Russia: Recent Russian News Reports - Page 178

UK Social Network Badoo Gets $30M to Enter Russia

Jan 21, 2008 3:57 PM CST

UK Social Network Badoo Gets $30M to Enter Russia

Ad-free service was Google's second-fastest rising search term in '07

(Newser) - UK social networking site Badoo has received $30 million to build its service in Russia from Russian investor Finam, giving Finam a 10% stake in the company. The network will face competition from several Russian sites and from the local version of MySpace, which launched last week, reports TechCrunch. Badoo...

Serbia's Future Depends on Kosovo

Jan 21, 2008 11:11 AM CST

Serbia's Future Depends on Kosovo

Looming declaration of independence may sway presidential voting

(Newser) - On the verge of declaring independence, Kosovo is the key in this year’s Serbian election, the Guardian reports. Tomislav Nicolic, a Russian-aligned Serbian nationalist, won the first round of the presidential elections last night, defeating moderate incumbent Boris Tadic 39% to 35%. Seven other candidates, many pro-Western, are out...

Brits Close Russian Offices Over Brouhaha

Jan 17, 2008 10:30 AM CST

Brits Close Russian Offices Over Brouhaha

'Cold War' intimidation of cultural centers' staff has minister outraged

(Newser) - After days of what Britain called “Soviet-era” intimidation tactics, the British Council today closed its offices in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, the Times reports. Britain had tried to keep the cultural centers going, despite Russian orders to close them, but after staff members were subjected to multiple visits—and...

There's Plenty of Oil Left: Study

Jan 17, 2008 9:37 AM CST

There's Plenty of Oil Left: Study

Researchers say new discoveries more than offset worked-out fields

(Newser) - New oilfields being brought online more than offset losses from depleted fields, says an optimistic report released today. Though it cited an Iran-sized 4.5% annual loss, key oil industry adviser CERA contends “there is no impending short-term peak in global oil production," reports the Wall Street Journal....

UK Defies Russia in Latest Diplomatic Row

Jan 15, 2008 4:19 AM CST

UK Defies Russia in Latest Diplomatic Row

Moscow irate as Brits reopen cultural offices in Russia

(Newser) - Moscow's tit-for-tat diplomatic row with the UK continues to escalate as British officials defied Russian orders to close two cultural offices, the BBC reports. Russia called the reopening of British Council offices in St. Petersburg and the Urals city of Yekaterinburg an "intentional provocation aimed at inflaming tensions,"...

Putin Pick Hits Campaign Trail

Jan 11, 2008 12:46 PM CST

Putin Pick Hits Campaign Trail

Medvedev launches bid with 79% support in polls, virtually no competition

(Newser) - Vladimir Putin's hand-picked replacement has launched his presidential campaign with a 2-day visit to Russia's far west. Dmitry Medvedev has seen his popularity soar since the president announced he would like to see him as his successor: he's now polling 79%, higher than Putin did before his 2004 landslide victory,...

Russian Art Approved for UK Display

Jan 10, 2008 1:40 PM CST

Russian Art Approved for UK Display

Moscow allows paintings to travel after diplomatic spat, fears of seizure

(Newser) - The Royal Academy in London will scramble to open a major exhibition of Russian-owned art after Russian officials finally granted permission to send the works to the UK, the Times of London reports. The show faced cancellation over Russian concerns that the works would be subject to seizure, a dispute...

Georgians Want New Vote, Plan Hunger Strike

Jan 10, 2008 10:47 AM CST

Georgians Want New Vote, Plan Hunger Strike

Opposition alleges fraud after Saakashvili reelection

(Newser) - Opposition leaders in Georgia have vowed to go on a hunger strike after the country's election committee declared Mikheil Saakashvili the winner of last week's presidential election. The Independent reports that Saakashvili won 52% of the ballots, and although international observers have said the voting was largely fair, the opposition...

Sky-High Oil Will Reshape World Power, Dent US Clout

Jan 3, 2008 6:39 AM CST

Sky-High Oil Will Reshape World Power, Dent US Clout

Power shifts as global economies change

(Newser) - The surging price of oil from $10 a barrel a decade ago to a record $100 today is remaking the global economy and altering the balance of power across the world, according to the Wall Street Journal. If oil prices continue to climb, as many experts predict, US political power...

Investors Uncork Wild Wine Prices

Dec 30, 2007 6:50 PM CST

Investors Uncork Wild Wine Prices

Internet, foreign funds make even second-tier wines pricier

(Newser) - Investors are uncorking a new area of speculation these days: fine wine. Thanks to the Internet, which has turned an elite hobby into a worldwide auction, prices are overflowing. Buyers can even throw money at vino investment funds and an electronic trading exchange based in London, which is up 39%...

