RIA Novosti

The Russian Navy Grows from Bottom up

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:57:22 GMT

While the nation’s leaders work at overhauling the Navy organization, the Navy itself continues to order new ships.

Moscow and the West once again cross swords over Syria

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:56:00 GMT

Next Thursday (February 2), the UN Security Council will vote on a new West- and LAS-sponsored draft resolution on Syria urging President Bashar al-Assad to resign and delegate his powers to Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa.

The Phobos Crash Was Preprogrammed

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:05:00 GMT

The Russian space agency Roscosmos announced the cause of the Phobos-Grunt space probe failure on Tuesday: it was a software malfunction in its onboard computer.

Deconstructing Putinomics

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:50:30 GMT

In his recent article, “We Need a New Economy,” prime minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin combines elements of different and sometimes contradictory economic theories – from neo-liberalism to the basic tenets of Marxism.

The Pentagon Tightens its Belt

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:25:00 GMT

The plan that the U.S. Defense Department has published will allow the Pentagon to save about half a trillion dollars and will reduce the country's armed forces by 100,000 people. The Pentagon claims the plan will not diminish the U.S. army's capabilities but this seems to be an effort to put a good face on the matter.

Egypt’s Year Without a Pharaoh

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:01:01 GMT

On January 25, 2011 mass demonstrations began in Cairo and Alexandria, leading to the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in February and the transfer of power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) headed by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi.

From Yugoslavia to Iran

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:04:22 GMT

The United States has been massing naval forces off Iran’s shores. Since November the media has been filled with rumors about an imminent military strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Lavrov Warns Against Stirring up Violence

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:15:58 GMT

Russian diplomacy, which has been treading a difficult path in the Middle East and elsewhere, is not afraid of quarrelling with the new rulers who came to power on the crest of the Arab Spring, and is certainly not seeking to hinder renewal in the region. It is simply trying to help make this process more civilized.

Russia’s Final Attempt to Help al-Assad

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:25:00 GMT

On Tuesday Russia circulated a draft of the United Nations Security Council’s resolution on Syria, its third since December, approaching it with the urgency the situation demands.

Medvedev Yesterday, Putin Today … Russia, Onward!

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:19:00 GMT

The article Prime Minister Vladimir Putin penned for Izvestia is the most striking and substantive document of the ruling tandem since gazeta.ru carried President Dmitry Medvedev’s article “Russia, onward!” in 2009.

Can the Yury Dolgoruky fill the Yekaterinburg’s shoes?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:29:00 GMT

Experts believe that while the Yury Dolgoruky strategic ballistic missile submarine is capable of filling in for the Yekaterinburg, which was damaged by fire shortly before the New Year, it will not fix the deficiencies in Russia’s nuclear shield.

America enters referendum year on Obama

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:31:00 GMT

America has finally set out on the long journey that will culminate with the presidential election on November 6 of this year. Everything that has come before – the registration of candidates, television debates – have all been preludes, a warm-up for the main event.

The Euro’s sad birthday

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:17:14 GMT

January 1 will mark ten years of Euro cash. This anniversary will be a sad one; the eurozone is going through tough times. The debt crisis that has swept Greece, Portugal, Italy and Spain threatens to develop into a financial downturn that could trigger a new recession. Most experts believe the European currency will survive and that the eurozone will certainly overcome the crisis, even if some members drop out. However, some are convinced that this idea of a common currency has not justified itself.

Bulava approved for service

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:12:00 GMT

The testing of the Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is completed and the missile will now be put into operational service, President Dmitry Medvedev said. The convoluted history of the project, which has been alternately criticized and praised, is finally reaching its intended destination.

START may be sunk by a nuclear torpedo

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:34:00 GMT

Washington has once again signaled its desire to negotiate reductions in Russia’s tactical nuclear arsenal.

Iran’s views of its nuclear issue

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:01:35 GMT

Iran has issued an invitation to IAEA inspectors to visit the country, the first such move since the agency published its report on the status of Iran's nuclear program in November.

North Korea's idle war machine

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:18:00 GMT

News of the death of Kim Jong-il was accompanied by conspicuous muscle flexing by the North Korean military. The “Dear Leader” left behind an enormous war machine, the maintenance of which consumes the bulk of the country’s daily activities. How does this machine work and what does the future hold for it?

Putin and the “magnificent seven”: All set for an interesting election

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:01:00 GMT

The March 2012 presidential elections, which many thought would be a mere formality after Medvedev and Putin announced their decision to swap places, are taking on new, intriguing features. They may even become a survival test for Russia’s political system, showing whether any political change in Russia’s leadership is possible. This has suddenly become very important to the general public.

Vaclav Havel: Freedom through resistance

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:30:00 GMT

Czechs are mourning the passing of their former president Vaclav Havel. This remarkable man achieved nearly all the goals he set himself as a young man. His life’s work was to give his compatriots the freedom of choice.

Putin will have to compete with himself

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:07:00 GMT

The political message Prime Minister Vladimir Putin conveyed during his annual live Q&A session can be summed up as follows: there will be reforms, but nothing to please the radical opposition. Putin had a similar message for the West: relations will be friendly on the condition that foreign governments and organizations do not meddle in Russia’s domestic affairs.

The new Duma: United Russia and the opposition stand to gain

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:28:00 GMT

It is becoming clear that President Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with parliamentary party leaders on Tuesday has produced a stabilizing effect on Russian political life.

Russian leaders and U.S. Secretary of State exchange ritualistic reproaches

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:10:00 GMT

Both Russian leaders have at last commented on the latest spate of protests in Russian cities, drawing a clear dividing line between what is acceptable (authorized rallies sponsored by Russian organizations) and unacceptable (illegal protests held by presumably West-funded NGOs).

Belovezhskaya Pushcha: Purity of intention

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:28:00 GMT

December 8th marked 20 years since Boris Yeltsin, Leonid Kravchuk and Stanislav Shushkevich met to pull the plug on the Soviet Union.

A world without the euro

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:45:00 GMT

The EU summit scheduled for December 9 will be judgment day for the eurozone. Dark clouds are gathering over united Europe

Roman’s Column: "A historic event for Zenit"

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:05:00 GMT

In his second column for RIA Novosti, Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Roman Shirokov shares his thoughts on the club’s maiden qualification for the Champions League group stage, achieved Tuesday after a 0-0 draw against Porto.