Russia's annexation of Crimea underlines the need for the United States and the European Union to substantially deepen their economic ties, Washington's top trade official said on Saturday, opening the door to U.S. exports of natural gas to Europe.

• March 22, 2014

China and the European Union have reached a deal to end a dispute over European wine exports to China, the latest sign of improving ties and just days before China's president visits Europe.

• March 21, 2014

President Vladimir Putin signed laws completing Russia's annexation of Crimea on Friday as investors took fright at a U.S. decision to slap sanctions on his inner circle of money men and security officials.

• March 21, 2014

The most startling part of Washington's sanctions on Russian businessmen loyal to President Vladimir Putin may be a single sentence that contains an explosive allegation: that Putin himself profits from the world's No. 4 oil trading company, Gunvor.

• March 21, 2014

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during March 1-15th 2014
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• The death of another Gezi Park protester sends opposition protesters into the streets two weeks ahead of municipal elections.
• While the AKP has been hampered over the last year, polls indicate little change from past election results as opposition candidates lack the star power to counter the AKP’s leadership.
• Fethullah Gulen blasts the ruling government in an op-ed, calling its authoritarian tactics a challenge for Turkish democracy.
• The AKP-Gulen Movement split causes further mistrust between Washington and Ankara, as the White House openly rebukes Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan for mischaracterizing a discussion with President Barack Obama.
• Crimea secedes from Ukraine, though its Tatars sit out the referendum. Aside from expressing concern about their plight, Ankara has little leverage over their fate in the new Crimean Republic.

• March 21, 2014

President Barack Obama on Thursday announced further sanctions against prominent Russians and cleared the way for possible sanctions on key sectors of the Russian economy in response to Moscow's seizure of the Crimea region from Ukraine.

• March 20, 2014

Positions between Iran and world powers diverge widely in some areas but Iranian negotiators seem "very committed" to reach an agreement on the country's disputed nuclear program, a senior EU official said in an email seen by Reuters on Thursday.

• March 20, 2014

Issue # 9
03/17/2014
The Autonomous Republic of Crimea has held a referendum in which the peninsula's population voted for joining the Russian Federation. Read more in SITUATION IN CRIMEA READ MORE

• March 20, 2014