Martial Arts Champ Takes on Ultimate Fight

Dec 30, 2007 11:30 AM CST

Martial Arts Champ Takes on Ultimate Fight

The Tiger Woods of mixed martial arts defects from league

(Newser) - Not unlike a real-life version of Soviet pain machine Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, Russian mixed martial arts fighter Fedor Emelianenko is, pound-for-pound, the world's best fighter, Esquire reports, and now he's set to give the MMA industry a run for its money. Or maybe his money. Emelianenko's decision to...

Inside the Siemens Bribery Scandal

Dec 28, 2007 8:40 AM CST

Inside the Siemens Bribery Scandal

How international prosecutors dug up suspicious payments

(Newser) - In one of the world's largest corporate bribery scandals in recent years, German industrial giant Siemens allegedly channeled millions of euros in bribes to customers in Nigeria, Russia, Libya, and other countries to win infrastructure contracts. The Wall Street Journal traces the unearthing of the Siemens case across four years...

Russia Completes
GPS Rival

Dec 27, 2007 10:31 AM CST

Russia Completes GPS Rival

Final satellite for orbital positioning network launched

(Newser) - Russia launched three additional satellites for its GLONASS positioning system today, Reuters reports. The Russian positioning system is similar to the American GPS network, and currently consists of 18 satellites operated by the country's military. GLONASS already provides ground coverage for most of Russia itself, and is expected to expand...

Russian Liberal Stands Down

Dec 27, 2007 8:30 AM CST

Russian Liberal Stands Down

Opposition candidate accuses Kremlin of turning presidential contest into 'farce'

(Newser) - Another candidate has dropped out of the race for the Russian presidency, complaining of dirty tricks, the Washington Post reports. Boris Nemtsov, leader of a mainstream liberal party, said the uneven playing field was turning the contest into a farce. He accused the Kremlin of using "Goebbels-like propaganda, force...

Russia's Gas Giant Faces
Big Squeeze

Dec 24, 2007 9:00 PM CST

Russia's Gas Giant Faces Big Squeeze

Powerful Gazprom has too little oil to meet demands

(Newser) - Russia faces a threat to its international trump card as Gazprom—its powerful natural gas company—struggles to meet massive worldwide demand, Newsweek reports. The company gets much of its oil dirt cheap from former Soviet republics in Central Asia, then resells it a handsome profit to Europe. Now those...

Nokia Wins Big on Luxe Phones

Dec 24, 2007 4:25 PM CST

Nokia Wins Big on Luxe Phones

Decked-out cell phones seen as status symbol for mega-rich

(Newser) - Nokia is enjoying increasing success with its Vertu subsidiary, a maker of luxury cellphones, as a super expensive phone becomes a status symbol for the mega-rich. Der Spiegel reports that Vertu phones, which come diamond- or gold-encrusted, make the iPhone look absolutely pedestrian with a price range from $6,500...

Iran Plans 19 Nuke Plants

Dec 24, 2007 11:47 AM CST

Iran Plans 19 Nuke Plants

Rejects calls to drop uranium enrichment

(Newser) - Iran has dismissed calls to drop uranium enrichment and plans 19 new nuclear power plants, Reuters reports. "US officials have talked of negotiations" on the condition that Iran stop the enrichment, "but we do not accept any preconditions for talks," Iran's Foreign Minister said today. The UN...

Is Putin Europe's Richest Man?

Dec 21, 2007 9:17 AM CST

Is Putin Europe's Richest Man?

Kremlin power struggle reveals fortune of 'at least' $40B

(Newser) - The Guardian looks at an unprecedented power struggle within the Kremlin as Vladimir Putin's last term as president winds down. The battle, between ex-KGB officers and liberal allies of Putin's successor, Dmitry Medvedev, revolves around control of the enormous assets of Russia's state-owned industries. As the face-off heats up, information...

Putin Time's Person of the Year

Dec 19, 2007 8:27 AM CST

Putin Time's Person of the Year

A Boy Scout he's not, but steely-faced 'Pooty-Poot' has guided Russia back to prominence

(Newser) - Don't be fooled by the 5' 6" frame of the man George W. Bush termed "Pooty-Poot": Russian President Vladmir Putin is Time's Person of the Year for having "brought Russia back to the table of world power." The quiet man behind the steely stare snuck up to...

Russia Gives Iran Nuclear Fuel

Dec 17, 2007 7:58 AM CST