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Putin Uses Sanctions To Mask Economy's Failings

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 02 Desember 2014 | 23.12

On Monday, the Russian rouble suffered its worst one-day crash since the 1998 default crisis.

The currency has lost more than 40% of its value against the dollar since the start of the year, rivalling the Ukrainian hryvnia for the title of world's worst performing currency 2014.

International sanctions have played a part, but the vast majority is down to the falling global oil price.

To give you an idea of how that breaks down - Russia's finance minister estimates Western sanctions have cost the country around $40bn, whereas the price of oil has accounted for around $100bn so far.

Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas - they make up approximately two-thirds of the country's exports and around half its budget revenues.

Monday's dramatic slump followed OPEC's decision not to cut production to boost prices - cheaper oil looks set to last for a longer period, forcing markets to reassess Russian assets.

Added to that, Russia's Central Bank abandoned its policy of routine intervention last month - switching to a free-floating rouble, which would be allowed to find its own value, undertaking only to intervene if domestic financial stability was threatened.

The bank is widely believed to have done exactly that on Monday, accounting for a small rally in the rouble's exchange.

So what does this mean for Vladimir Putin - the strongman President who has built his rule on the promise of restoring Russia's place in the world, delivering stability after the chaos and financial crises of the 1990s.

His first two terms coincided with a massive hike in the price of oil - giving the impression of a booming economy, even if the fundamental structures underneath hadn't really changed.

For many people here that meant an increase in the standard of living, and a new middle class that became accustomed to owning the latest iPhone and enjoying summer holidays and winter skiing abroad.

So you might expect the rouble crash to be leading every news bulletin, perhaps people taking to the streets. Not so.

Mr Putin's popularity has dipped very slightly, but his approval rating remains above 80%.

There is an argument that Western sanctions actually help the Kremlin politically.

The economy was already flat-lining and oil-dependent, so the oil price drop would in any case have had a significant effect.

Without international sanctions, Mr Putin would have been forced to explain why, given the vast oil wealth that has flowed through Russia during his time in office, the country's economy is in such an underwhelming state.

Now the Kremlin has the familiar spectre of the "hostile West" to blame for any hardship the population might feel.

The foreign minister recently accused the West of seeking "regime change" in Russia through sanctions.

Rather than challenging the government's handling of the economy, Russian state-controlled media are instead focusing on stirring the nation's patriotic sentiment and portraying the President as the one man standing up to the West.

Increasing control of the media, aided by the fact that key opposition figures are under house arrest, means that for all that Russia's economy may be faltering, thus far the same cannot be said of its President.


23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Father And Daughter Reunited On IS Front Line

Father And Daughter Reunited On IS Front Line

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A father and daughter have discovered they are both fighting Islamic State on the front line of the battle for the Syrian border town of Kobani.

Pervin Kobani, 19, is one of many female fighters in the Kurdish army who are battling to fight off the extremist group.

The farmer's daughter took up arms two years ago, signing up with the Syrian Kurdish women's self-defence force, known by its Kurdish acronym YPJ.

They now fight with the men's unit, the YPG.

After half a year away from Kobani fighting elsewhere in Syria, she returned two months ago to help keep IS at bay.

She is part of a group of holding an eastern front-line position which is regularly attacked by the militants.

Then, three weeks ago, Pervin bumped into her father, Farouk, on a street corner.

She was surprised to see him holding a gun.

Pervin had no idea her father had also decided to fight. Other family members have now left Syria - her mother is a refugee in Turkey and her brother is studying in Algeria.

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  1. Gallery: US-Led Airstrikes on Kobani

    Smoke and flames rise over a hill near the Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike, as seen from the Mursitpinar crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in Sanliurfa province

US military forces again focused airstrikes on the area near the Syrian city in their campaign to turn back Islamic State forces and also hit oil facilities held by the militant group

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Father And Daughter Reunited On IS Front Line

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

A father and daughter have discovered they are both fighting Islamic State on the front line of the battle for the Syrian border town of Kobani.

Pervin Kobani, 19, is one of many female fighters in the Kurdish army who are battling to fight off the extremist group.

The farmer's daughter took up arms two years ago, signing up with the Syrian Kurdish women's self-defence force, known by its Kurdish acronym YPJ.

They now fight with the men's unit, the YPG.

After half a year away from Kobani fighting elsewhere in Syria, she returned two months ago to help keep IS at bay.

She is part of a group of holding an eastern front-line position which is regularly attacked by the militants.

Then, three weeks ago, Pervin bumped into her father, Farouk, on a street corner.

