What is Russia Up To on July 1st, 2009?

russiaRussia is busy as usual: So lets start with a bank robbery!

A security guard stole 8 million dollars:
Security guard in $8 mln heist: A security guard stole 250 million rubles ($8 million) from Russia’s largest bank, Channel One reported on Thursday. His escape plans were not very good because less than a week later on Wednesday…

The security guard was caught and thrown in jail:
Russian bank robber found in hideout with $7.3 million: A bank robber has been arrested by Russian police who found him hiding out in the Urals with 230 million rubles ($7.3 million) in stolen cash, local police said on Wednesday. Some where though he spent 700,000 dollars…

Lets talk some oil:
World price of Russian oil averaged $50.82 per barrel in 1H09: The average price of Russian oil in the first six months of 2009 was less than half what it was for the same period a year ago, a senior Finance Ministry official said on Wednesday.Price is still down and being Russia’s main export that hurts all the more. But Russia has other means of making money…

Russia sends a lot of American satellites into orbit because they can do it cheaper and more efficient than America can:
Russian Proton-M carrier rocket orbits U.S. telecoms satellite: A Proton-M carrier rocket put into orbit on Wednesday a U.S. telecommunications satellite, the Russian Federal Space Agency said. So while Russia is shooting things into space…

On the ground the political analysts are having a hay day over the Obama visit:
Russian analysts skeptical ahead of Obama’s visit to Moscow: Russian political analysts are more skeptical than their U.S. counterparts that Russian-U.S. ties can be “reset” during President Barack Obama’s July 6-8 visit to Moscow, a Russian analyst said on Tuesday. That subject has the country in a tissy right now…

But Medvedev has found something else to worry about instead:
Russia’s Medvedev calls for program to fight alcohol abuse: President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that Russia needs to introduce measures to fight widespread alcoholism and other addictions. Got to give Medvedev credit he sees the problems and goes after them…

Lets end with a seemly forever battle:
Russians to play Williams sisters in Wimbledon semis: World No. 1 Dinara Safina and fellow Russian Yelena Dementieva defeated on Tuesday their quarterfinal opponents at Wimbledon and will play the Williams sisters in the woman’s singles semifinals. Does it seem to you that Woman’s tennis is dominated by a handful of individuals?

That is it today and I hope you all have a great week…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

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