RIA Novosti

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak speaks about the company’s future without Jobs

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:40:00 GMT

RIA Novosti correspondent Alexander Plyushchev met in Moscow with legendary Steve Wozniak who helped Steve Jobs found Apple in 1976. Wozniak spoke about his vision of Apple’s future without Jobs.

North Korea: Propaganda and Pizza

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:08:32 GMT

RIA Novosti correspondent Marc Bennetts spent a week in North Korea from October 8-15. Here he speaks about the “spookily clean” streets of the capital, Pyongyang, the Kim cult of worship and an unexpected pizza delight.

Tymoshenko trial: struggle for power between clans in Ukraine?

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:24:50 GMT

The trial on abuse of office charges of Ukraine’s ex PM Yulia Tymoshenko attracted attention not only at home and in Russia, but also in the West. Is the case a conflict of Russian and Western interests? Or is it simply a Ukrainian domestic matter? Igor Shishkin, the deputy director of the CIS Institute, answers these questions in an interview with Mikhail Yousef.

Nord Stream and South Stream inefficient for Russia – expert

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:18:00 GMT

In recent years Russia has faced some serious problems with gas transit. Many believe that Russia’s Nord Stream and South Stream projects will be a way out of the situation.

10 years after 9/11: the world has become safer, but the threat of terrorism is still high

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:24:00 GMT

The 10th anniversary of September 11 reminded the whole world of the terrorist threat and what should be done to prevent it.

Rebels see the future of Libya without NATO

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:01:00 GMT

While Libyan rebel forces with assistance of NATO continue taking down the last strongholds, the Libyan Transitional Council is working to rebuild the war-torn country and reestablish diplomatic and economic ties throughout the world. In an interview with RIA Novosti, Alexei Podtserob, Ph.D. (History), Russia’s Ambassador to Libya (1992-1996), discusses the future of Libya in the aspect of NATO’s military presence and social atmosphere in the country. He also believes that Russia, despite its ambivalent policy, will return to Libya with its oil and railways contracts.

In 18 months solar activity will reach its maximum

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:07:00 GMT

More and more often media feed us terrifying stories about different natural disasters. Solar flares which often result in magnetic storms are one of the most frequent cases.

The worst is past, top Syrian official claims

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:16:41 GMT

Yasser Hourieh, head of the Baath Party Regional Leadership in Syria and deputy chairman of National Dialogue tells RIA Novosti correspondent Sergey Sarymov about the course of events in Syria and implementing reforms, explains the connection between the geopolitical situation in the region and the events inside the country.

Sex, porn, violence, forbidden video, UFO, Jon Stewart

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:48:00 GMT

We live in an era when any electronic, internet-manufactured, on-line produced media can be more popular and trusted than good old Webster’s or Britannica. Nowadays, anyone who can string a few words together or at least type some characters that resemble words can open an internet account and share his “thoughts” with the world. Why?

US debt crisis debate or the tale of two parties

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:16:00 GMT

The day when the final decision on the U.S. debt ceiling has to be made is approaching with the speed of lightning. Yet still Republicans and Democrats did not reach any compromise whatsoever. Does this mean that the White House might actually announce a default? 2-minute warning believes that the whole debate is nothing but a show (been there, done that!) and suggests skeptics to read classical literature.

Adopted Russian children face culture shock abroad

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:27:00 GMT

The cruel treatment of Russian children by their foreign adoptive families has always been a sensitive issue for Russians, and one only exacerbated by the recent Leszczyński case.

U.S. turning away from Israel to oil rich Mid-East monarchies

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:25:18 GMT

July 12 marked the fifth anniversary of the 2006 Lebanon War between Israel and Lebanon. The conflict, which had a great impact on Israel’s global standing and relations with the EU and the United States, and its consequences are still relevant today.

Missile defense may be dangerous obstacle in Russia-U.S. ties

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:40:43 GMT

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is currently on a working visit to Washington, where the U.S. missile defense system is a key issue on the agenda.

German nuclear chiefs sing the blues over the Greens

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:12:36 GMT

Germany has decided to shut down all of its nuclear plants by the year 2020. Environmentalist are sure that by that time alternative environmentally clean energy will be produced on an industrial scale. Or will it? Some might say the whole environment protection row is nothing but a way to get the budget money from one group of lobbyists to another. ”2-minute warning” dismantles the core of the issue.

