Vladimir Putin was sworn in as President of Russia again, with a personal mandate of harnessing the resource potenial of Russia’s far eastern territories (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images) [GALLO/GETTY] Moscow, Russia - Vladimir Putin – the apex of a highly personalised system – is back as President of Russia. Forget about a velvet [...]
On March 4, 2012, Vladimir Putin was elected to serve as Russia’s president for another six years, and he is set to take up office following his inauguration on May 7. To his supporters, such as those we encountered celebrating at an election night government rally in Moscow, Putin is a hero, the [...]
AP One year after the reactor accident in Fukushima, resistance to nuclear energy is growing around the world. But the atomic industry continues to push for the construction of new reactors, primarily in emerging economies. The German government even wants to support that expansion — despite the fact it has abandoned nuclear power back home. By SPIEGEL Staff. [...]
The Best of Pepe Escobar Apr 11, 2012 Surrender now or we’ll bomb you later Welcome to the “roll over and die” school of diplomacy over Iran – as perfected by the Barack Obama administration, with vital input from the Israel lobby in Washington. The United States president’s ultimatum before international [...]
Study: ‘Arctic Cold War‘ Heats Up Numerous countries are developing military presence in the Arctic – Common Dreams staff A new report reports that the Arctic shelf, with its disputed territory and vast energy resources, is becoming increasingly militarized. The study, released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, claims that Russia, Canada, Denmark and Norway are all [...]
That’s Enough Politeness – Women Need to Rise Up in Anger by Laurie Penny To get into the UN Commission on the Status of Women, you have to get past several ranks of large armed men. In the foyer, you can buy UN women-themed hats and tote bags, and pick up glossy pamphlets [...]
THE ROVING EYE Why Putin is driving Washington nuts By Pepe Escobar Forget the past (Saddam, Osama, Gaddafi) and the present (Assad, Ahmadinejad). A bet can be made over a bottle of Petrus 1989 (the problem is waiting the next six years to collect); for the foreseeable future, Washington’s top bogeyman [...]
AFP French President Nicolas Sarkozy thinks there are too many foreigners in France. French President Nicolas Sarkozy faces a steep uphill battle in his campaign for re-election. On Tuesday, he vowed to slash the number of immigrants allowed into the country, complaining of “too many foreigners.” The policy proposal marks a change from the mudslinging that [...]
Vladimir Putin shed tears after his victory in Russia’s presidential election [Al Jazeera] Bangkok, Thailand - He even shed tears – an unlikely remake of “From Russia with Love”. The Russian Orthodox Church- which steadfastly supported his campaign – was more than pleased. The tears of the Czarwere, in theory, in honour of the citizens of [...]
Russia Seeks Major Role in Mideast Politics Moscow and its Brics partners need to establish a new multilateral mechanism for regional security By Patrick Seale February 26, 2012 “Gulf News” — After a long absence, Russia is now demanding a seat for itself at the top table of Middle East affairs. [...]
Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes [IRIB Iranian TV/Reuters] A United Nations nuclear watchdog report says Iran continues with its uranium enrichment drive, a move certain to further fuel Western alarm about Tehran‘s atomic ambitions. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Friday it has “major differences” with Iran and [...]
Lego figurines, Kinder surprises and other toys played the role of ‘demonstrators’. Photograph: Sergey Teplyakov/vkontakte link to article http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/26/doll-protesters-problem-russian-police Doll ‘protesters’ present small problem for Russian police Police in Siberian city ask prosecutors to investigate legality of protest involving display of toy figures holding miniature placards Russian police don’t take kindly to opposition protesters – even if [...]
January 10, 2012 “BFP” – Washington clearly wants ‘finito’ with Russia’s Putin as in basta! Or as they said in Egypt last spring, Kefaya–enough! Hillary Clinton and friends have apparently decided Russia’s prospective next president, Vladimir Putin, is a major obstacle to their plans. Few however understand why. Russia today, in [...]
Russia Scolds United States for Human Rights Abuse MOSCOW – Russia sought to undermine the authority of the United States as a global judge of human rights on Wednesday with Moscow’s first report to detail allegations of torture, phone tapping and abuse by the U.S. government. President Obama and Vladimir Putin in happier [...]
