against the dollar this year, suffering particularly steep falls early last...
Obama: Putin ‘no chess master’
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama hit back at foreign policy critics in an interview aired Sunday, brushing off claims he had been naively outmaneuvered by Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine crisis.Speaking on CNN, Obama bluntly dismissed the notion that Putin was “the chess master and outmaneuvering the West and...
Belarus strongman looks to revive Ukraine peace talks
KIEV – The authoritarian leader of Belarus flew into Kiev on Sunday hoping to revive stalled Ukrainian peace talks he has been hosting to calm Europe’s volatile eastern edge.But a high-ranking Ukrainian official said Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko was just as keen to use the trip to build bridges to Europe that ease his...
Euro entry in Jan follows tough market reforms
KYBARTAI – Geopolitics plague Lithuanians at this frozen Russian border post, where a return trip by car can mean 48 hours of queuing. It is a reminder for some of why the former Soviet republic will cement its move to the West by joining the euro zone next month.Tensions with Moscow have simmered ever since Lithuania became the first...
Russia brands new sanctions roadblock to Ukraine peace
Russia accused the West of stoking unrest in Ukraine by adopting anti-Kremlin sanctions that further erode the prospect of peace talks to end the separatist war. …read more Source: Channel...
Russia says new US, Canada sanctions will fuel Ukraine unrest
The latest round of Ukraine-related sanctions by the United States and Canada hamper efforts to resolve the conflict, Russia’s foreign ministry said on Saturday (Dec 20). …read more Source: Channel...
Russian envoy to Malaysia casts doubt on MH17 probe
KUALA LUMPUR – Outgoing Russian Ambassador Luidmila G. Vorobyeva has cast doubts on the investigation in the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, claiming that the way it was being conducted has raised more questions than answers.According to the ambassador, the full report of the crash would only be out in 2016, alluding that it...
