Section: US & Canada
Newsmakers of the day: the journalists who died in 2014
MISRATA, LIBYA: American journalist Steven Sotloff (centre) talks to Libyan rebels on the Al Dafniya front line, 25 km west of Misrata, in 2011; he was kidnapped in August 2013 and killed a year later by Islamic State (Photo by Etienne de Malglaive via Getty Images) In the months before James Foley was beheaded with a knife—a gruesome death at...
Who Gets Hurt With Russia’s Falling Ruble?
When an economic crisis looms, Russians go shopping. As the ruble crashed through new lows last month, tills buzzed late into the night in the mega-malls that surround Moscow’s ring road as Muscovites rushed to buy Ikea sofas, new cars and washing machines. Russian state television, attempting to put a cheerful spin on the ruble’s...
Ukrainian lawmakers vote to end nation’s nonaligned status
The Ukrainian parliament voted Tuesday to end the nation’s nonaligned status in the face of Russian aggression, angering Moscow and potentially opening the way to NATO membership in years to come. …read more Source: Los Angeles...
Ukraine abandons nonaligned status in possible step towards NATO membership, Russia not happy
The vote by Ukraine’s parliament to drop its nonaligned status, which could pave the way for a bid to join NATO, challenges the Kremlin’s ardent desire to keep NATO from taking a giant step toward the Russian heartland. …read more Source: Vancouver...
Report: 60 Journalists Killed in 2014, Syria Deadliest Country
On August 19 this year, a video that purported to show the beheading of freelance journalist James Foley horrified the world. Images of Foley dressed in orange kneeling next to a black-clad person claiming to be a member of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, flooded television news and social media and the footage was confirmed as authentic...
Russia’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Deep Recession’
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says the country would plunge into a “deep recession” if the government abandoned its spending plans. Speaking Tuesday in Moscow before leading officials of the ruling United Russia party, Dmitry Medvedev said the government will stay focused on its strategic aims and social spending to avoid the...
Putin touts new alliance with 4 ex-Soviet nations
Eurasian Economic Union celebrated as Russian ruble collapses and Ukraine takes possible step towards joining NATO …read more Source:...
Ukraine Inches Toward NATO, But Membership Not Likely Anytime Soon, Analysts Say
Ukraine’s Tuesday vote to drop its “nonaligned” status — a prerequisite for joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization — is threatening to further aggravate tensions with Russia. But it’s not likely we’ll see Ukraine join NATO anytime soon, analysts say. …read more Source: International Business...
Ukraine Takes Step Toward Joining NATO
A parliamentary vote to pursue closer ties to the West drew a sharp rebuke from Russia, which called the step counterproductive. …read more Source: The New York...
Russia Tells State-Owned Business Giants to Sell Cash to Prop Up Ruble
MOSCOW—Russia has ordered five of the country’s major state-controlled exporters to sell excess currency reserves in its latest attempt to shore up the ruble, which has endured big losses this year in the wake of sliding oil prices. The Russian government published an order on its website Tuesday, instructing gas giant Gazprom, oil...
