Windows to Russia

U.S. Outpaced Russia in June Inflation

from Kommersant

Russia says Zimbabwe talks show sanctions are not needed

RBC, 22.07.2008, Moscow 12:59:22.Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has called for an expansion of Russian-Venezuelan relations in the oil industry, as well as for further military and technical cooperation, the Mayak radio station reported today. The two countries must become strategic partners in these areas, Chavez noted following his arrival in Moscow. Such a policy will guarantee Venezuela’s sovereignty, which is being threatened by the US, Chavez said. The Venezuelan President is set to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev today. Military, technical, and economic bilateral relations are expected to be the key issues at the meeting.

RBC, 22.07.2008, Moscow 11:42:37.The Russian environmental watchdog Rostekhnadzor together with the pipeline giant Transneft’s management, and representatives of the academic community and ecological organizations have completed their assessment of the observance of environmental law in the designs for the second stretch of the Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean (ESPO-2) pipeline system. At a field meeting in Vladivostok, the city near which the second phase of the ESPO pipeline will be built, it has been found that the project’s design work was being carried out in complete compliance with environmental legislation, Rostekhnadzor’s press office reported.

RBC, 22.07.2008, Moscow 09:31:17.Russia has finalized its comments to the draft report of the working group for Russia’s accession to the WTO. As reported earlier, another round of consultations concerning Russia’s ascension to the WTO was held in Geneva from July 15 to 19. During the consultations, the Russian side met with a number of WTO members to settle particular issues touched upon in the draft working group report. After the talks, all the documents including Russia’s comments were filed to the WTO Secretariat to be incorporated into a new version of the report. In addition, Russia held informal consultations with concerned countries regarding Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary measures, and export duty discussions were continued with EU member states.

RBC, 21.07.2008, Moscow 18:13:23.The rise in Russia’s sovereign rating is expected to make it easier for Russian companies to secure loans globally, and it will increase their capitalization, Alexei Kudrin, the Deputy PM and Finance Minister, said today, commenting on Moody’s recent decision to upgrade Russia’s rating from Baa2 to Baa1. Therefore, all three of the world’s leading agencies have ranked Russia fairly high, Kudrin noted, referring to Moody’s, Fitch Ratings, and Standard & Poor’s. The Minister noted that Russia has yet to climb another seven steps to achieve the highest rating possible, whereas it has already risen nine steps over the past few years. Kudrin reiterated that Moody’s decision was attributed to a favorable situation regarding Russia’s debt liabilities, as well as to the continuity of President Dmitry Medvedev’s policies.

RBC, 21.07.2008, Moscow 11:36:47.Retail sales grew 15.2 percent to just shy of RUB 6.237 trillion (approx. USD 268.95bn) in the first half of 2008 compared to the same period a year earlier, Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) reported. In June, retail sales increased 13.8 percent to over RUB 1.128 trillion (approx. USD 48.64bn).

RBC, 21.07.2008, Moscow 15:27:46.The Russian government’s external debt, including that of the former Soviet Union which was acknowledged by Russia, decreased 8.6 percent to $41bn in the first half of 2008 compared to $44.9bn as of January 1, 2008, Russia’s Finance Ministry said in a report today. Debt to member states of the Paris Club fell 16 percent to $1.5bn as of July 1, while non-Paris Club debt shrank 9 percent to $2bn.

While the United Nations Security Council hears arguments from Georgia and Russia about the violation of Georgian airspace, on the territory of the breakaway republic of South Ossetia people die on the streets as a result of shelling, allegedly from over the Georgian border.

Now you know why Russia is involved. If Russia was not involved Georgia would have already attacked.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I watched a heavyweight bought Saturday night. It was live on Russian TV. (The fight was live but one of the fighters was not!)

I have seen some poor fights in my time & this ranks in the top 10 worst fights…..