She was surprised to see him holding a gun.

Pervin had no idea her father had also decided to fight. Other family members have now left Syria - her mother is a refugee in Turkey and her brother is studying in Algeria.

1/18

  1. Gallery: US-Led Airstrikes on Kobani

    Smoke and flames rise over a hill near the Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike, as seen from the Mursitpinar crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in Sanliurfa province

US military forces again focused airstrikes on the area near the Syrian city in their campaign to turn back Islamic State forces and also hit oil facilities held by the militant group

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23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Islamic State Leader's Wife Held, Reports Say

The wife of the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi and one of his children have been arrested at the Syrian border, according to Lebanese officials.

They were detained by Lebanese troops in co-ordination with "foreign intelligence apparatus" about 10 days ago, according to local media.

His wife is said to have been travelling with a fake passport and is being questioned at the headquarters of the Lebanese defence ministry.

Her name was not released but she is understood to be a Syrian citizen. Islamist social media websites have previously reported that Baghdadi is married but it is unclear whether he has more than one wife.

The country's security forces have launched a crackdown on IS sympathisers in Lebanon and the intelligence services have been extra vigilant at border crossings.

Over the past few months they have arrested a number of Islamic militants suspected of staging attacks to expand IS in the country neighbouring Syria.

Since taking the reins of the terror group in 2010, Baghdadi has transformed it from a local branch of al Qaeda into an independent transnational military force.

He has succeeded in exploiting the turmoil in Syria and Iraq's weak central authority after the US military withdrawal to seize control of vast areas of land.

In doing so he has positioned himself as a leading figure in the global jihadi community.

Baghdadi, who has a $10m (£5.9m) US bounty on his head, has called for "volcanoes of jihad" around the world.

According to the reward notice, he was born in the Iraqi town of Samarra in 1971.

A US-led coalition has been seeking to roll back IS territorial gains in Iraq and Syria by launching airstrikes.

President Barack Obama has pledged to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the group.

The strikes are part of an effort to give Iraqi forces the time and space to mount a more effective offensive.


23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rescuers Struggle To Drag Man From Icy Waters

By Sky News US Team

A man has been pulled from the icy waters of the Des Moines River in Iowa after a dramatic rescue by emergency services

Some reports said the man had jumped into the river and that rescuers initially encouraged him to swim ashore but he ignored them.

He was clinging to a chunk of ice as one rescuer who tried to reach him fell into a hole on the thin ice.

The man initially resisted, but eventually he managed to hold on to a boat that was pulled ashore by a rope.

"When hypothermia sets in, I don't think your brain really works right," firefighter Corey Comito told local station Kcci.

The man, whose identity has not been released, was recovering in hospital.

Rescuers believe he might have been in the waters for around 15 minutes. The temperatures in the area had been as low as minus 11C (11F).


23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hong Kong Protest Founders To 'Surrender'

Hong Kong Protest Founders To 'Surrender'

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The three founders of Hong Kong's Occupy movement say they will "surrender" to police, who they accused of being "out of control".

Occupy Central leader Benny Tai praised the bravery of the pro-demonstrators protesters, but urged them to leave "this dangerous place".

"As we prepare to surrender, we three urge the students to retreat - to put down deep roots in the community and transform the movement," he said.

"Surrendering is not an act of cowardice, it is the courage to act on a promise. To surrender is not to fail, it is a silent denunciation of a heartless government."

The professor said the movement would now take a new direction to promote civil disobedience, including through education and a fresh social charter.

He told a news conference that the trio would hand themselves into police on Wednesday and they were prepared to "face all consequences".

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  1. Gallery: Violent Clashes In Hong Kong

    A police officer uses pepper spray while clashing with pro-democracy protesters close to the chief executive's office in Hong Kong

A protester who was pepper-sprayed is helped by volunteer rescuers

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Hong Kong police use batons and pepper spray to push back thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators in the early hours of Monday. Continue through for more pictures

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A pro-democracy protester holds an umbrella as he walks in a tunnel blocked by protesters

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Hong Kong Protest Founders To 'Surrender'

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

The three founders of Hong Kong's Occupy movement say they will "surrender" to police, who they accused of being "out of control".

Occupy Central leader Benny Tai praised the bravery of the pro-demonstrators protesters, but urged them to leave "this dangerous place".

"As we prepare to surrender, we three urge the students to retreat - to put down deep roots in the community and transform the movement," he said.

"Surrendering is not an act of cowardice, it is the courage to act on a promise. To surrender is not to fail, it is a silent denunciation of a heartless government."

