20:45
2.4.2014
As noted earlier, Vladimir Putin's divorce is final. From our news desk:
The Kremlin has announced that the divorce is now final between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife of more than 30 years, Lyudmila. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov gave no further details in the announcement Wednesday.
Putin and his wife announced together on a television broadcast last June that they were ending their marriage because they spent little time together. The couple has two adult daughters.
Putin and his wife announced together on a television broadcast last June that they were ending their marriage because they spent little time together. The couple has two adult daughters.
Putin, 61, has sought to keep his personal life private during his 14 years in power as president and prime minister.
20:42
2.4.2014
Report: NASA Cuts All Non-ISS Ties with Russia Over Ukraine http://t.co/HCihJw7qMg #crimea #russia
— innersocial (@innersocial) April 2, 2014
20:01
2.4.2014
A new wrinkle in China's stance on Crimea?
China's interest in #Crimea? The China National Offshore Oil Corp looks to develop #Ukraine's Black Sea gas fields http://t.co/k3bMcxAN1x
— Micheál & Friends (@GorseFires) April 2, 2014
18:39
2.4.2014
From our news desk, U.S. details charges against Ukrainian oligarch:
U.S. prosecutors have accused Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash and five other people of being part of an international racketeering conspiracy in which millions of dollars of bribes were paid to Indian officials to secure titanium-mining licenses.
The U.S. Justice Department unveiled the indictment against Firtash on Wednesday. It says that beginning in 2006, the suspects conspired to pay more than $18 million in bribes to secure mining contracts in India's Andra-Pradesh state.
Firtash was arrested last month in Vienna on an U.S. warrant, but the allegations against him were not immediately divulged. He was released on a record 125 million-euro ($172 million) bail on promises he will not leave Austria. The other five suspects remain at large.
Firtash was a supporter of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
The U.S. Justice Department unveiled the indictment against Firtash on Wednesday. It says that beginning in 2006, the suspects conspired to pay more than $18 million in bribes to secure mining contracts in India's Andra-Pradesh state.
Firtash was arrested last month in Vienna on an U.S. warrant, but the allegations against him were not immediately divulged. He was released on a record 125 million-euro ($172 million) bail on promises he will not leave Austria. The other five suspects remain at large.
Firtash was a supporter of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
18:12
2.4.2014
Yanukovych headphone mystery solved! RT @maggiemazzetti @markmackinnon some of the questions were in English :)
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 2, 2014
17:39
2.4.2014
Yanukovych was interviewed in Russian and answered in Russian. So why the headphones? pic.twitter.com/E8GFR2eDrZ photo via @maxseddon
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 2, 2014
17:17
2.4.2014
From our news desk, Washington suspending bilateral projects with Moscow:
The United States says it has temporarily suspended "several" bilateral projects with Russia and will hand over funding for the initiatives to Ukraine. A statement published on the State Department website says the decision was made "in response to recent events."
Washington has repeatedly condemned Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea as illegal and imposed sanctions on Russians linked to the move. The Obama administration has also warned of further measures.
The State Department statement said the projects being suspended included initiatives planned under the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, as well as "some cooperative law enforcement activities." No further details were given.
The statement said funding for the projects would be added to U.S. assistance to Ukraine to support economic reform, combat corruption, and recover stolen assets.
Washington has repeatedly condemned Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea as illegal and imposed sanctions on Russians linked to the move. The Obama administration has also warned of further measures.
The State Department statement said the projects being suspended included initiatives planned under the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, as well as "some cooperative law enforcement activities." No further details were given.
The statement said funding for the projects would be added to U.S. assistance to Ukraine to support economic reform, combat corruption, and recover stolen assets.
17:05
2.4.2014
"Our friend who lives not far from a military unit said that Russian soldiers cast their votes at an election stations. This was nothing but fabrication. Have you seen the video showing a Russian citizen who was allowed to vote? 97 % for accesion to Russia is unreal, and even not consistent with the reality at all. My Ukrainian neighbour failed to cast her vore as well. There are 14 % of Crimean Tatars, she said, but we are actually more in number. A lot of people were out of town, which also should be taken into account."
#Crimea after annexation: 'We feel utterly discouraged,' resident says (interview) http://t.co/cQQb9h0hKd #Russiainvadesukraine
— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) April 2, 2014
16:35
2.4.2014
Meanwhile. @TelegraphNews: Vladimir Putin finalises divorce http://t.co/6t8lhPMiBi”
— Nahlah Ayed (@NahlahAyed) April 2, 2014
15:44
2.4.2014
The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine has tweeted this on the U.S. aid package for the country:
Statement by the @WhiteHouse Press Secretary on #Ukraine http://t.co/qZ6zkvpC8d
— Geoffrey Pyatt (@GeoffPyatt) April 2, 2014