Russia’s Povetkin KOs American Bull

What I saw during the fight was one of two things: The America (Sykes) was either so out of shape and had a fragile glass jaw, or he threw the fight. (Took a dive!) Either way It was a joke and the Russian fighter (Povetkin) knew it. When the fight was over Povetkin walked to his corner with a look of total disgust on his face and shaking his head as if to say: “I do not believe this bull!” The America fighter never got glassy eyed nor confused looking at any point. He just fell down or (slipped). The referee even called them slips. They reran the knock out punches maybe a dozen times. I never saw a blow land.

Povetkin was a very unhappy Russian because he was there to fight, instead he got a lesson on how to take a dive!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I guess Abkhazia’s President Sergei Bagapsh has once again made it clear that you should never make plans about Abkhazia with out taking into account that they are an independent state!

There was no doubt about the fact that Abkhazia would reject a German-proposed peace plan on the resolution of the breakaway Georgian republic’s conflict with Tbilisi.

“We are not going to discuss Abkhazia’s status,” Bagapsh said. “Abkhazia is an independent state.”

Bagapsh also said that the return of Georgian refugees to Abkhazia could only start only after the withdrawal of Georgian troops from the Kodori Gorge and the signing of a non-aggression pact.

“The return of Georgian refugees to the Abkhaz region of Gali will be possible only after the settlement of the conflict,” Sergei Bagapsh said during his meeting with Steinmeier.

“Insistence on their return could lead to a new war,” he warned.

Looks like Germany is trying to open a can of worms.

Seems to me that this is a response that should have been expected from the start of this Germany Peacekeeping effort. Seems the Germans forgot something, Abkhazia! But then again the West really does not want to accept Abkhazia because Abkhazia is in the way of “OIL!”

A War is brewing and now Germany just poked Abkhazia’s eye!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

Looks like a really cool event is coming up this August 1st, 2008!
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A rare astronomical phenomenon will occur in Russia on the August 1. The total eclipse of the Sun is already nicknamed “Russian” because it will cross Russia’s Western Siberia from the north to the south.

The maximum eclipse will be at 10:21:08 UT, when the maximum time of the total phase will last around 2:27 minutes.

Weather conditions in Siberia at this time of the year are favourable for seeing an eclipse. And, what is most important, the eclipse occurs in the cities, considered to be the main transportation hubs of Siberia: Novosibirsk and Barnaul, making the viewing this event absolutely accessible.

Be aware that the next total solar eclipses will occur in Northern America in 2017, in Europe in 2026, and in Russia in 2030, so don’t miss this opportunity!

RT will provide you with the unique possibility to see the maximum phase of the total eclipse LIVE on our channel on August 1 at 13:20 Moscow time. Please stay informed on our channel and website.

A total solar eclipse requires the umbra of the Moon’s shadow to touch the surface of the Earth. Because of the relative sizes of the Moon and Sun and their relative distances from Earth, the path of totality is always very narrow (up to 270 kilometers across).

If you are in the path of totality the eclipse begins with a partial phase in which the Moon gradually covers more and more of the Sun. This typically lasts for about an hour until the Moon completely covers the Sun and the total eclipse begins.

It will take about an hour for the Moon shadow to cross Russia. Then it will touch the territory of Kazakhstan and Mongolia and disappear in China on the sunset just 20 minutes after it leaves Russian territory.

A full solar eclipse makes it possible to observe all the major planets of our Solar System by the naked eye.
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Time to travel to Siberia….

This is great!

Kyle & Svet
PS Watch videos from Novosibirsk about Total Solar Eclipse!

comments always welcome.

Moscow Russia:

Big news concerning the expansion of the Moscow Metro was announced recently:

RBC, 17.07.2008, Moscow 13:35:23.Russia will support Serbia’s appeal to the UN Security Council in order for the International Court of Justice to review the situation in Kosovo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said following talks with his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic. The Russian official pointed out that each country had a right to get an opinion of the highest international court on any matter, adding that Russia would insist on the rule of law.

RBC, 18.07.2008, Moscow 10:57:56.Aeroflot – Russian Airlines carried 4.385m people in the first half of 2008, which is 16.2 percent higher compared to the same period of 2007, the company said in a statement today. The company’s passenger traffic went up 11.3 percent to 12.704bn passenger-kilometers, and seat occupancy stood at 68.5 percent. Revenue load factor was 54.5 percent in January-June 2008.

