Eurasia

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 …

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 …

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 …

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan flies to Brussels on Sunday for a visit aimed at boosting the Muslim country’s troubled bid for European Union accession. Erdogan’s trip, his first to Brussels in four years, comes as Ankara faces EU pressure to speed up reforms in a decisive …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian and Serbian officials met in Belgrade earlier this week in a bid to improve ties between the two countries’ parliaments. At the meeting between Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and Iranian Ambassador to Serbia Seyed Morteza Mir Heydari, the two sides discussed promotion of bilateral parliamentary cooperation. …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development Mohammad Saeedi-Kia conferred with Yemeni Minister of Public Works and Roads Umar al-Kurshomi on further expansion of bilateral ties and mutual cooperation. The talks dealt with aspects of reinforcing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in areas of public works, …