The Russian cabinet has approved the bill introducing heavy fines for businessmen who violate the rules on obligatory marking of foodstuffs containing genetically-modified products. The bill has been drafted by the state consumer rights agency Rospotrebnadzor and concerns all food and beverage products containing genetically-modified organisms or their parts, or which are made using such organisms.... 

US Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove has threatened Russia with military response should Moscow secretly send forces with or without military uniform into Ukraine. “If NATO sees foreign forces infiltrating its sovereign territory, and if we can prove it comes from an aggressor nation then that’s Article five,” Gen. Breedlove said. “That means a military response to the actions of the aggressor.... 

Russian humanitarian aid trucks will cross the Ukrainian border in small batches of several dozen vehicles and only after a thorough examination by border guards, Kiev says, following an official acknowledgment of 280 trucks carrying crisis-relief cargo. “The cargo, in agreement with the mission of the Red Cross, will be delivered to the international crossing point of Izvarino-Donetsk in batches... 

A nationalist party MP is suggesting the Russian government introduce more restrictions on food imports, covering nations that have an association agreement with the EU, including Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Roman Khudyakov of the Liberal Democratic Party caucus of the State Duma has said that, since the association agreement with the European Union prepares the conditions for a free trade zone... 

Russia will reportedly consider tightening tit-for-tat sanctions against the Western states if the United States and the European Union (EU) impose more bans on Moscow. On Monday, Russia’s Vedomosti newspaper cited unnamed sources as saying that Moscow may “fully or partly” ban car imports should Washington and its EU allies adopt fresh sanctions against the country over its alleged role in... 

Has the world come to the point, beyond which it is expected to disappear as a civilization? Yet, the recipe for the salvation of our civilization was proposed two thousand years ago. The helplessness of religion in implementing the ideas of Christ is evident. The leader of the new Russia took on those functions. The convoy, which now travels to Ukraine is the convoy of love. Yesterday’s news... 

Ecuador doesn’t need anybody’s permission to export agricultural products to Russia, which now has a big gap that needs to be filled after it banned supplies from a number of western countries, said President Rafael Correa. “I want to immediately say that we don’t need to get anybody’s permission to sell products to friendly countries: as far as we know Latin America isn’t a part of the... 

A convoy of Kamaz trucks carrying humanitarian aid for people in southeastern Ukraine in a rest area not far from Kamensk-Shakhtinsky in the Rostov Region. Moscow has information that the convoy delivering humanitarian aid to eastern Ukraine may be attacked by Kiev’s forces, with the “punitive” Aidar Battalion planning to mine the road that the vehicles will use, the Russian Foreign Ministry... 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to do everything to stop the ongoing violence in eastern parts of neighboring Ukraine. Speaking in Crimea on Thursday, the Russian president described the violence in eastern Ukraine as fratricide. “The country has sunk into bloody chaos in a fratricidal conflict,” Putin said, adding, “We will do our best to end this conflict as soon... 

A Russian convoy of 262 trucks packed with humanitarian aid is approaching the Ukrainian border amid fears that it might escalate the already tense situation in the war-ravaged east of the country. The aid convoy was expected on Wednesday at the volatile Ukraine’s border where pro-Russian forces and Ukrainian troops are engaged in fierce battles. Russian media say some 2,000 tons of aid, from baby... 

Ukraine has rejected Russia’s humanitarian aid convoy headed for the war-torn people in the country’s east, saying it is an excuse for invasion. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Danylo Lubkivsky told reporters on Tuesday that there would be no need for humanitarian aid if Russia stopped supporting the pro-Russia protesters. “The Red Cross is responsible and is coordinating the delivery of humanitarian... 

A residential building in downtown Donetsk damaged during the city’s artillery shelling by Ukrainian forces. Moscow and Kiev have agreed on a humanitarian mission under the authority of the Red Cross, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated. “With careful optimism, I can now say that, I think, all possible and impossible pretexts have been dismissed. I hope that in the very nearest... 

There is growing dissent in the EU over policies that led to a de fact trade war with Russia. Meanwhile the countries not toeing the line are reaping the benefits, irritating those who jumped on the sanctions bandwagon. Greek members of the European Parliament demanded Sunday that the EU cancel sanctions against Russia. MEPs Kostantinos Papadakis and Sotiris Zarianopoulos said in a letter to some... 

A massive Canadian transport plane has arrived in Kharkov carrying US$4.5 million worth of non-lethal military equipment to help Ukraine “protect its eastern border against Russian aggression.” The equipment includes “helmets, ballistic eyewear, protective vests, first aid kits, tents, and sleeping bags,” Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement on Thursday. Canada said it... 

Australia says it is planning to impose tougher sanctions on Russia after Moscow announced food bans that will affect Australian food makers. “We are working towards stronger sanctions” against Russia, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday. Abbott also warned Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to pull back Russian troops from the country’s border with Ukraine. “I say...