Moscow / AFP Russia on Monday launched large-scale military drills on Ukraine’s eastern border and around the Crimean peninsula, in the latest exercises set to rattle Kiev and the West. The defence ministry said 12,500 servicemen are taking part in the drills across its southern military region, which encompasses Russia’s volatile North Caucasus and the annexed Crimea region. The …

  Dubai / Reuters Saudi Arabia’s stock market posted its biggest daily gain in four months on Monday as oil prices surged, while shares of Dubai’s property developers rose before a major exhibition for the industry this week. Riyadh’s stock index rose 1.7 percent to 6,204 points, and trading volume grew by more than half, as Brent crude futures jumped …

  London / AFP London’s stock market fell on Monday on a rallying pound, while eurozone indices rose further after a pre-weekend surge triggered by well-received US jobs data. Around 1015 GMT, London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 0.25 percent, as the pound jumped above $1.33 in the wake of strong UK services sector activity that further eased concerns …