“How a Giant Kazakh Oil Project Went Awry”, “U.S., like Russia, exercises hegemony”,“Why Gmail and other e-mail services aren't really free”, “Crimean minority Tatar leader warns of possible bloodshed”, “Where beer is cheaper than water”

wsj.com. “How a Giant Kazakh Oil Project Went Awry” - Developed by Western Oil Companies, Giant Project Off Kazakhstan Is Years Late, More Than $30 Billion Over Budget. Kazakh workers were recuperating from the frigid temperatures of the Caspian Sea over cups of tea when their Italian supervisor interrupted their break, demanding they return to work. The workers restrained the supervisor—a manager working for Eni ENI.MI -0.16% SpA, a company building a giant oil development here—and put a plastic bag over his head. He fled, packed his bags and left Kazakhstan.

usatoday.com. “U.S., like Russia, exercises hegemony” - A small, militarily weak country is racked by internal dissent after its government rejects a treaty with a foreign power. Secretly encouraged by a nearby superpower, a rebellious faction in this troubled country seizes a chunk of land and declares its independence. The superpower quickly dispatches a military force to the breakaway territory to ensure the success of this secession.

cnn.com. “Why Gmail and other e-mail services aren't really free” - Gmail doesn't cost any money to use, but it's not free. Google's popular online e-mail service, which turns 10 Tuesday, may not charge for its Gmail accounts. But the company is still collecting payment in the form of massive amounts of personal information about the people who use it.

“Crimean minority Tatar leader warns of possible bloodshed” - The leader of Crimea’s Muslim minority, the Tatars, warned on Monday of possible bloodshed in Crimea and southern Ukraine.

"What do we know about Russia's troop buildup on Ukraine's border?" - Both Kiev and Washington say that Russian forces are massing in large numbers near Ukraine's eastern border -- and that they represent a threat to Ukraine and potentially to other former Soviet states.

bbc.com. “Where beer is cheaper than water” - A microbrewing boom is enticing Czechs to discover new flavours, and when it’s a good brew, each sip invites another. A microbrewing boom is enticing Czechs to discover new flavours, and when it’s a good brew, each sip invites another.