27.01 10:36 Politics
Russia to Keep Blocking UN Sanctions on Syria
Russia is standing firm on blocking any U.N. sanctions against Syria, its longtime ally and a significant arms customer, saying that any resolution by the world body must exclude the possibility of international military involvement such as in Libya.Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that U.N. approval for sanctions against Syria mirroring those by other nations would be "unfair and counterproductive."
The U.S., the European Union, the Arab League and Turkey all have introduced sanctions against Damascus in response to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s violent crackdown on opponents. The uprising has left more than 5,400 people dead, according to the U.N. estimates.
27.01 10:46 Politics  Considering a U.S.-Iranian DealBy George FriedmanLast week, I wrote on the strategic challenge Iran faces in its bid to shape a sphere of influence stretching from western Afghanistan to Beirut on the eastern Mediterranean coast. I also pointed out the limited options available to the United States and other Western powers to counter Iran. One was increased efforts to block Iranian influence in Syria. The other was to consider a strategy of negotiation with Iran. In the past few days, we have seen hints of both. | 27.01 10:45 Politics  President Ilham Aliyev Holds Several Meetings in DavosPresident of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on Jan. 26 met with European Commissioner for Energy in European Commission Gu"nther Oettinger in Davos. The meeting focused on the development of Southern Gas Corridor project.The sides emphasized the role of the Joint Declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor signed by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Commission Jose’ Manuel Dura~o Barroso in the development of energy ties. |
27.01 10:44 Politics  Cameron to Rap ‘Uncompetitive’ Europe at DavosPrime Minister David Cameron will accuse Europe of being uncompetitive and failing to act decisively on the eurozone crisis when he addresses the Davos forum on Thursday.Cameron is the keynote speaker on the second day of the annual gathering of the world’s elite which this year is overshadowed by a deep foreboding about the global economy - in particular the state of Europe’s finances. After Chancellor Angela Merkel used her address on Wednesday to say that she was not prepared to expose Germany to more flak from the markets to bail out eurozone strugglers, Cameron will urge an end to mere "tinkering". | 27.01 10:44 Economics  Cameron: ‘EU Needs Bolder Steps to Boost Economy’British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Europe Thursday to be "bolder" to shake off its economic woes, saying it should explore free trade deals with the United States and Africa.In a speech to the annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, Cameron said the European Union must be more competitive if it is to overcome the crisis in the eurozone. "This is a time to show the leadership our people are demanding. Tinkering here and there and hoping we’ll drift to a solution simply won’t cut it any more," he was to say, according to extracts released by Downing Street. |
27.01 10:42 Society  Lithuanian PM Receives World Leader Cycle Award 2012The Economic Faculty association Rotterdam (EFR) presented Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius with a World Leader Cycle Award 2012 for merits in the economy sector. This annual award is given for special merits in the areas of politics, economy and social welfare."Thanks to you, Lithuania has advanced to a higher level. We admire your efforts in trying to restore Lithuanian economy and mitigate the outcomes of the economic crisis. Even though, Lithuania is severely affected by the crisis, its economic recovery was the fastest in EU in the third quarter of the year. | 27.01 10:41 Politics  The Arab Uprising, One Year LaterWednesday marked the first anniversary of the first day of public unrest in Egypt, which led to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster 18 days later. A little before Mubarak was toppled, Tunisian autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, having lost support of the military, fled his country in the wake of mass unrest. The unrest that began in North Africa quickly spread eastward toward the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula; what has been termed the "Arab Spring" has manifested itself differently in different national contexts. |
27.01 10:37 Economics  Turkmen, Afghan Presidents Discuss TAPI Gas Pipeline ProjectNegotiations were held between presidents of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammado.v and Hamid Karzai in Turkmenbashi, the Turkmen government said on Thursday.During the meeting special attention was paid to cooperation in fuel and energy sector, and specifically - implementation of the project of construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI), the report said. | 20.01 11:59 Politics  The European Crisis in 2012For much of the fourth quarter of 2011, it appeared the eurozone was doomed. Debt was piling up for several key states, and those with the ability to assist lacked the political will to do so. But the European Central Bank (ECB) stepped in in December with measures that have postponed - not solved - the European crisis.Italy’s Debt Crisis The core of the Continent’s ongoing problems is that most of its wealth is in the north, while the region’s periphery cannot grow without outside credit. That credit was made available with the creation of the eurozone in 1999, putting member states into the same capital pool. |
