Global Economies

The Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) should prepare for possible instability as the economic outlook darkens, a counter-terrorism official said.

Andrei Novikov, head of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Centre, added that nowhere in the world was safe from dangers like suicide bombers but it was clear that economic development or the lack of it in places like Afghanistan affected regional stability.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin struck a deal early today with the European Union on supervising the flow of natural gas through Ukraine, paving the way to restart shipments to fuel-starved European customers.

The price dispute that first drove Russia to cut off gas to Ukraine on New Year's Day had yet to be resolved, and there was no word on how soon gas deliveries to Europe would start up again. There was no immediate response from Ukraine.