Two decades later, ex–Soviet republics reject absolute independence

by Kate Brown @ajam January 14, 2014

In a globalized economy, economic integration with larger unions has become essential

Topics:

 

Globalization

 

Politics

 

Central & South Asia

Demonstrators at the Internal Affairs Ministry in Kiev, Ukraine, Jan. 8, 2014. 

Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images

The national revolutions in the former Soviet Union surprised most Kremlin watchers when they began in 1989. The general wisdom was that, beyond the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia — incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940s — everyone else in the USSR believed they were Soviet.

Sri Lanka mulls SAfrican-model truth commission

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s government said Wednesday that it was considering a process similar to South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission to heal the wounds of the island nation’s decades-long civil war.

After Delays, Musharraf Appears Before Pakistani Court

After Delays, Musharraf Appears Before Pakistani Court

By SALMAN MASOOD FEB. 18, 2014
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pervez Musharraf, the former military ruler of Pakistan, finally made an appearance on Tuesday before a special court that is deciding whether to try him for treason, after he failed to appear at a series of earlier proceedings.

He was scheduled to be indicted at the hearing on Tuesday, but that step was put off until Friday while the court considers whether it has jurisdiction, according to lawyers in the case.

From India, Proof That a Trip to Mars Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

From India, Proof That a Trip to Mars Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

By SARITHA RAI FEB. 17, 2014
BANGALORE, India — While India’s recent launch of a spacecraft to Mars was a remarkable feat in its own right, it is the $75 million mission’s thrifty approach to time, money and materials that is getting attention.
Just days after the launch of India’s Mangalyaan satellite, NASA sent off its own Mars mission, five years in the making, named Maven. Its cost: $671 million. The budget of India’s Mars mission, by contrast, was just three-quarters of the $100 million that Hollywood spent on last year’s space-based hit, “Gravity.”

Handling of marines case could hurt EU ties, Italy warns India

ROME/NEW DELHI: Italy warned on Monday that India's relations with the European Union would be seriously damaged if New Delhi decides to use strict anti-piracy laws to try two Italian marines accused of killing two fishermen during a security operation in 2012.

Italy warns India of European response to marines trial

Italy has reacted angrily to an Indian decision to try two Italian marines, accused of killing two fishermen, under an anti-piracy law.

Afghanistan polio: First case in Kabul since 2001

An Afghan girl has been diagnosed with polio in Kabul - the capital's first case since the Taliban's fall in 2001.