MOSCOW (Reuters) – Who pays and who profits from Sunday’s apparent agreement on a new gas relationship between Russia and Ukraine? In a normal, commercial world, it should be easy enough to work out. But the complex, opaque nature of the two nations’ gas dealings and the lack of full …

GAZA (Reuters) – Hamas said on Sunday it would cease fire immediately along with its Islamist allies in the Gaza Strip and give Israel, which already declared a unilateral truce, a week to pull its troops out of the territory. A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in …

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Barack Obama welcomes Israel’s ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and is committed to helping Israelis and Palestinians work toward peace, a spokesman said on Sunday. Obama will say more on the situation in Gaza after he is inaugurated on Tuesday, spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said in …

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union Presidency said on Sunday that it was not clear when gas supplies would resume to Europe despite a deal announced by the prime ministers of Ukraine and Russia. “We welcome the progress achieved in the talks between the representatives of the Russian Federation and …

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict, in his strongest comments yet on the situation in Gaza, on Sunday condemned the violence that has killed hundreds of “innocent victims.” Speaking at his weekly Sunday noon prayer, the pope also asked his listeners in St Peter’s Square and around the world to …

GAZA (Reuters) – After 22 days of devastating Israeli air strikes and shelling, shocked Palestinians emerged onto the rubble-strewn streets of the Gaza Strip on Sunday to collect their dead and inspect their shattered homes. Women sat weeping amid the ruins of their houses, hiding their faces, many too distressed …

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) – European and conservative Arab leaders said on Sunday Israel and the Palestinians must turn a shaky ceasefire in Gaza into a permanent peace that prevents any recurrence of violence. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the host of a summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm …

ALGIERS (Reuters) – Public anger over Gaza has added to economic and political strains in Algeria that will make for an uncomfortable test of nerves ahead of a presidential election in a country with a history of popular unrest. A steep drop in oil revenue, questions about the integrity of …

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission welcomed on Sunday the announcement of a gas deal between Russia and Ukraine but warned there had been false hopes before and was waiting to see gas actually flowing to European customers. “The Commission welcomes the announcement in Moscow of Prime Minister (Vladimir) Putin …

MOSCOW (Reuters) – An overnight outline deal struck by the prime ministers of Russia and Ukraine aims to restore gas supplies to eastern Europe, crippled since January 7 in a dispute between Moscow and Kiev over prices. Following is a look at who stands to win and lose from the …