Windows to Russia

Cows will be calmer, doctors happier and crooks less active. That’s the thinking as Russia puts forward its clocks for the last time this weekend. Leading the way in an incipient global trend that rejects the notion of changing the clocks in spring and autumn, the Russian authorities believe the move will reduce human –Continue reading Think of the cows: clocks go forward for the last time in Russia

Kremlin-controlled oil group Rosneft insists it is pressing ahead with its controversial alliance with BP, after the venture was blocked by a Stockholm court. Igor Sechin, Rosneft’s chairman and Russia’s deputy prime minister, declared he intended to proceed with the alliance and claimed the court had merely extended an existing temporary injunction on the projectContinue reading Kremlin moves to save Arctic oil deal with BP

Being from America most my life. I have a tendency to still equate my life in America to Russia. One of the hardest times to conform mentally to the differences is when you first wake up in the morning… Sometimes I wake up and forget that the world I live in is so vastly physicallyContinue reading Coffee and March Madness in Russia…

Russia’s former ambassador to Libya has stoked new tension between President Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, the prime minister, after calling the Kremlin’s acquiescence to air strikes targeting Libya a “betrayal of Russia’s interests”. Putin and Medvedev, who are close political allies, appeared to clash on Monday after the former condemned support for the bombingContinue reading Sacked ambassador stokes Russian tension over Libya

BP’s controversial alliance with the Kremlin-controlled oil company Rosneft is in tatters after a tribunal backed the company’s Russian partners in blocking the deal. The London tribunal, called to settle the dispute between BP and its Russian oligarch partners AAR over the proposed deal, ruled that the temporary high court injunction preventing it from beingContinue reading BP’s Russian deal with Rosneft blocked by court

U.S. President Barack Obama told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he was committed to support Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Obama and Medvedev spoke by phone on Thursday to discuss a wide range of issues in U.S.-Russia relations. “President Obama affirmed his support for Russia’s accession into the WTO this yearContinue reading Obama affirms U.S. support of Russia’s WTO bid

New charges will most likely be brought against Moscow’s ex-subway chief Dmitry Gayev, who is already accused of abuse of power and embezzlement, a source from the investigative authorities said on Friday. “The evidence against Gayev…suggests new charges could be brought against him,” the source said. Gayev, who was managed the Moscow rapid transit systemContinue reading New charges likely to be brought against Moscow subway ex-chief Gayev

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Ukrainian counterpart Mykhaylo Yezhel will meet in Moscow on Friday to discuss bilateral military cooperation. A Ukrainian military delegation, led by Yezhel, arrives in Moscow to participate in a meeting of a subcommittee on security under the Russian-Ukrainian Interstate Commission. “Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Ukrainian colleagueContinue reading Russian, Ukrainian defense ministers to meet in Moscow

The Russian Northern Fleet and the Norwegian Navy will conduct the Pomor-2011 joint drills in the Arctic in May, a spokesman for the Northern Fleet said. “The exercise will take place in the Barents and Norwegian Seas, and will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracyContinue reading Russia, Norway to hold joint naval drills in May

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on Thursday that an overriding priority for the international community in Libya was to prevent civilian deaths. The two leaders discussed the situation in the North African country on the phone, the Kremlin press service said. “The Russian president emphasized the need to prevent deathsContinue reading Medvedev warns Obama over civilian casualties in Libya