The dollar rose sharply yesterday following gloomy economic forecasts from Germany combined with the news of Yeltsin's hospitalization. (Reuter, January 8) Germany is Russia's main trading partner so political uncertainty in Russia often weakens the Mark almost as much as the ruble. But Yeltsin was... MORE

In Moscow, meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov said yesterday that the up-coming Vienna conference to update the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty would set the tone for Russia's future relationship with NATO. Should the outcome of these talks prove that NATO is... MORE

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is preparing a program of humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan. It envisages the provision to the Central Asian state of seeds, fertilizers, and spare parts for agricultural machinery. The program is being drafted in response to a request from Dushanbe... MORE

The issue of NATO's expansion remained in the news yesterday. In Washington, U.S. secretary of state-designate Madeleine Albright told a Senate confirmation hearing that she will continue to be a forceful advocate for a policy of expanding NATO to all countries in Europe able to... MORE

With Russia and the U.S. unable to agree on a plan to transfer some 20 kilograms of Soviet-era highly-enriched uranium to Russia from Georgia's Physics Institute (see Monitor, January 6), the director says the U-235 is for sale to anyone who would use it for... MORE

Sixty miles of coastline in an area of Western Japan renowned as a fishing and tourist center have reportedly been fouled by oil from the wrecked Russian oil tanker "Nakhodka." Japanese authorities, who had estimated that 26,000 barrels of crude had escaped from the vessel,... MORE

After studying the deal for four years, India is expected to buy two Russian-built Kilo-class diesel-powered submarines in the near future. The plan still needs cabinet approval. The Indian navy already has eight Kilos, along with six aging Russian-built Foxtrot-class submarines, only one of which... MORE

Russia's atomic energy minister said on January 6 that Moscow's earnings from nuclear energy-related exports had totaled $2.2 billion in 1996, some $150-200 million more than in 1995. According to Viktor Mikhailov, his ministry is studying -- or is actively involved in -- plans for... MORE

Russian president Boris Yeltsin returned to the hospital yesterday after Kremlin doctors said he was showing early symptoms of pneumonia. He is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. Yeltsin, 65, who had a heart surgery on November 5, canceled his appointments on Monday because... MORE

Kazakhstan's major party, the Party of People's Accord (PPA), on January 6 called on all parties, trade unions, ethnic movements, and public organizations to join round-table discussions with the government and to renounce protest rallies, demonstrations, and strikes. Such pressures on the government disrupt economic... MORE