Section: The Epoch Times (USA)
Poroshenko: Ukraine Is a New, Changing Country
WARSAW, Poland—Ukraine’s president on Wednesday urged Poland’s politicians and business people to intensify ties with his country as it conducts reforms to follow European standards. At the start of a two-day visit to Poland, President Petro Poroshenko held talks with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and Prime Minister Ewa...
Russians Rush to Shop Before Falling Ruble Raises Prices
MOSCOW— Russian consumers flocked to stores Wednesday, frantically buying a range of big-ticket items as they looked to pre-empt price rises following the staggering fall in the value of the ruble over recent days. As the government looked at ways of easing the selling pressure on the ruble, which has slid 15 percent in just two days and raised...
Ruble Volatile as Russians Rush to Stores
MOSCOW— The Russian government looked at ways of easing the selling pressure on the ruble Wednesday amid fears the country may face a full-blown bank run and as consumers look to buy big-ticket items before prices rise. Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseyev was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying that the government is going to sell...
Ruble Collapse Shakes Russian Economy, Consumers
MOSCOW—Russian President Vladimir Putin faces a major new challenge after a catastrophic fall in the value of the ruble, which hit a new low Tuesday despite the Central Bank’s desperate efforts to halt the selling. On the streets of Moscow, panicky consumers rushed out to buy home appliances before they became even more expensive....
Russia’s Sinking Economy Becoming a Global Threat
WASHINGTON—Russia’s suddenly escalating financial crisis risks spilling beyond its borders and endangering parts of the global economy. With economies in Europe, Japan, China and Latin America already ailing, fresh threats have emerged from Russia’s shriveled currency, its move to dramatically boost interest rates, the damage from...
Ruble Slides Again Despite Central Bank Rate Hike
MOSCOW— A massive interest rate hike by Russia’s Central Bank on Tuesday failed to stem the selling pressure on the ruble, which slid another 14 percent Tuesday to new historic lows. The surprise Central Bank decision to raise the rate to 17 percent from 10.5 percent came in the early hours on Tuesday in a desperate attempt to prop up the...
UN Says Death Toll in Eastern Ukraine up to 4,707
GENEVA— The U.N. human rights office says at least 4,707 people have been killed and 10,322 wounded in the conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine. It says more than 5 million people are living in the conflict areas where they face rising hardships and some struggle to stay alive. At least 1,357 fatalities have been recorded since the...
Russian War Plane Flights: Sweden Says Military Jet Almost Hit Passenger Plane
The Swedish military has said that a Russian military intelligence plane almost hit a commercial passenger plane just south of Sweden on Friday. The Swedish air force chief, Maj. Gen. Micael Byden, said the incident took place in international airspace. Fighter jets were sent out immediately to identify the plane, and he added that the Russian...
Heartrending Letters From Soviet-Era Siberian GULAGs
Banned from writing to loved ones, and only allowed letters from family members twice a year, prisoners in Soviet labor camps came up with many ways to squirrel out messages. With no pencils, papers, or envelopes, they were forced to write on cigarette boxes, scratch out words on tree bark, or embroider messages with fish bone on pieces of...
Russia Reaches out to Europe’s Far-Right Parties
VIENNA— A Russian loan to France’s National Front. Invitations to Moscow for leaders of Austria’s Freedom Party. Praise for Vladimir Putin from the head of Britain’s anti-European Union party. As the diplomatic chill over Ukraine deepens, the Kremlin seems keener than ever to enlist Europe’s far-right parties in its...