The professor said the movement would now take a new direction to promote civil disobedience, including through education and a fresh social charter.

He told a news conference that the trio would hand themselves into police on Wednesday and they were prepared to "face all consequences".

1/11

  1. Gallery: Violent Clashes In Hong Kong

    A police officer uses pepper spray while clashing with pro-democracy protesters close to the chief executive's office in Hong Kong

A protester who was pepper-sprayed is helped by volunteer rescuers

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Hong Kong police use batons and pepper spray to push back thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators in the early hours of Monday. Continue through for more pictures

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A pro-democracy protester holds an umbrella as he walks in a tunnel blocked by protesters

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23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Irish Woman Makes Goal Of The Year Shortlist

Ireland's Stephanie Roche may not be a household name in football but she finds herself up against two of the game's best after being shortlisted for FIFA's goal of the year.

Her three-touch wonder strike for Peamount United was scored in front of a handful of fans in a game against Wexford Youths in October 2013.

But it has now been watched by more than three million people online after it was uploaded to YouTube by her manager.

In the shortlist for the Puskas award, the Irish international's effort is pitted against two goals scored at this year's World Cup.

They are Colombian James Rodriguez's volley against Uruguay and Dutchman Robin van Persie's header in a game with Spain.

Roche is passed the ball in the air, controls it with her right foot, then flicks it behind her with her left foot before smashing it into the top right corner of the goal, again with her left.

Users of FIFA.com will be able to vote for their favourite of the three goals.

If Roche wins the vote, she will become the first female to scoop the Puskas award.

The victor will be announced at the world governing body's annual awards in Zurich on 12 January.

Despite her sensational goal, Roche does not make the women's player of the year shortlist.

That is made up of Brazil's five-time winner Marta, Germany's European player of the 2013-14 season Nadine Kessler and America's all-time record goalscorer Abby Warmbach, winner in 2012.


23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Did North Korea Hack Sony Over Kim Film?

Did North Korea Hack Sony Over Kim Film?

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A hacking attack that crippled key systems at Sony Pictures and led to blockbuster movies being leaked online is increasingly being blamed on Pyongyang after the FBI said some of the software used was compiled in Korean.

The attack, by a group calling itself the Guardians Of Peace, left the firm's corporate email down for a week and enabled hackers to steal at least four movies, including Second World War drama Fury starring Brad Pitt, which is yet to be released on DVD.

It has since been downloaded more than one million times.

The Korean malware has led to increased speculation that Sony was targeted in revenge for its movie The Interview - a comedy about two journalists recruited by the CIA to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

The Pyongyang government had previously described the film as "undisguised sponsoring of terrorism" and an "act of war".

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  1. Gallery: Kim Jong-Un Inspecting Things

    North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un makes regular public appearances across the country

The state media follows him as he enjoys visits to factories, military installations and construction sites. Continue through for more pictures

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Did North Korea Hack Sony Over Kim Film?

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

A hacking attack that crippled key systems at Sony Pictures and led to blockbuster movies being leaked online is increasingly being blamed on Pyongyang after the FBI said some of the software used was compiled in Korean.

The attack, by a group calling itself the Guardians Of Peace, left the firm's corporate email down for a week and enabled hackers to steal at least four movies, including Second World War drama Fury starring Brad Pitt, which is yet to be released on DVD.

It has since been downloaded more than one million times.

The Korean malware has led to increased speculation that Sony was targeted in revenge for its movie The Interview - a comedy about two journalists recruited by the CIA to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

The Pyongyang government had previously described the film as "undisguised sponsoring of terrorism" and an "act of war".

1/28

  1. Gallery: Kim Jong-Un Inspecting Things

    North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un makes regular public appearances across the country

The state media follows him as he enjoys visits to factories, military installations and construction sites. Continue through for more pictures

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23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ferguson Protesters Heckle Attorney General

By Sky News US Team

US Attorney General Eric Holder has been heckled by a group of protesters as he announced he would soon release new guidelines to end racial profiling.

Mr Holder announced his plan at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where 1960s civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr preached.

His speech came in the wake of unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, after a grand jury's decision last week not to indict a white police officer in the killing of unarmed black teen Michael Brown.

A group of people interrupted Mr Holder, shouting at him and raising signs referencing Ferguson.

One said: "Ferguson Is Everywhere. Police Murder Must Stop!"

As the protesters were escorted out, they walked with their hands up, a gesture of solidarity with the Ferguson protesters.

Mr Holder said the protesters who interrupted his speech should not be condemned, calling it a "genuine expression of concern and involvement" - which got him a standing ovation from the crowd.

