Windows to Russia

According to the Western press:

Russian officials have held “secret meetings” with Arab states, China and France on ending the use of the U.S. dollar in international oil trading, Britain’s Independent newspaper reported on Tuesday. (Link)

Now according to Russian press:

Russia has not considered replacing the dollar as the currency used to buy and sell oil, a top Finance Ministry official said Tuesday.(Link)

Unidentified sources claim that:

Gulf Arab states were in secret talks with Russia, China, Japan and France “to end dollar dealings for oil, moving instead to a basket of currencies including the Japanese yen and Chinese yuan, the euro, gold and a new, unified currency planned for nations in the Gulf.”

Things that make you go Hummmm…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Saving money during crisis:
The WIN Crisis Index is released every three months. The Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research, including the world’s largest independent pollsters, evaluated the perceptions and behavior due to the economic crisis of 21,088 respondents in 22 countries from mid June to the end of July 2009.

Russia to invest $10.6 bln in nanotechnology by 2015 – Medvedev:
Russia will channel 318 billion rubles ($10.6 billion) into development of nanotechnology by 2015, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.

Moscow court upholds refusal to register same-sex couple:
A Moscow court upheld on Tuesday city authorities’ refusal to allow a lesbian couple to marry saying same-sex marriages are illegal in Russia.

Russia to hold $17.8 bln Eurobond roadshow in November:
Russia will hold a roadshow in early November in London for Eurobonds worth $17.8 billion to be issued early next year to cover the budget deficit, Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin said on Tuesday.

Landmark Soviet statue to return to Moscow:
A giant Soviet-era statue will be put back on its pedestal in northeast Moscow after a long-delayed restoration process on December 5, a city official said on Tuesday.

North Korea says ready to return to six-party nuclear talks:
North Korea’s leader has said his country is willing to return to the six-nation talks on ending its nuclear weapons program, the North’s official news agency said.

U.S. troops pullout from Afghanistan ‘not an option’ — White House:
A pullout of the United States troops from Afghanistan is ‘not a decision that’s on the table to make’.

U.S. lacks troops in Afghanistan to outdo Taliban — Gates:
The radical Islamic Taliban group has advantage in Afghanistan as the United States and its allies need more troops to be sent there.

Russia to start construction of 4th Borey-class sub in December:
Russia’s Sevmash shipyard will start the construction of the fourth Borey class (Project 955) strategic submarine on December 22, a Sevmash press secretary said Monday.