Section: US & Canada
The conflict in Ukraine has led to a Golden Age for Jews — though some are still leaving
It’s a disturbing time for Jews in Europe right now. But the conflict in Ukraine seems to be making that country a little more welcoming to its Jewish citizens, even as they continue leaving the country in large numbers. …read more Source: Public Radio...
Russian Duma Dissident Believes West Must Save Ukraine to Defeat Putin
One year ago, on Mar.18 2014, President Vladimir Putin announced that he would annex Crimea. Two days later, the issue was brought before the Duma. The vote was overwhelmingly in support of Putin’s plan, a resounding 445 to 1. The lone vote against belonged to Ilya Ponomarev. With the conflict in Ukraine showing little sign of coming to a...
Sweden Says 1/3 of Russia Diplomats Are Actually Spies
SOLNA, Sweden—The Swedish security service SAPO accused Russia on Wednesday of using as many as one-third of its diplomatic staff in the Scandinavian country for clandestine intelligence gathering. Offering an unusual glimpse into the hush-hush world of counter-espionage, SAPO chief analyst Wilhelm Unge described the Russian spies as “highly...
Don’t Let the Crisis in Ukraine Damage Decades of Progress on Nuclear Cooperation
By General Norton A. Schwartz and Stanley A. WeissWASHINGTON AND GSTAAD–This December, the world will witness the 70th anniversary of a publication best known for tracking the end of the world. Founded in 1945 by veterans of the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was launched in the...
Putin Storms Back to Public View Marking Crimea Takeover
Vladimir Putin returned in force to the public stage this evening, appearing at a large concert outside the Kremlin to celebrate the annexation of Crimea a year ago. …read more Source: ABC...
Bloomberg, Gates launch anti-tobacco industry fund
Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Billionaire philanthropists Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates launched a joint fund in Abu Dhabi Wednesday to help developing countries pass tobacco-control laws in their legal battle with industry giants.The Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund, backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,...
Ukraine Limps Its Way Out of Winter
Ukraine payed Gazprom just enough cash for another week of gas supplies on Monday, following its “search the couch cushions” prepayment strategy of late. Kiev forked over a less than impressive $15 million, the latest of the meager tranches that it has deployed in recent weeks. These prepayments are a condition of Russia’s continued supply...
Sweden Labels Russia Its Biggest Threat
Russian espionage in Sweden has increased over the past year and is the biggest threat to domestic security, according to an annual report released by Sweden’s security service, SAPO, on Wednesday. In a news conference on Wednesday, Wilhelm Unge, chief analyst at SAPO, said one-third of Russian envoys in Sweden are used as spies to gather...
Putin just cemented a new land grab
President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty with Georgia’s rebel South Ossetia region on Wednesday that almost completely integrates it with Russia, alarming Georgia and the West a year after Moscow took over Crimea. Tbilisi described the “alliance and integration” treaty as a “move aimed at annexation” and the United...
Russia marks Crimea annexation anniversary
Moscow (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday triumphantly joined tens of thousands of supporters to mark one year since his takeover of Crimea, a seismic shift that shattered ties with Ukraine and the West. Putin appeared on stage in front of a flag-waving crowd at a celebratory concert by the walls of the Kremlin to make an...
