News and Politics

Russia's President Vladimir Putin is meeting Russian diplomats to outline the future of Moscow's foreign policy. He has blamed turmoil in Ukraine on the country's newly-elected leader Petro Poroshenko and also criticized the West for its intention to turn the planet into "global barracks.

The bloodshed is fracturing Iraqi society, with the Kurd minority reportedly planing to hold an independence referendum in the coming months. As RT's Polly Boiko reports, some western energy companies are ready to cash in on the divisions and violence.

Iraq's capital Baghdad may -- for now -- be safe from the militants that overran the northern city of Mosul last week in a lightning fast advance. But after large-scale defections from an Iraqi Army that the U.S. largely built from scratch, Bloomberg's Willem Marx looks into America's spending on other country's militaries, in today's Big Question. Video by: Brian Kartagener

Pollution is rarely big news these days. You're more likely to hear about it in a history lesson on the Industrial Revolution. But many European cities are suffering as air pollution is becoming a serious problem. Bloomberg's Tom Gibson reports.

A look at the pipeline battle between the East and West and how the South Stream Pipeline project could cripple the Western regime.

In today’s “Global Outlook,” Helima Croft, a former strategist at the CIA, and Bloomberg's John Walcott discuss what the recent violence in Iraq means for the global economy. They speak with Trish Regan on Bloomberg Television's "Street Smart."

In Iraq, radical Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda are reportedly planning to take Baghdad, after successfully advancing in the north. It's thought the governments now asked the US to carry out drone strikes against the insurgents. Marina Portnaya explains how that might mean Washington engaging against its own military hardware.

Vladimir Putin faced a barrage of tricky questions in France from the media ahead of his meeting with world leaders at the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings. Here are his best replies on key issues: Ukraine, Crimea, relations with the US, and others. Here is the full interview.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is returning home to the US after five years as a prisoner-of-war. The US secured his release from the Taliban by agreeing to transfer five Guantanamo Bay detainees into Qatari custody. Politicians, especially those on the right, are reacting negatively to the decision, saying it sets a dangerous new precedent. Captured in 2009 by the Taliban, Bergdahl was the lone US POW in the war in Afghanistan. RT's Lindsay France has more details on the reactions to the surprise move.

President Barack Obama visited Tuesday with European leaders in Warsaw, Poland. Pledging $1 billion in military aid to eastern European NATO and non-NATO member countries, the White House intends for the funds to increase military cooperation and send a message to Russia. The funds must still be approved by Congress before being distributed. RT's Marina Portnaya goes in-depth with the details of the plan.

The start of the World Cup is just one week away -- the first match is June 12 in Sao Paulo. In most countries around the world, The Cup is a highly anticipated and religiously followed, twice-a-decade event. Here's a look at the World Cup by the numbers with Bloomberg Businessweek's Brendan Greeley.

It's a major battle between the East and West, with Ukraine and other nations stuck in the middle. Here's what's REALLY happening between Russia, China, and the U.S..

Italy just changed the way it calculates its GDP by including the black market; everything from drugs to prostitution. Obviously this doesn't paint a good image for Italy. Watch as Bloomberg's Trish Regan comments on the potential backlash from Italy's decision.

Cyber espionage has become a super-sized stumbling block in the relationship between the U.S. and China. In The Big Question, Bloomberg's Willem Marx examines the value of that relationship and the stakes for American tech firms if China decides to freeze them out.

China vs. U.S.: Is a Trade War Inevitable? Watch as “The Coming Collapse of China” Author Gordon Chang, Heritage Foundation Chief Economist Steve Moore and Eurasia Group Asia Director Nicholas Consonery discuss U.S.-China trade relations.

On today’s “The Roundup,” Trish Regan, Alix Steel, Sam Grobart and Eric Chemi wrap up the day’s top market stories on Bloomberg Television’s “Street Smart.” In particular, fast-forward to 1:40 of the clip.

Bloomberg’s Ryan Chilcote reports on an agreement for Russia to supply gas to China in a deal to provide billions of dollars of natural gas over the next 30 years and what it may mean for relations between the two nations going forward.