From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Russia's central bank has forecast three years of stagnation, cutting economic growth estimates for 2014-16 to almost zero.
The bank's predictions suggested that Western sanctions and lower oil prices are clouding Russia's prospects in the final years of President Vladimir Putin's third term.
The base scenario set out in an annual monetary policy strategy document issued on November 10 forecast economic growth of 0.3 percent this year, zero in 2015, and 0.1 percent in 2016.
The bank's forecast anticipated that Western sanctions imposed over Russia's actions in Ukraine would last at least until the end of 2017.
It was based on the assumption that the oil price will rise to $95 per barrel next year but then decline again.
It predicted better growth rates if the sanctions are lifted earlier or oil prices are higher than expected.
From AFP:
The Netherlands held an emotional ceremony for the 298 victims of flight MH17 shot down over the separatist-held eastern Ukraine in July, in a tragedy that brought the conflict in the ex-Soviet state to the international fore.
Some 1,600 relatives and friends of the dead from 18 countries gathered alongside members of the Dutch royal family for the sombre event in Amsterdam where the names and ages of those who perished were read out.
Ukraine and the West blame Russia for supplying the pro-Kremlin separatists with the missile that shot down the plane, while Moscow and the rebels have pointed the finger at Kiev's forces.
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Russia's central bank has forecast three years of stagnation, cutting economic growth estimates for 2014-16 to almost zero.
The bank's predictions suggested that Western sanctions and lower oil prices are clouding Russia's prospects in the final years of President Vladimir Putin's third term.
The base scenario set out in an annual monetary policy strategy document issued on November 10 forecast economic growth of 0.3 percent this year, zero in 2015, and 0.1 percent in 2016.
The bank's forecast anticipated that Western sanctions imposed over Russia's actions in Ukraine would last at least until the end of 2017.
It was based on the assumption that the oil price will rise to $95 per barrel next year but then decline again.
It predicted better growth rates if the sanctions are lifted earlier or oil prices are higher than expected.
From the AFP story on today's commemoration to honor the 298 people from a dozen or so countries who died aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 when it was shot down above eastern Ukraine.
The Netherlands on Monday held a sombre and emotional memorial for the 298 people who died when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over war-torn eastern Ukraine in July.
"What if the holiday had started a day later? What if the plane had been late? What if I wake up and realise it was all just a dream?" Prime Minister Mark Rutte told the memorial ceremony in Amsterdam, attended by 1,600 of the bereaved.
"But there is no what if? Only the harsh reality of 298 dead," he told the ceremony, also attended by King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima, as 298 large candles burned in memory of the victims, two-thirds of them Dutch.
"They will not be forgotten, the beautiful, warm and touching memories are forever," Rutte said, with flags flying at half-mast around the Netherlands.
Many of those killed on the flight were children, starting their summer holidays on the doomed Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur flight, and their classmates ceremoniously placed flowers among the candles.
Anton Kotte, who lost three relatives in the crash including his son, said the time since the disaster had been like riding a train that never stopped with the other bereaved.
"We didn't know each other but we are partners in misfortune and we stare out the window," said Kotte.
"Today the train has stopped, in Amsterdam. We have another chance to reflect. We wear white armbands with the words 'We shall never forget you'," he said.
Mourners from the different countries affected read out the names and ages of all those killed, in a ceremony broadcast live on Dutch television and radio, marked by musical performances by famous Dutch artists.
Pay no attention to the (armed) man behind the curtain -- or next to it, or just inside the door, or next to the ballot box, or...
Prosecutors in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv have opened a "terrorism" investigation into an explosion last night that injured 11 people at a pub frequented by soldiers and security forces returning from the conflict with pro-Russian rebels farther south, according to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
The pub, called Stina (The Wall), is also a site of fund-raising and other forms of support for the military and refugees from the conflict zone.
Here's video of the aftermath that was circulating last night:
The pub's manager, Mykhaylo Ozerov, said he believes the blast was an attack meant as retaliation for those activities
Ukrainian authorities sometimes refer to rebels fighting against government forces in the conflict, which has killed more than 4,000 people since April, as terrorists.
Kyiv accuses Russia of sending troops and weapons into eastern UKraine to aid the rebels, who control large swaths of territory in he Donetsk and Luhansk provinces.
There were earlier suggestions -- although none of them from official sources, apparently -- that the blast might have been a result of a gas leak. But one of those sources (cited in the report below) also cited a purported claim by "the bartender" that someone had left a suspicious package in the bar.
President Vladimir Putin says the Kremlin will restrict the movement of money or take other "emergency measures" to stem the slide of the ruble.
Speaking to businesspeople ahead of the APEC summit in Beijing, President Vladimir Putin said Russia is taking "necessary steps" in response to the "serious fluctuation" of the ruble.
The ruble has lost 40 percent of its value this year due to concern over the Ukraine crisis, related Western sanctions, and falling prices for oil and gas whose export is crucial to the economy.
Putin said that Russia's "fundamentals in terms of currency reserves and balance of payments remain at good levels. That allows us to control the situation without taking any extraordinary emergency steps."
"We are not planning to impose any restrictions at all on capital flows."