RIA Novosti

Russian president fetes Schwarzenegger in Moscow

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 04:59:15 GMT

Calling his host "a great visionary," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger heaped praise Monday on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and urged new economic partnerships with Soviet, er, Russian, businessmen during a visit to a western suburb of Moscow that is slated to become a Silicon Valley-style innovation hub.

Bronze Age civilisation discovered in Russian Caucasus

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 04:56:44 GMT

Traces of a previously unknown Bronze Age civilisation have been discovered in the peaks of Russia's Caucasus Mountains thanks to aerial photographs taken 40 years ago, researchers said on Monday.

Russia Is Seeking to Build Europe’s Nuclear Plants

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 04:53:58 GMT

The Russian nuclear industry has profited handsomely from building reactors in developing countries, including India, China and Iran. Now it is testing the prospect of becoming a major supplier to the European Union, too.

Putin’s Party Wins in Russia’s Local Elections

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:53:23 GMT

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin’s ruling party triumphed easily in regional elections here in Siberia and elsewhere in Russia on Sunday, demonstrating that its standing has not suffered, despite several challenging months for the government.

Russia resets with U.S., sprints with China

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:50:28 GMT

The Russian diplomacy is meeting with extraordinary success in dovetailing the country's strategic partnership with China with its core national interests in the strategic, political and economic fields, despite the fact that Russia is cognisant of the great ambivalences in China's rise.

India jets order boosts ailing Russian defence industry

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:46:19 GMT

Russia's ailing defence industry has received one of its biggest boosts in years with a huge fighter jet deal with India, but much of the sector remains stuck in a Soviet-era time warp, analysts said.

Film industry recovering from recession in Russia

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:44:00 GMT

Russia's film industry is bouncing back from recession, according to a report commissioned by the European Audiovisual Observatory. Admissions grow by an average 14% per year.

Hugo Chavez`s autumn tour: regaining his positions at home

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:35:00 GMT

Russian-Venezuelan relations are developing quite normally, although there is certainly no cause for euphoria. Regimes like the one in Venezuela are rather unstable, as the history of Latin America repeatedly shows. This was confirmed once more by the recent failed coup in Honduras and ensuing events. In light of this, Chavez is trying to strengthen his position in all aspects of his domestic and foreign policies.

After the Reset. A New Agenda for Russian-U.S. relations

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Russian-U.S. relations have enjoyed a six-month-long honeymoon since last spring’s “wedding.” The “reset” has worked. But more difficult times lie ahead. The Republicans have gone on the offensive against Barack Obama, determined to derail the ratification of the START treaty. The structural weakness of the current model of relations only aggravates the situation. Deputy Director of the Institute of Europe at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dean of the Department ofWorld Economy and World Politics at the State University – Higher School of Economics, Chairman of the Presidium of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, Chairman of the editorial board of Russia in Global Affairs magazine

Chavez’ Visit to Russia: Infected by “VIRUS”?

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Some observers nastily called the alliance of Venezuela, Iran and Russia “VIRUS.” The question is, whether the VIRUS has already spread, or is likely to spread, to Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, North Korea, and possibly China.

Russia renews interest in Vietnam base

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:27:13 GMT

The Russian Navy has announced plans to return to the Cam Ranh Bay naval base in Vietnam eight years after it pulled out from the strategic foothold in South East Asia.

To Pacify North Caucasus, Moscow Plans to Replace Non-Russian Officials with Ethnic Russian Ones

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:24:13 GMT

Most commentators on the newly approved “Strategy for the Social-Economic Development of the North Caucasus Federal District out to 2025” have focused on its plan to dispatch ethnic Russians to the region and non-Russians from that region to other parts of the Russian Federation.

The Criminality of Nuclear Deterrence. The World is at the Precipice of another World War

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:20:08 GMT

We see the counter-alliance to NATO: Russia, China and the so-called Central Asia Collective Security Organization. If you read about the origins World War I or World War II an attack on Iran could clearly set off World War III – remember Bush threatened it. And it could easily become nuclear.

Russia: Handle with care

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 05:48:44 GMT

The incentives to tighten relations with Russia are numerous and could lead to increased diplomatic support, cooperation regarding Iran and, of course, the possibility of lucrative arms contracts, such as the 12 UAVs Israel sold Russia last year. But the lessons learned from Moscow’s decision to press ahead with the sale of the antiship missiles to Syria will hopefully be taken to heart here, especially by foreign policy decision makers.

Why China takes interest in Belarus

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 05:46:03 GMT

What is more interesting for the great China, both economically and strategically: the immense Russia, which produces nothing but raw materials, or little Belarus, with its considerable scientific, technical, and industrial achievements?

The Algerian connection

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 05:43:57 GMT

Can Russia succeed where South Africa has failed? With Russia serving as Algeria’s main arms supplier, Medvedev is in a position to apply pressure. But Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria’s authoritarian leader, is no push over.

Whither Russia?

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:19:00 GMT

In the political realm, Russia is at a crossroads after a decade of ups and downs in its relations with the West. This has included periods of security cooperation, as well as tensions resulting from Russian assertiveness in the international arena, its efforts to curb the expansion of NATO, and the war with Georgia

Russia Takes Active Role In Kyrgyz Parliamentary Elections

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:12:54 GMT

Despite successive regime changes on both sides, Russia has played a major role in the lives of the Kyrgyz people ever since. That has been especially noticeable during Kyrgyzstan's current parliamentary election campaign, with polls set for October 10.

Russia may offer strategic technologies

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:10:08 GMT

Russia may offer India strategic defence technologies to retain dominant position in the Indian crowded weapons market

Tokyo, Moscow lock horns in disputed islands standoff

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:04:44 GMT

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's planned visit to four disputed Pacific islands has rekindled an age-old burning debate between Japan and Russia that has failed to be amicably resolved despite numerous declarations and treaties since the end of World War II.

US venture capital industry takes second high-level trip to Russia

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:03:32 GMT

A delegation of several major venture capital investors, executives and government representatives that may include California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to Russia in order to explore investment and technology collaborations and meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and others, participants told Dow Jones VentureWire.

Reply of a useful idiot

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:12:00 GMT

The Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza recently published an article by Lilia Shevtsova about Putin’s “useful idiots”. This is how she refers to the participants of the Valdai Club, where Russian officials and political scientists from around the world gather to discuss Russian issues. She also criticizes the Russia-U.S. “reset” policy and Russia-EU cooperation on modernization. She even criticizes Russian Westernizers, who want Russia to turn to the West.

Russia put to the test by grain shortage

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 05:54:22 GMT

Yet even though the disastrous harvest and subsequent grain export ban pushed global wheat prices to their highest level for two years, analysts insist panic over food security in Russia, which became the third largest grain exporter last year, is unwarranted.

Whither Russia?

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 05:49:19 GMT

Russia is at a crossroads after a decade of ups and downs in its relations with the West. A lively brainstorming process has been underway in Russia on the future face of the country and Russia’s position within the international system.

Mayor ousted for corruption plots return to Moscow political fray

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 05:45:30 GMT

The powerful former mayor of Moscow says he plans to form a new political movement to bring democracy back to Russia, nearly one week after he was fired by President Dmitry Medvedev.