Section: US & Canada
Vladimir Putin Phones Elton John After Singer Requested Meeting on LGBT Rights
Singer Sir Elton John announced on Tuesday that he had received a phone call from an unlikely source — Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Thank you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and speaking via telephone with me today,” John posted on Instagram. “I look to forward to meeting with you face-to-face to discuss LGBT equality in...
Hasidic Jews Celebrate New Year In Ukraine
Hasidic Jews from around the world gathered in the Ukrainian city of Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Uman is a pilgrimage site and the burial place of Jewish spiritual leader Rebbe Nachman, a great grandson of the founder of Hasidism. (By RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...
Russia could have a dark ulterior motive for propping up Assad’s regime in Syria
There may be more at play with Russia’s expanding role in Syria than just influence in the Middle East. Kemlin authorities reportedly have an ulterior motive for supporting the regime of embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad: Getting jihadists out of Russia, where they might attack the homeland, and sending them into Syria. Russia...
Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, September 15, 2015
To keep up with Democracy Lab in real time, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Hannah Thoburn describes the struggles of a Crimean Tatar radio station that has fled Crimea to Kiev to continue operating in the wake of the Russian occupation. Christian Caryl dismantles the Russian and Chinese argument that “Western democracy” is responsible …...
U.S. Envoy Tells Russia’s Neighbors: Having Putin As Your Only Friend Not A Good Idea
U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Daniel Baer says former Soviet republics should enhance their relations with the European Union and the United States and avoid dependence on Russia. …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...
Russian Court Extends Savchenko’s Detention By Another Six Months
A Russian court has ruled that Ukrainian helicopter pilot Nadia Savchenko must stay in a Russian jail for at least another six months as her trial continues. …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...
Former Kremlin insider expects 2-year economic downturn
MOSCOW (AP) — A close associate of Vladimir Putin, who recently lost his job as Russia’s railways chief in a reshuffle seen as a sign of increasing Kremlin infighting, says the nation’s economic downturn will last at least two more years amid ongoing Western sanctions.Speaking in his first interview with a Western media outlet since...
Early Trading and Tax Hints
Also Deutsche Bank cuts, Ukrainian hackers, spoofers, insider traders, Tom Hayes, just a lot of enforcement stuff. …read more Source:...
Russia Uses Cover Of ISIS Fight To Bolster Syria Interests, Project Power
WASHINGTON — Syria’s civil war is at a critical juncture.International focus has returned to the long-overlooked conflict in the past few weeks because of Europe’s difficulties in accommodating the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing Syria.At the same time, the countries whose consent and influence are key to ending the...
OSCE Ambassador Baer: “Biggest Challenge Is To Build A Strong Ukraine”
Daniel Baer, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, spoke with RFE/RL correspondent Pete Baumgartner in Prague about the current lull in hostilities in eastern Ukraine. Baer said Ukraine’s allies are working not only to end the conflict, but also to help build democratic institutions that will...