"Let me clear: I ain't mad at ya, all right?" he said.

Mr Holder said he would announce the guidelines "in the coming days" as part of President Barack Obama's response to the tension between law enforcement and minority communities that the events in Ferguson exposed.

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  1. Gallery: Aftermath Of Ferguson Riots

    A Missouri grand jury's decision not to bring criminal action against a police officer who shot dead an unarmed teenager has provoked the worst riots in America for years. This image shows the aftermath of the rioting in Ferguson. Pic: Jude Sheerin

Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, in August

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23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Costa Concordia Captain Bullish At Trial

By Tom Kington, In Grosseto

Francesco Schettino, the captain of the doomed cruise ship Costa Concordia, has fiercely defended his navigational skills as he faced cross-examination for the first time in his trial for manslaughter and abandoning ship.

In a spirited performance punctuated by jokes and constant hand gestures in which he frequently interrupted the prosecutor, Schettino tried to argue he followed procedure during the Costa Concordia's fatal collision, rather than steering recklessly.

Schettino smashed the Costa Concordia into rocks off the Italian island of Giglio in January 2012 during an attempted "sail past".

The holed vessel grounded and partially capsized in shallow water, forcing 4,200 passengers and crew to flee, with the loss of 32 lives.

Speaking at his trial in Grosseto in Tuscany, Schettino denied that he had organised the sail past to impress Domnica Cermontan, a Moldavian dancer who was working on the ship and has told the court she was having an affair with the married captain. 

"I didn't do it as a favour to Cermontan," Schettino said under questioning in Grosseto's theatre, which has been converted into a court room for the trial.

When she entered the bridge, Ms Cermontan stood at the side the room, far from Schettino, he said.

In a combative performance, during which he often challenged the questioning of prosecutor Alessandro Leopizzi, Schettino said he had sought to "kill three birds with one stone" by undertaking the sail past.

He was doing a favour to a ship's official and paying tribute to a former cruise captain who lived on the island of Giglio, while making the cruise more attractive to passengers, he said.

Asked about the number of people on the bridge as he took the command before the crash, Schettino argued he had always fought to keep numbers on the bridge down.

The court played a recording of the voices on the deck in the minutes leading up to the collision, during which Schettino is heard on the phone asking the former captain living on Giglio if there was enough water to sail as close as one fifth of a nautical mile from the coast.

When asked by the prosecutor why he asked that, since the ship was due to sail no closer than half a mile from the rocks, Schettino said he was not being serious.

Schettino has previously blamed the crash on the maps he was given to navigate with, and claimed the Indonesian helmsman on the bridge did not understand his instructions.

After attending the early hearings at his trial last year, Schettino has avoided the trial for five months, reportedly preparing for his performance, which is expected to run into Wednesday.

"If he wasn't so sure of himself he would not have agreed to be questioned at the trial," said Schettino's lawyer Domenico Pepe before the hearing.

"He has been studying the court papers and is here to highlight all the points in his favour which have not emerged yet in court."

Schettino, who was dubbed Captain Coward after he was accused of abandoning the stricken ship before passengers had fled, has remained a notorious celebrity in Italy, and has spent this week denying rumours he was due to appear on Italy's version of I Am A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.

No longer under house arrest, Schettino has addressed a group of students at a Rome university about stress control, despite allegations he panicked after the collision and failed to manage the evacuation.


23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kenya Quarry Workers Massacred By Militants

A Somali Islamist group has killed at least 36 quarry workers in neighbouring Kenya, singling out non-Muslims and either beheading or shooting them.

The workers were attacked as they slept at the quarry in Mandera County, near the border with Somalia, according to local reports.

Al Shabaab admitted carrying out the attack and said it was targeting "Kenyan crusaders".

"We are uncompromising in our beliefs, relentless in our pursuit, ruthless against the disbelievers and we will do whatever necessary to defend our Muslim brethren suffering from Kenya's aggression," spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage said.

He said the attack was in response to the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia and said a recent airstrike had killed innocent people and destroyed their property.

One worker, who escaped from the attack by hiding in a trench, said about 50 heavily armed men walked into the camp next to the quarry soon after midnight.

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  1. Gallery: Kenya Protests Over Terror Killings

    Kenyan police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators shouting "President, Stop the killings!" outside President Uhuru Kenyatta's offices

Wooden crosses, symbolising people killed in a series of attacks, are set ablaze by protesters during the #OccupyHarambeeAve demonstration in Kenya's capital Nairobi

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23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More
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