Section: Business Insider (USA)
Poroshenko hails Ukraine ‘warriors’ freed by rebels
Kiev (AFP) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday welcomed home as heroes 145 soldiers freed by pro-Russian rebels during the largest prisoner swap of the eight-month separatist war.The Western-backed leader, beaming and wearing a black bomber jacket, walked up to the back cargo bay of a military transport plane that landed at a...
Dollar mortgage holders urge Russia to end ‘financial slavery’
Moscow (AFP) – When Olga Savelyeva took out a $226,000 mortgage to buy a small apartment on the outskirts of Moscow in 2008, she could never have imagined that the ruble would lose more than half its value in a few short years.But Savelyeva’s $2,090 monthly instalments have skyrocketed in ruble terms due to the Russian...
Femen activist who grabbed Nativity Jesus at Vatican still jailed
Vatican City (AFP) – The bare-breasted activist from feminist group Femen who snatched the baby Jesus figurine from the St Peter’s Square Nativity scene on Christmas Day remained under arrest in the Vatican on Friday.The woman, Iana Aleksandrovna Azhdanova from Ukraine, remained under arrest in a Vatican cell awaiting possible trial...
Russia says N.Korea comedy ‘scandalous’, slams US
Moscow (AFP) – Russia has slammed the United States over a raunchy comedy featuring a fictional plot to kill North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, saying Pyongyang’s anger was understandable.On Christmas Day, “The Interview” — which has become an unlikely symbol of free speech in the West — opened in crowded US...
Ukraine, rebels try to revive stalled peace talks
Kiev (AFP) – Ukrainian and pro-Russian rebel leaders tried on Friday to revive peace talks that stalled after just one round due to stark difference over how to end the eight-month separatist war.A tense meeting mediated by European and Russian envoys in the Belarussian capital Minsk on Wednesday was due to have been followed by a final one...
Conflict-hit east Ukraine struggles for festive joy
Donetsk (Ukraine) (AFP) – The big tree with the glimmering holiday lights is up but the festive spirit is missing on Lenin Square in the heart of east Ukraine’s rebel stronghold of Donetsk.Hundreds of people huddled in the drizzle for the traditional unveiling of the tree ahead of the New Year holiday in this Orthodox Christian...
Russian crackdown on Navalny could backfire amid economic crisis
Moscow (AFP) – Russian authorities’ attempts to jail Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and intimidate his supporters could backfire and trigger new political protests amid the most serious financial crisis of Vladimir Putin’s rule.Thousands pledged to take to the streets after Russian prosecutors this month called for the...
Pope decries ‘brutal persecution’ of religious minorities
Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis condemned this year’s “brutal” religious persecution in the Middle East while urging peace in Nigeria, Ukraine and other world troublespots in his annual Christmas “urbi et orbi” message.Calling also for an end to violence against “vast numbers of children”, and...
Pope to address world’s woes in Christmas message
Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis will offer his annual Christmas blessing on Thursday, traditionally an occasion to appeal for remedies to the world’s woes.In his second “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) message, the popular Argentinian pontiff will address the globe’s 1.2 billion Catholics and millions of...
Ukraine peace talks break up without deal to meet again: rebel
Kiev (AFP) – A pro-Russian rebel negotiator said on Wednesday that a “difficult” preliminary round of Ukrainian peace negotiations in the Belarussian capital Minsk concluded without an agreement to meet again.”We had a difficult preliminary meeting,” Donetsk separatist region mediator Denis Pushilin told a separatist...
