Section: Business Insider (USA)
Hungary and Russia: The Viktor and Vladimir show
“Jatszoter” (playground) proclaims HVG, a magazine, above a graphic of Hungary as a seesaw. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, is at one end, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, at the other. It is a fitting image, given that Mr Putin is due in Budapest on February 17th, two weeks after Mrs Merkel. His visit will mostly be about...
Poroshenko, rebel chief vow to respect ceasefire
Kiev (AFP) – Both Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels on Saturday pledged to respect a ceasefire due to come into force within hours, after fierce fighting plunged the truce into doubt. Under a peace plan signed between Kiev and the rebels in Minsk this week the ceasefire is scheduled to start in war-torn east Ukraine at 2200 GMT on Saturday....
This is the next-generation military hardware Russia is buying with its surging military budget
Russia may be in the middle of an economic crisis, but the country’s defence budget is surging. Military spending is set to rise by an astonishing 33% this year, according to the Associated Press. That follows double-digit percentage increases in previous years, and will make it Russia’s highest defence budget ever, running to 4.2% of...
Ukraine fighting rages ahead of ceasefire
Donetsk (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ferocious fighting raged in Ukraine on Saturday, threatening a ceasefire deal as Kiev and the US accused Russia of fuelling a rebel onslaught to grab territory before the truce started.Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned that continuing bombardments that killed dozens had plunged a peace plan reached in...
Fitch cuts Ukraine credit rating deeper in junk
Washington (AFP) – Fitch downgraded Ukraine’s credit rating a notch deeper in junk territory on Friday, saying the conflict-hit country appeared likely to default.The rating firm lowered Ukraine to “CC” from “CCC”, saying that the new International Monetary Fund aid program announced Thursday would be...
France hails ‘historic’ jet sale to Egypt despite rights concerns
Paris (AFP) – France basked Friday in the “historic” first foreign sale of its Rafale fighter jet to Egypt in a contract clinched in a breakneck three months, despite criticism over rights abuses by Cairo.For Paris the 5.2 billion euro ($5.9 billion) sale is a rare triumph after six failed attempts to export its flagship...
Ukraine death toll grows after fragile peace deal signed
Donetsk (Ukraine) (AFP) – At least 15 people have been killed in east Ukraine in new shelling despite the signing of a peace deal to end the 10-month conflict.Pro-Moscow rebels and government officials said Friday that seven civilians were killed across the conflict zone during the past 24 hours while Ukraine’s military said eight...
Here are the high-tech military weapons Russia is buying in 2015
Russia may be in the middle of an economic crisis, but the country’s defence budget is surging. Military spending is set to rise by an astonishing 33% this year, according to the Associated Press. That follows double-digit percentage increases in previous years, and will make it Russia’s highest defence budget ever, running to 4.2% of...
The 10 most important things in the world right now
Good morning! Here’s what you need to know for Friday. 1. Greece will meet with Europe’s finance ministers again on Monday in a last bid to end to the debt standoff. 2. The European Union has threatened Russia with more sanctions if the Ukraine ceasefire deal fails. 3. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for action to prevent...
Asia markets mostly up on Ukraine deal, Greece hopes
Hong Kong (AFP) – Asian markets mostly rose Friday after European leaders and Russia agreed a plan to end Ukraine’s 10-month war, while confidence Greece would reach a debt overhaul deal with its creditors boosted the euro against the dollar.The upbeat outlook for both of the crises plaguing Europe provided a catalyst for an equities...
