 RFE/RL Headlines 4/21/2010 5:21:59 PM A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Features  Weary Travelers On The Move Again As European Flights Resume Leonid almost had to call off his wedding in Moscow today, but not because he had second thoughts. The 40-year-old Russian businessman was among thousands of travelers at Prague's Ruzyne airport -- and millions across Europe -- who were stranded because of the volcanic ash cloud. More  In Pakistan, Mystery Deepens Over Missing Former Spies Analysts are baffled by the apparent abduction of former Pakistani intelligence agents widely seen as original mentors to jihadi groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan. More  Shutdowns Cost Airlines $1.7 Billion The International Air Transport Association says disruptions to European air travel from the volcanic ash cloud have cost the industry at least $1.7 billion. More  France Drafting Islamic Veil Ban France's government is drafting a bill to ban the full-face Islamic veil from all public spaces and codify President Nicolas Sarkozy's assertion that the full veil is not "welcome" in that country. More  Baghdad Recount May Take Two Weeks A member of Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has said recount of votes cast in Baghdad in March 7 election is likely to be concluded within two weeks. More  Bakiev Says He's Still Kyrgyz President In his first public comments from exile, Kyrgyzstan's ousted leader has said he remains the legitimate president of the country and called on the international community not to recognize the interim government in Bishkek. More  Flying Standards After 'Volcanic Eruptions' The UN's International Civil Aviation Organization says it will lead efforts to establish travel safety standards in the event of volcanic eruptions. More  Iran To Test Missiles In Three-Day Drill Iran's Revolutionary Guards are set to begin a three-day military drill in the Persian Gulf on April 22. More  IMF, EU Officials In Greece For Talks Representatives from the European Union and International Monetary Fund are in Athens seeking clarity on how Greece plans to put its debt-ridden economy back in order, and also finalizing arrangements for a standby loan of up to 45 billion euros. More European Flights Resume, With Backlog The first flight has landed at London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest hub, since airspace across the continent was closed by ash spewed from a volcano in Iceland. With so many flights having been canceled by the cloud of volcanic ash, it could take days, even weeks, to clear the backlog. More  Russia, Ukraine Leaders To Talk Gas Ukraine has agreed to a lengthy extension for the Russian Black Sea Fleet's base in Crimea in exchange for a major discount on Kyiv's imports of Russian gas. More  Russian Police Jailed For Drug Trafficking Three top police officials in Russia's Samara Oblast were jailed today for involvement in selling illegal drugs. More  Voting 'Off To Slow Start' In Belarusian Local Elections Belarusian officials say there has been low turnout at the start of early voting in nationwide local elections. More Two Foreigners Killed In Moscow Two men have been killed in a spate of attacks against foreigners in Moscow. More  Kyrgyzstan's Mufti Reported Missing The longtime official head of Kyrgyzstan's Muslim community, Murataaly Hajji Juman uulu, is missing. More  Kyrgyz Calls For Bakiev Extradition The chief of staff of Kyrgyzstan's interim government says former President Kurmanbek Bakiev should be held accountable for "crimes against the Kyrgyz nation." More  The Rundown - April 21 A comprehensive review of news and opinion on RFE/RL's broadcast region. More  Three Members Of One Family Sentenced To Death The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has reported that three members of one family (husband, wife, and their son) and two of their close friends have been sentenced to death after being arrested in Iran's postelection crackdown. More  Chechen Republic Head Implicated In Two Political Killings A Russian daily has published what it claims is an open letter from Moscow-based Chechen businessman Isa Yamadayev, together with a link to video footage in which Yamadayev's former bodyguard Khavazh Yusupov, who's charged with trying to kill Yamadayev, says in pretrial testimony that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov personally ordered him to kill Yamadayev. More  Daghestani Rights Group Plans To Sue Over 'Black Widow' Photos The co-chair of the advocacy group Mothers of Daghestan for Human Rights, Svetlana Isayeva, says her organization will file a lawsuit against the daily "Komsomolskaya pravda" for publishing the photographs of 22 women who law-enforcement officials say could potentially become suicide bombers. More  Excluding Azerbaijan Can't Bring Stability To The South Caucasus The Azerbaijan Presidential Administration's Novruz Mammadov argues that perceived attempts to pressure Ankara to abandon Azerbaijan are shortsighted and likely to backfire. More |
