13:42
26.3.2014
Meanwhile in Catalonia...
Catalonia's President Artur Mas said Wednesday the region's efforts to gain independence from Spain will continue, despite Spanish judges overruling Catalonia's claim of sovereignty.
Mas told the regional parliament that "the political process continues."
Spain's Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that a declaration of sovereignty approved by Catalonian lawmakers last year was illegal under Spain's constitution.
The court said the constitution also forbids Catalonia to unilaterally call a referendum on independence. Mas had earlier suggested that once all legal roads are exhausted, he will use Catalonia's 2016 election as a proxy vote on the issue.
Opinion polls suggest more than half of Catalonians support secession from Spain. Catalonia is home to 7.5 million of Spain's total population of 46 million people.
The region accounts for more than one-fifth of Spain's economic output.
Mas told the regional parliament that "the political process continues."
Spain's Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that a declaration of sovereignty approved by Catalonian lawmakers last year was illegal under Spain's constitution.
The court said the constitution also forbids Catalonia to unilaterally call a referendum on independence. Mas had earlier suggested that once all legal roads are exhausted, he will use Catalonia's 2016 election as a proxy vote on the issue.
Opinion polls suggest more than half of Catalonians support secession from Spain. Catalonia is home to 7.5 million of Spain's total population of 46 million people.
The region accounts for more than one-fifth of Spain's economic output.
13:58
26.3.2014
The World Bank says the Kremlin's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula could drive Russia into a recession.
In its annual report, the World Bank said Russia's GDP could contract by 1.8 percent in 2014 if the United States and the EU hit Moscow with trade sanctions.
It said that even if the West does not implement trade sanctions against Russia, the economy will only grow at 1.1 percent this year.
The Russian economy grew 1.3 percent last year, its second slowest growth year since 2001. The World Bank also said some $70 billion left Russia in the first three months of 2014, more than all of last year.
U.S. President Barack Obama and the other G7 leaders have agreed not to pursue tougher sanctions against Russia unless it takes further action in Ukraine or another neighboring country.
It said that even if the West does not implement trade sanctions against Russia, the economy will only grow at 1.1 percent this year.
The Russian economy grew 1.3 percent last year, its second slowest growth year since 2001. The World Bank also said some $70 billion left Russia in the first three months of 2014, more than all of last year.
U.S. President Barack Obama and the other G7 leaders have agreed not to pursue tougher sanctions against Russia unless it takes further action in Ukraine or another neighboring country.
14:05
26.3.2014
In a SOCIS poll Petro Poroshenko is clear leader in Ukrainian Presidential race at the moment, with almost 25% of vote
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) March 26, 2014
14:12
26.3.2014
Earlier, Russia accused Ukrainian authorities of barring crews of Russian commercial airliners from leaving their aircraft when parked at Ukrainian airports. According to Aeroflot, via the BBC, they're not letting them in either.
After the @MID_RF allegations, Aeroflot say so far 3 pilots have been refused entry to Ukraine since March the 4th. Also 96 passengers.
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) March 26, 2014
14:18
26.3.2014
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper "warns of 'pain' from sanctions on Russia," including this ominous bit:
Mr. Harper said G7 members are not convinced Moscow’s territorial grabs are finished. “We are very concerned that they have not necessarily stopped [in Crimea] … The fact that they explicitly said they have stopped here gives us no confidence. They assured us they wouldn’t do this kind of thing in the first place.”
The Prime Minister has twice in two days devoted part of his remarks on the European crisis to preparing Canadian business for the possibility of economic sanctions and retaliation from Moscow.
The Prime Minister has twice in two days devoted part of his remarks on the European crisis to preparing Canadian business for the possibility of economic sanctions and retaliation from Moscow.
15:03
26.3.2014
U.S. President Barack Obama says Russia's actions in Crimea have left it standing alone.
15:04
26.3.2014
U.S. President Barack Obama, on his first-ever visit to EU headquarters in Brussels, said:
Russia's action in Ukraine aren't just about one country. They are about the kind of Europe and the kind of world we want to live in.
We are united in our commitment to Europe and it's security.
These are the most signifcant sanctions Russia has faced since the end of the Cold War.
If anyone in the Russia leadership thought the world would not care about their actions in Ukraine, or that they could drive a wedge between the U.S. and Europe, they miscalculated.
If Russia continues on its current course, sanctions will increase and there will be further consequences for the Russian economy.
We are united in our commitment to Europe and it's security.
These are the most signifcant sanctions Russia has faced since the end of the Cold War.
If anyone in the Russia leadership thought the world would not care about their actions in Ukraine, or that they could drive a wedge between the U.S. and Europe, they miscalculated.
If Russia continues on its current course, sanctions will increase and there will be further consequences for the Russian economy.
Obama spoke after holding talks on the Ukraine crisis with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.
15:10
26.3.2014
Van Rompuy: Sanctions are not a punishment, or retaliation, but a positive incentive to encourage diplomacy.
15:15
26.3.2014
Barroso: We are united [against the Russian actions in Ukraine]. Unacceptable actions will bear very serious consequences. This is the message that has been sent to the Russian leadership.
In the 21 century it is just unacceptable that one powerful country takes a part of an established part of another country.
In the 21 century it is just unacceptable that one powerful country takes a part of an established part of another country.
15:20
26.3.2014
Obama: There are no plans to expand NATO.