Section: US & Canada
Russia-Turkey Pipeline Has Economic, Strategic Motives
Russia’s decision to cancel a gas pipeline to Bulgaria in preference to Turkey is being heralded as an important victory for Ankara in its ambitions to become a regional energy hub. But there are growing doubts over how advantageous the pipeline will be for Turkey. The memorandum of understanding signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin...
Russia Criticizes US for Using Torture
MOSCOW—Relishing an opportunity to turn the tables on the U.S., Russia says the Senate’s investigation into the CIA torture practices has highlighted rampant rights abuse. The Foreign Ministry’s rights envoy, Konstantin Dolgov, said in Thursday’s statement that the evidence contained in the report “contradict the U.S....
Letters From Donbas
What is day-to-day life really like in Ukraine’s separatist-held territories? RFE/RL invited ordinary people behind rebel lines to share their impressions. …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...
Russia criticizes US over CIA torture report
The Russian statement, which comes amid U.S.-Russian tensions over Ukraine, marked an attempt by Moscow to turn the tables on continuous Western criticism of Russia’s rights abuses. …read more Source: San Francisco...
Few Oligarchs Can Beat Russia’s Weakening Economy
Russia’s oligarchs are no strangers to misfortune, asset grabs, forced investments and financial crises. Many of them may publicly shrug off a 40 percent plunge in the rouble and the difficulties caused by a sanctions-hit economy heading for recession. And at least on paper, there are some winners, with metal producers benefiting from...
Russia says CIA torture report reflects ‘systemic’ rights abuse in US
MOSCOW – Relishing an opportunity to turn the tables on the U.S., Russia says the Senate’s investigation into the CIA torture practices has highlighted rampant rights abuse. The Foreign Ministry’s rights envoy, Konstantin Dolgov, said in Thursday’s statement that the evidence contained in the report “contradict the U.S....
Mountie killings, Ghomeshi scandal: Top news events in 2014
An in-brief look at some of the most significant news events of the last 12 months, in chronological order: JANUARY 1 – Colorado becomes the first U.S. state to allow recreational marijuana sales to adults at licensed pot stores. Washington state followed suit in July. 3 – Phil Everly, the youngest of the Everly Brothers, died of chronic...
Poland Attributes Purchase Of U.S. Missiles To Regional Tensions
Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has said that long-range missiles Warsaw is buying from the United States are especially needed by Poland because of current tensions in the region. …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...
The Abolition of Abolition
How the President Who Pledged to Banish Nuclear Weapons Is Enabling Their RenewalCross-posted with TomDispatch.comMark these days. A long-dreaded transformation from hope to doom is taking place as the United States of America ushers the world onto the no-turning-back road of nuclear perdition. Once, we could believe there was another way to go....
Escape From a Nightmare
EASTERN CAMEROON — Aboubakar Goton, 40, used to be wealthy and influential. Just over a year ago, Goton, a Muslim, was the mayor of Bossemptélé, a trading center of 22,000 residents in the Central African Republic (CAR). He owned one of the town’s biggest shops and had a large herd of cattle, a traditional sign of wealth in the mostly rural...
