Russia’s second-largest state-controlled lender VTB—which has been targeted by U.S. and EU sanctions—is in talks to purchase a controlling stake in the Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, a person familiar with the matter said. …read more Source: The Wall Street...

Aug12

Here’s Why Geopolitical Chaos Hasn’t Caused Oil Prices To Spike (OIL, USO)

Tuesday, August 12 , 2014 - 18:22 (EEST) Section: Business Insider (USA)

Oil markets have been startingly calm in recent months despite unrest in some of the world’s largest oil producing regions. The price of London-traded Brent crude oil is actually down $5 since mid-May. The reason is that the world doesn’t need as much of the stuff right now — and global production continues to ramp up. Tuesday,...

Aug12

Russian ‘Humanitarian Aid’: What We Know And Don’t Know So Far

Tuesday, August 12 , 2014 - 18:22 (EEST) Section: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (USA)

Just 24 hours after the Kremlin announced a “humanitarian convoy” was being sent to eastern Ukraine, a bevy of statements from Russian, Western, and Ukrainian officials — and a convoy about 300 large white trucks — leave unanswered questions. …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...

Aug12

Russia Sends Aid to Ukraine, Raises Red Flags

Tuesday, August 12 , 2014 - 18:22 (EEST) Section: The Boston Globe (USA)

A Russian convoy of 280 trucks sets off from Moscow, en route to eastern Ukraine. Russian authorities say they’re bringing much needed food, water and other aid to the region, where Ukrainian forces are closing in on pro-Russian rebels. But Kiev believes the convoy is a trojan horse. And Deputy foreign minister Danylo Lubkivsky says the...

Aug12

Russia Begins Military Exercises in Island Chain Partly Claimed by Japan

Tuesday, August 12 , 2014 - 18:22 (EEST) Section: Voice of America (USA)

Russia began military exercises in a Pacific island chain parts of which are also claimed by Japan, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, a potential blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to keep the door open to dialog with Moscow despite strains over the Ukraine crisis. Exercises began involving military...

Aug12

Ukraine Says It Will Block Russian Aid Convoy

Tuesday, August 12 , 2014 - 17:33 (EEST) Section: Voice of America (USA)

Ukrainian officials said they will not allow Russian trucks to cross the border after Moscow said it was sending a convoy to deliver humanitarian aid to besieged residents in rebel-held eastern Ukraine. Russia said Tuesday it was sending 280 truckloads of relief supplies to residents of eastern Ukraine, who are caught in the conflict between...

Aug12

With the Ukrainian President

Tuesday, August 12 , 2014 - 17:33 (EEST) Section: The Huffington Post (USA)

Kiev, August 11, 2014 I had not seen Petro Poroshenko since his election. He greeted me in a large panelled room where the gold leaf had an oddly rosy tint. Ukrainian television cameras ran for the first few minutes of our interview. The president brought up our initial encounter in the Maidan that Sunday in February, at a time when the fate of...

Aug12

John Kerry sees hope for easing of Ukraine tensions

Tuesday, August 12 , 2014 - 17:33 (EEST) Section: New York Daily News (USA)

The Obama administration is cautiously hopeful diplomacy can ease tensions between Ukraine and Russia over Moscow’s insistence on sending humanitarian aid to pro-Russian areas of eastern Ukraine, U.S. …read more Source: New York Daily...