Putin says Crimea now free of reliance on Kiev for its power
Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the launch of a fourth and final line supplying electricity from Russia to Crimea on Wednesday, saying the project had broken an energy blockage he accused Kiev of imposing on the peninsula.
Georgia begins U.S.-led military exercise, angering Russia
The Georgian army began two weeks of military exercises with the United States and Britain on Wednesday, drawing an angry response from former Soviet master Russia which called the war games "a provocative step".
Euro zone looks to help Greece on debt from 2018 upon reform completion
Euro zone finance ministers offered on Monday to grant Greece debt relief by giving it longer grace periods and bond maturities from 2018 if the country delivers by then on all reforms agreed under its latest bailout.
Say goodbye to OPEC, powerful Putin pal predicts
Internal differences are killing OPEC and its ability to influence the markets has all but evaporated, top Russian oil executive Igor Sechin told Reuters in some of his harshest remarks ever about the oil cartel.
Countries backing Syria talks to meet in Vienna on May 17: Kerry
The 17-nation group backing Syria peace talks will meet next week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday, a day after he and his Russian counterpart agreed to work to revive a "cessation of hostilities" agreement reached in February.
Syrian opposition hopeful renewed truce can revive peace talks
Syria's opposition is hopeful of a return to peace talks in Geneva if a U.S.-Russian deal on reviving a failed truce is swiftly implemented, a member of the opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said on Monday.
Aleppo fighting rages as U.S. and Russia try to revive Syria truce
Syrian government forces and their allies fought insurgents near Aleppo on Monday and jets carried out raids around a nearby town seized by Islamist rebels, a monitoring group said, despite international efforts to reduce the violence.
Euro zone looks to help Greece on debt after it passes reforms
The euro zone turned its attention tentatively on Monday to helping Greece tackle its huge debt repayments, with a view to a deal on May 24, after Greek lawmakers passed unpopular pension and tax reforms one critic called "a tombstone for growth".
|
