Russia’s Sberbank CEO defends U.S. Baring Vostok founder
German Gref, the chief executive of Russia’s biggest state lender Sberbank, said on Friday he hoped the criminal case against Baring Vostok’s founder Michael Calvey would turn out to be a misunderstanding.
U.S. founder of Baring Vostok denies wrongdoing in Russian court
Michael Calvey, the U.S. founder of the Baring Vostok private equity group, denied allegations of fraud on Friday and told a Moscow court that accusations against him were the result of a commercial dispute between his fund and Vostochny Bank.
EU to blacklist eight Russians over Azov Sea stand-off: sources
The European Union will blacklist eight more Russians over a stand-off with Ukraine in the Azov Sea, diplomatic sources said on Friday.
Stop goading the West and let’s talk, UK minister urges Russia
Britain’s defense minister accused Russia on Friday of “trying to goad the West into a new arms race” that it does not want and called on Moscow to reset its relationship with Western countries through dialogue.
Pakistan summons Indian envoy over Kashmir incident: foreign office official
Pakistan summoned India’s deputy head of mission to Islamabad on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Pakistan of involvement in a suicide attack that killed 44 policemen in Kashmir, a foreign office official said.
Poland summons Israeli ambassador to clarify Netanyahu comments on Poles in Holocaust
Poland summoned Israel’s ambassador on Friday and threatened to scupper a summit in Jerusalem after reported comments in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to accuse the Polish nation of complicity in the Nazi Holocaust.
Police hit smuggling gang on high seas, seize 3.3 tonnes of cocaine
Authorities seized more than three tonnes of cocaine and arrested 11 people off Portugal’s Atlantic coast, dismantling a drug smuggling gang that operated across international waters from a cargo vessel, police said on Friday.
Ex-Mozambique finance minister denied bail in South Africa
Former Mozambican finance minister Manuel Chang was denied bail by a South African court on Friday, meaning he will remain in custody for now pending an extradition hearing over charges relating to $2 billion in fraudulent loans.
South African’s ex-ambassador to Iran arrested in MTN investigation
Pretoria’s former ambassador to Iran has been arrested in South Africa on charges he took a bribe to help telecoms company MTN win a $31.6 billion license to operate in Iran.
U.S. and Iceland boost trade ties, discuss Arctic security
The United States and Iceland have agreed to set up formal economic channels to boost trade and business investment, the countries’ top diplomats said on Friday.
