Section: US & Canada
Putin’s Approval Rating Rises to 86% Despite Slumping Economy
Russian President Vladimir Putin saw his approval ratings tick up to 86% even as the economy reels from Western sanctions and falling oil prices. Levada Center, a Moscow-based pollster, released a poll Thursday showing Putin’s approval ratings increased one percentage point from a month earlier. Putin’s approval numbers have soared...
Ukraine, rebels start pulling back heavy weapons
Pullback was supposed to have started more than a week ago under a peace deal agreed upon earlier this month by the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. …read more Source: Toronto...
Brussels Eyes the Caspian Sea
Worries about its over-reliance on Russian gas are pushing the EU to find new suppliers, and this week the bloc launched a charm offensive on gas-producing Caspian states. The FT reports: “I think that Europe has really got tired of each summer having a discussion of how to make it through the next winter. The world’s biggest economy should...
China Has More Submarines Than the U.S., Says Admiral
China’s submarines now outnumber the U.S. fleet after an ambitious shift in strategy, according to a U.S. Admiral. According to Vice Admiral Joseph Mulloy, who serves as the deputy chief of naval operations for capabilities and resources, China is in the process of building “fairly amazing submarines” and does so in such quantity that...
Gazprom ‘Ready’ To Divide Ukraine Gas Bills; EU Plans Talks
Russian gas giant Gazprom says it is willing to discuss alterations to the current gas agreement with Kyiv but also warns time is running out for Ukraine to order further shipments. …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...
Russia’s military exercises are way bigger than NATO’s
If military strength and ability was determined solely by the number of soldiers participating in military exercises, Russia would be able to steamroll through NATO without much of a second thought. Since 2013, Russia has launched a number of military exercises with troop numbers regularly surpassing the 100,000 personnel mark. In comparison, the...
A Year of War Completely Destroyed the Donetsk Airport
In Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, the Sergey Prokofiev International Airport has been reduced from a modern transportation hub to piles of scorched rubble in less than a year of warfare. As recently as last May, the airport was still operating and in good condition, though international flights had slowed due to the growing unrest. On May 26,...
Federer earns a meeting with Croatian wunderkind
Dubai (AFP) – Roger Federer’s bid to extend his record of Dubai Open titles to seven carried him into the semi-finals with record-breaking speed and to a meeting with the new wunderkind of tennis.It took only 20 minutes on Thursday for the 17-time Grand Slam champion to win the first set 6-1 against Richard Gasquet, whereupon the...
Cyprus Agrees Deal to Let Russian Navy Use Ports
European governments are facing the prospect of a Russian beachhead in the Mediterranean after Cyprus confirmed they have agreed a deal to allow the Russian navy access to Cypriot ports, in the latest agreement struck between the two countries. Initial reports of a similar deal earlier this month prompted concern among Western experts, as the...
Pro-Russian Rebels Still Firing As Ukraine Withdraws Heavy Weapons
The Ukrainian military has begun withdrawing on Thursday its heavy weapons from the frontlines, 11 days after a ceasefire with Russian-backed rebels came into effect and mandated that heavy artillery be moved back. …read more Source: International Business...
