Section: Singapore
EU adopts tighter investment sanctions on Crimea
[BRUSSELS] European Union governments adopted tighter restrictions on European investment in Crimea on Thursday, targeting Russian Black Sea oil and gas exploration and tourism, an EU official said. …read more Source: The Business...
Merkel says Russia sanctions remain ‘unavoidable’
German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed on Thursday (Dec 18) that Europe’s goal remains a free and whole Ukraine and that Western sanctions against Russia remain unavoidable until that goal is reached. …read more Source: Channel...
EU summit to discuss crisis-hit Russia, economic plan
BRUSSELS – EU leaders on Thursday will discuss tense relations with Russia and punishing sanctions imposed over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine at a summit led for the first time by Poland’s Kremlin-wary former premier Donald Tusk.Leaders will also back a huge 315-billion-euro (S$498 billion) investment plan unveiled last month by...
Opponent calls for Putin’s exit as Russia slides into crisis
A prominent opponent has warned Vladimir Putin his days in power are numbered, as Russia awaits the president’s response to the dramatic decline of the rouble.Putin has been silent as the currency collapsed against the US dollar this week before making up some of the lost ground on Wednesday, but he is sure to be asked about it at his...
Russian rouble firms sharply as government pressures exporters
Russian rouble firms sharply as government pressures exportersMOSCOW – Russia’s rouble strengthened sharply on Wednesday after dramatic falls on the previous two days as the government pressured exporters not to hoard foreign-currency earnings and the central bank announced new measures to support financial stability.The rouble was...
EU summit to discuss crisis-hit Russia, economic plan
[BRUSSELS] EU leaders on Thursday will discuss tense relations with Russia and punishing sanctions imposed over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine at a summit led for the first time by Poland’s Kremlin-wary former premier Donald Tusk. …read more Source: The Business...
EU says Ukraine needs US$15b, has limited ability to help
[BRUSSELS] The International Monetary Fund estimates Ukraine needs another US$15 billion in financing to withstand an economic crisis but the European Union has only limited capacity to help, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday. …read more Source: The Business...
Ukraine, pro-Russian rebels to restart peace talks
Sunday’s meeting in the Belarussian capital Minsk was announced hours after German Chancellor Angela Merkel placed a late-night call to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. …read more Source: Channel...
Russians go on shopping splurge as ruble plunges
MOSCOW – Russians are feeling the pinch from the slumping ruble, but one somewhat paradoxical result has been to unleash a spending spree as consumers snap up electronics, furniture and cars before prices soar.In general, Russians’ spending power has gone down with the ruble — which this week hit a record low against the dollar...
Spy row as Kremlin agent in Estonia tells all on Russian TV
MOSCOW – In a rare disclosure by a spy agency, Russia’s secret service has revealed it had an agent inside the secret police of NATO neighbour Estonia for 15 years.A documentary entitled “Our man in Tallinn” broadcast Sunday evening on the pro-Kremlin NTV channel showed Uno Puusepp confessing to having fed Russia secrets...