RBC, 18.07.2008, Magnitogorsk 10:21:03.The Board of Directors of Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has recommended to its shareholders that a dividend of RUB 0.383 (approx. USD 0.016) per share be paid for the first half of 2008, the company’s spokespersons told journalists following the board’s meeting today.

RBC, 18.07.2008, Moscow 09:58:01.The shareholder row at TNK-BP has entered a new phase. A lawsuit was filed by a group of 16 Russian Vice Presidents of the company with a Moscow district court on Thursday, in which the plaintiffs demanded that the employment contract with the Chairman of the Board of TNK-BP Management, Robert Dudley, be terminated, the RBC Daily newspaper reported. The chief executive is accused of discrimination against Russian employees in favor of foreign workers.

RBC, 18.07.2008, Moscow 09:33:03.Australian mineral resources continue to increasingly draw the attention of Russian investors. As reported on Thursday, Evraz Group acquired a 16-percent stake in Australia’s mining company Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd., which is in charge of a $400m iron ore project. The Australians now expect Evraz to make an offer for the entire company, although a possibility is not ruled out that Chinese and Indian metallurgical companies will join in the fight for Cape Lambert, the RBC Daily newspaper wrote today.

RBC, 17.07.2008, Petrozavodsk 17:09:20.Russia ranked third in the world after India and China in terms of the amount of orders for software production in 2007, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said during a meeting of the State Council in Petrozavodsk today. He pointed out that the IT sector was growing much faster than other sectors of economy. The Russian President also noted that the development of information technologies not only promoted science and technology, but also influenced the country’s political system, and ultimately, Russia’s democracy. Medvedev reiterated that those factors were considered while drafting federal target programs, and, as a result, business and government sectors had expanded and started using information and communication systems in their work.

RBC, 17.07.2008, Moscow 15:14:45.Russia will only pull out of the treaty on friendship, cooperation, and partnership with Ukraine as a last resort, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today following talks with his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic. Such steps, which could undermine relations between the two countries, must be avoided at all costs, except for cases when a country’s vital interests are involved, Lavrov said. He expressed hope that Ukraine would also respect existing bilateral agreements, including the pact allowing Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to use the Sevastopol base in Ukraine.

Light at End of Tunnel for Planetarium
from Moscow News

Moscow’s beleaguered planetarium may open its dome to the heavens next year, following a struggle for funding and ownership that now puts the Moscow Government firmly in control. “The Planetarium will open for Muscovites and guests of the city, if we can resolve all legal questions relating to bankruptcy,” announced Vladmir Silkin, Director of the Moscow based Complex for Property and Land Relations.

The planetarium was declared bankrupt in May this year, with the Federal tax service, the Moscow City Property Development Department and construction company Energo­mashkonsalting as the main creditors. The bankruptcy receiver, Alexei Tarasov, announced then that the institution’s debts stood at $72 million.

Staff at the planetarium said that the building had been forcibly taken by “raiders” in March, after the city halted funding. The previous Director, Igor Mikitasov, was dismissed when the city brought a new company in to manage the site. The city government, which owns a 61 percent stake, had stopped funding for reconstruction in February after it was revealed that the planetarium owed $380,000 to Energo­mash­konsalting. The government later paid the debt and a sign on the outside now announces that the Mos­cow government is paying for the renovation and restoration of the landmark institution. Thus, fears that the planetarium will not be completed due to the prime real estate which it sits seem unfounded.

The planetarium was an important academic facility in the Soviet Union and served as an education center for soviet cosmonauts, including the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin. Closed since 1991, young Muscovites are unfamiliar with what was once a strong focus of a Soviet education.

“A whole generation has grown up without the planetarium,” its Science Directow, Faina Rubliova, lamented to The Moscow News.

I wrote an article about this several months back and Have watched to see what Moscow would do about it. Looks like Moscow did the right thing.

http://kylekeeton.com/2008/05/russia-moscow-planetarium-needs-to-be.html

Kyle & Svet

PS: We can not wait to go!