Photography Festival Comes to Moscow

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:53:57 GMT

Ahead of a major international photo event – the Portfolio Review, which will take place for the first time in Moscow at the end of August, Andrei Zolotov, Jr., chief editor of RussiaProfile.org speaks to its co-founders – Chairman of FotoFest International Frederick Baldwin and its Artistic Director Wendy Watriss.

SCO will not turn into “NATO of the East”

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:10:00 GMT

The role of China in the SCO has been subject of debate, with some asserting that the country seeks to dominate the organization. RIA Novosti’s Mikhail Yousef spoke with Aleksandr Sharavin, director of the Institute for Political and Military Analysis, who discussed China’s role in the SCO and evaluated the organization’s strengths and weaknesses in the 10 years of its existence.

Hi-tech can’t solve humanitarian problems

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:41:00 GMT

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev presented state awards to foreign citizens, who have made notable contributions to the development of bilateral relations with Russia in the fields of education and culture.

Legal protection of unborn children could boost Russia’s poor demographics

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:29:45 GMT

Rising abortion rates are deepening Russia’s demographic crisis. The Russian Orthodox Church is becoming increasingly vocal in urging a review of current abortion policies, putting forward a series of legislative measures, which include limiting public funding and introducing a so-called “Week of Silence”. In an interview with RIA Novosti’s Mikhail Yousef, Father Maksim, an archpriest and the head of the Life medical educational center, explains why the new measures are so important.

Iranian singer Arash: I understand Russians

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Iranian music has thousands of years of history, but the beginnings of its pop music are dated only in the 1900s. After Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, pop music's future seemed dark because of new Islamic laws and restrictions. Many Iranian talents migrated to foreign countries and became Iranian-in-exile pop stars. Arash Labaf, an Iranian-Swedish singer, is a striking example of these stars.

Saleh’s departure will dramatically aggravate situation in Yemen

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:33:33 GMT

Yemen’s opposition has yet to prove itself as a valid ruling force if it succeeds in ousting President Ali Abdullah Saleh from power. Alexei Sarabyev, research fellow at the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Eastern Studies, explains how Saleh has been instrumental in maintaining unity in Yemen, despite his shortcomings, and says that Russia’s stance on the matter is a key factor influencing possible foreign intervention.

The banker, the maid, the fiasco: DSK drama rolls on

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:00:00 GMT

Follow your heart and fulfill your dreams. Follow your basic instinct and... end up in jail!" This simple axiom, inexistent just a month ago, could easily become the watchword of our times in the wake of an allegedly illegal sexual "transaction" in a New York hotel room involving erstwhile IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn and an immigrant chamber maid from Ghana.

PR based bubble economy may lead Georgia to collapse

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:09:53 GMT

In an interview with RIA Novosti’s Samir Shakhbaz, Felix Stanevsky, head of the Caucasus department of the Institute of CIS countries, claims that Georgia will inevitably face major upheavals sooner or later due to its dramatic internal situation. Georgia is living on borrowed money and its economy with exaggerated achievements is built on PR, he believes.

Revolution in Belarus not ruled out

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:29:31 GMT

Over the last month Belarus was pushed to the top of world news, mostly because of its complicated economic situation. The Russian government is thinking about the prospects of joint projects like the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. Russia is interested in Belarus, but is it interested in Lukashenko as a partner? Which political promises is the Belarus leader ready to offer for real loans? Alexander Fadeyev, head of the Belarus Department at the Institute of CIS Countries in an interview with RIA-Novosti’s Mikhail Yousef shares his views on the Belarus crisis.

Georgian unrest: Revolution throughout the Caucasus?

Mon, 30 May 2011 10:23:21 GMT

Opposition riots started on May 21 and have been marked by arrests and casualties. Ismail Agakishiev, political scientist and head of the Caucasus Studies Center at the Russian State University for the Humanities, tells RIA Novosti's Samir Shakhbaz that opposition protests can't be described as a revolution and also shares his opinion on the possible remake of Georgia's scenario in neighboring Azerbaijan.

Georgia will remain pro-Western, with or without Saakashvili

Thu, 26 May 2011 16:46:00 GMT

The opposition protests that started in Georgia on May 21 continued throughout this week. Protesters demand the resignation of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has lost the U.S. backing he had until quite recently. After what happened in the Middle East during recent months, many believe that we are witnessing a new revolution. Alexei Vlasov, editor-in-chief of the information and analytical Internet portal vestikavkaza.ru in an interview with RIA Novosti’s Mikhail Yousef says the current developments in Georgia are only part of an internecine conflict within the elite and can’t be described a revolution.