RIA Novosti

Over 20 Forest Fires Put Out in Russia’s Far East

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:13:00 GMT

Firefighters and rescuers extinguished 22 forest fires and managed to contain 15 more in Russia's Far East over the past 24 hours

Hundreds of Endangered Antelope Die in Kazakhstan

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:04:00 GMT

A new massive wave of deaths among the extremely endangered saiga antelope has been registered in northern Kazakhstan, the Agriculture Ministry’s press service said on Thursday.

Russia Concerned Over Lack of Progress in Post-Kyoto Talks

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:16:00 GMT

The lack of progress in the Post-Kyoto talks is threatening to put obstacles in the upcoming November UN Climate Conference in Doha, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s environmental department, Oleg Shamanov, said on Wednesday.

G8 Join Efforts to Cut Short-Lived Climate Pollutants

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:09:00 GMT

The G8 countries have acceded to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-lived Climate Pollutants, the G8 summit declaration said.

Russia to Discuss Climate, Terrorism with G8

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:58:00 GMT

Russia will push for finalizing an agreement on greenhouse gases and a discussion on global terrorism at the G8 summit in Camp David in Maryland, which kicks off on Friday, the Russian government said.

Firefighters Keep Battling Wildfires in Russia’s Far East

Fri, 18 May 2012 03:59:00 GMT

Firefighters and rescuers extinguished 20 forest fires and managed to contain 10 more in Russia's Far East over the past 24 hours, the regional department of the Russian Emergencies Ministry reported on Thursday.

Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake Reported Off Chilean Coast

Fri, 18 May 2012 03:29:00 GMT

An earthquake of 6.7 magnitude was registered on Thursday night near the southern coast of Chile, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported.

Avatar, Russian Style: Pines & Beatings But No Catgirls

Thu, 17 May 2012 07:21:00 GMT

James Cameron invested more than $350 million in a tale of unscrupulous capitalists developing a primeval ecosystem to the chagrin of locals, and grossed $2.7 billion out of it, thrilling half the globe with 2009's Avatar.

WWF Names Key to Better Ecology in Russia

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:22:00 GMT

Russia could completely eliminate the need for expensive and environmentally risky offshore drilling in the Arctic if it only improved the energy efficiency of its housing, WWF experts said at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday.

Rare Black Swan Killed in Kaliningrad Zoo

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:25:00 GMT

A rare black Australian swan was beaten to death in a zoo in Kaliningrad, Russia’s exclave on the Baltic Sea, the zoo’s deputy director said on Thursday.

Tymoshenko’s Tigress Gives Birth to 4 Cubs

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:30:00 GMT

Ukrainian former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s white tigress Tigryulya on Monday gave birth to four cubs in a private Simferopol zoo, facility’s owner Oleh Zubkov said.

Bashneft Halts Work at Trebs Over Oil Spill

Sat, 05 May 2012 10:08:00 GMT

Russian mid-sized oil firm Bashneft has halted work at the Trebs oilfield in the Nenets Autonomous Area in the Russian Arctic to investigate a recent oil spill at the site, the regional administration said on Saturday.

Some 3,000 Hectares of Forests on Fire in Siberia

Thu, 03 May 2012 03:46:00 GMT

Over 3,000 hectares of forests are on fire in Siberia, the Emergencies Ministry’s regional center reported on Thursday.

Greens Seek Follow-Up to Medvedev Eco-Agenda

Wed, 02 May 2012 09:02:00 GMT

Russian environmental activists have praised Russia's eco-policy recently approved by President Dmitry Medvedev but said they were expecting the implementation of the plans outlined in the document.

Moscow Sets Spring Weather Record

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:49:00 GMT

The spring weather broke a 26-year record in Moscow on April 28, hitting 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit), Internet portal Meteonovosti said.

Central Russia Flood Damage Estimated at $17 mln

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:30:00 GMT

A strong spring flood has caused damage to the road system of Russia’s Volga republic of Mordovia estimated at 500 million rubles ($17 million), Russia’s Minister of Regional Development Viktor Basargin said on Thursday.

Green Clouds Over Moscow Explained

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:16:00 GMT

Eerie green clouds that floated over the Russian capital on Thursday, prompting wild online rumors, were colored by pollen released by the explosive blooming of birch trees in the capital, emergency officials said.

Award Created in Russia for Protecting Forest from State

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:39:00 GMT

Environment champion Yevgenia Chirikova set up a reward of 1 million rubles ($34,000) for anyone who wins a court battle to protect three Moscow region forests in danger of partial demolition.

Escaped Bear Killed in Latvia

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:12:00 GMT

A bear that ran away from a wildlife sanctuary in northeastern Latvia had to be killed because it was impossible to return it to its enclosure in the Ligatne Nature Trails preserve, local media reported.

Ukraine Wants to ‘Revitalize’ Chernobyl Area

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:36:00 GMT

Ukraine is currently working on an expanded governmental program aimed at sprucing up the contaminated territories adjacent to the crippled Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Monday.

Latvian Police Search for Escaped Bear

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:46:00 GMT

Latvian police are searching for a bear that ran away from a wildlife sanctuary in Latvia’s northeastern Vidzeme region on Sunday evening, local police said.

Oil Spill Contained at Russia’s Trebs Arctic Field

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:48:00 GMT

An incident that has led to oil spill has occurred on April 20 at Russia’s Arctic Trebs oil field, the regional Emergencies Ministry said on Sunday.

Wildfires Ravage Far Eastern Villages

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:16:00 GMT

The area covered by wildfires in Russia, mostly in Siberia and the Far East, stood at 8,600 hectares, with dozens of houses destroyed in a village in the Amur region on Friday, emergency officials said.

TNK-BP Share Prices Plunge on News of Damages Action

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:25:00 GMT

Share prices in the Russian-British oil joint venture accelerated their fall on Thursday afternoon on news that Russia’s environmental watchdog intended to take legal action to claim damages from the company for oil spills in the Siberian Rivers.

Thriving Wolf Population Threatens Yakutia Livestock

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:25:00 GMT

The growing population of gray wolves in Russia’s northern republic of Yakutia has killed more than 1,700 domestic reindeer since the beginning of the year, a spokesman for the republic’s veterinary department said on Thursday.