The economic, political and social outlook for 2012 is profoundly negative. The almost universal consensus, even among mainstream orthodox economists is pessimistic regarding the world economy. Though even here their predictions understate the scope and depth of the crises.There are powerful reasons to believe that beginning in 2012, we are heading toward [...]
Protesters gather to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia’s parliamentary elections on Sakharov avenue in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. Photo by: AP More than 100,000 take to the streets across Russia to protest election fraud In one of the biggest demonstrations in the history of modern Russia, protesters call for removal of [...]
Demonstrators gather to protest against election fraud claims, in Moscow. Photograph: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Moscow to protestagainst allegedly fraudulent elections, as opposition leaders issued scathing personal attacks on Vladimir Putin in the hope of preventing his return to the presidency next year. Mikhail Gorbachev has urged Putin to follow his [...]
RELATED MATERIALS: Russia: Protests Go on Peacefully Russia: A Voice of Discontent The Era of Apathy (Russia post-election protests) After a decade of being treated like children, Russia’s electorate is finally finding its voice by Tanya Lokshina Published in: Foreign Policy DECEMBER 13, 2011 Western media and policymakers often explain the lack of pluralism in [...]
At least 50,000 protesters took to the streets on Saturday, claiming Russia‘s parliamentary elections were stolen [EPA] Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, says he has instructed the government to investigate the allegations of electoral fraud during the December 4 parliamentary vote. Tens of thousands rallied in Moscow and other cities on Saturday in the largest anti-government protest [...]
Protesters rally in St Petersburg, some placing ‘No voice’ stickers over their mouths. Photograph: Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters Miriam Elder in Moscow guardian.co.uk, Saturday 10 December 2011 17.22 GMT Article history Up to 50,000 people braved the cold and snow on Saturday to turn out for the largest ever protest against the rule of prime minister Vladimir Putin. Bolotnaya Square, [...]
Rallies in at least 15 cities are expected as anger over claims of fraud by the ruling United Russia party grows [EPA] Russia is bracing itself for the first nationwide protest against Vladimir Putin’s 12-year rule amid signs of swelling anger over a poll won by his ruling United Russia party with the alleged help of widescale fraud. Moscow authorities gave permission for 30,000 [...]
Israeli officials were squirming in embarrassment over remarks by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, seen here in November 2011, after he described Russia‘s contested parliamentary elections as “free and democratic.” (AFP/Gali Tibbon, File) JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli officials were squirming in embarrassment on Friday over remarks by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman after he described Russia’s contested [...]
Mikhail Gorbachev say Russia should hold fresh elections. Photograph: Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty Images Russian authorities should annul the parliamentary vote results and hold a new election, the ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has urged, as popular indignation grows over alleged election fraud. Thousands of Russians have rallied in Moscow and St Petersburg in the past two days, facing off [...]
Russia Bashing By Stephen Lendman - Posted on 06 December 2011 Russia Bashing - by Stephen Lendman On December 4, parliamentary elections were held to fill 450 State Duma seats, Russia’s Federal Assembly lower house. With nearly all votes counted, RIA Novosti said Medvedev/Putin’s United Russia party won 238 seats, falling slightly below a majority with 49.67% of the [...]
Vladimir Putin’s United Russia will lose its majority in the lower house of parliament if early exit polls are right. Above, seamen vote at a polling station outside Saint Petersburg. Photograph: Greenfield/SIPA /Rex Features Vladimir Putin set to lose majority amid complaints of electoral violations Opposition leader condemns ‘theft of votes’ after reports of pre-filled [...]
Russian women casting their vote in Tskhinvali: Vladimir Putin‘s party could see its support fall from a current majority of two-thirds to 53%. Photograph: Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters Russians vote in national parliamentary elections Vladmir Putin’s United Russia party expected to see its support fall as people tire of prime minister’s strongman style reddit this Associated Press [...]
Last minute preparations are under way in Russia ahead of country’s parliamentary election [AFP] The head of Russia’s only independent election monitor was detained for 12 hours at a Moscow airport after refusing to hand over her laptop “for checking”, in a move to stop it monitoring Sunday’s parliamentary vote, the group’s lawyer said. “Golos, as well as [...]
Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, who seems set to become president in March. Photograph: Reuters Putin prepares the Russian empire to strike back The reincarnation of the current PM as president poses a challenge to western powers for which they seem ill-prepared reddit this Comments (73) Simon Tisdall guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 December 2011 20.00 GMT [...]
US and Pakistan enter the danger zone By M K Bhadrakumar The air strike by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) at the Pakistani military post at Salala in the Mohmand Agency on the Afghan-Pakistan border Friday night is destined to become a milestone in the chronicle of the Afghan war. Within hours of the [...]
Putin told United Russia delegates on Sunday that foreign NGOs were trying to influence the course of the vote [EPA] Vladimir Putin has accepted his ruling party’s nomination to return to Russia‘s presidency, while accusing foreigners of funding his political opponents. Putin, president from 2000-2008 and now prime minister, is expected to easily recapture the presidency [...]
Half of Russians say that their life is ‘difficult but possible to endure’, according to a recent poll [EPA] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – A spectre is haunting the globe – the spectre of the indignant. From New York to Hama, London to Tripoli, Madrid to Athens, a zone of revolt has descended. The year 2011 will [...]
Russian servicemen in historical uniforms take part in a military parade in Moscow’s Red Square on Nov. 7, 2011. It marks the 70th anniversary of a historical parade in 1941 when Soviet soldiers marched through Red Square towards the front lines during World War Two. (REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov) By Thomas Grove MOSCOW (Reuters) — Russia‘s foreign [...]
Vladimir Putin’s chief spokesman admits Greek urn find was staged Archaeologists who had discovered ancient amphorae planted them in shallow water for Russian PM, says Dmitry Peskov Vladimir Putin’s claim to have discovered the urns was widely ridiculed in the Russian blogosphere and independent media. Photograph: Ria Novosti/Reuters reddit this David Batty and agencies guardian.co.uk, [...]
Vladimir Putin: return of the king The then President Putin at a military shooting range in 2006 Photograph: Itar-Tass/Reuters It is virtually inevitable that Putin will next year become Russia‘s president again. What will that mean for Russia, the world, and indeed the man who just can’t seem to give up power? reddit this Luke [...]
Dmitry Medvedev, left, is expected to replace Vladimir Putin as Russia’s prime minister. Photograph: Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters The fallout from Vladimir Putin‘s announcement that he plans to return to the Kremlin is being felt throughout Russia, with a key liberal official indicating that he plans to quit the government. The finance minister, Alexei Kudrin, a darling of the [...]
Hard Times Getting Harder By Stephen Lendman - Posted on 18 September 2011 Hard Times Getting Harder – by Stephen Lendman Americans are being hammered economically, politically and socially. Paul Craig Roberts quoted Vladimir Putin calling America “a parasite on the world.” PR manipulators present a virtuous image. Roberts said “Putin understated the burden that America [...]
Silvio Berlusconi wiretaps reveal boast of spending night with eight women Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi can be heard complaining about meetings with state leaders on newly-released wiretaps. Photograph: Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters Conversations show that Italian PM resented meetings with the Pope and world leaders interfering with his partying reddit this Tom Kington in Rome guardian.co.uk, Saturday [...]
They Were Truly Idiots’ Yevgeny Kondakov / DER SPIEGEL In a SPIEGEL interview, Mikhail Gorbachev, 80, discusses the last days of the Soviet Union, his failure to resolve problems with the Communist Party and the ensuing bloodshed he says still troubles him today. He also accuses Vladimir Putin of pulling the country “back into the [...]
Andy Coulson was still being paid by News International while working for David Cameron, it’s been reported. Photograph: David Fisher/Rex Features So now we hear that Andy Coulson was paid hundreds of thousands of pounds by News International for several months when he was working for David Cameron’s Conservative party. This despite the fact that he [...]
Vladimir Putin carries his archaelogical trophies which – despite their cleanliness – were purported to have languished at the bottom of the Black Sea for centuries. Photograph: Alexei Druzhinin/AP When a scuba-diving Vladimir Putin found two ancient Greek urns on the floor of the Black Sea this week, it seemed a startling discovery. In his [...]
You can view the video report at: http://english.aljazeera.net/video/europe/2011/07/2011716163013373942.html Investors in Russia are pulling billions of dollars out of the country. In the last few months, an estimated $30bn has left the country. Russia is one of the few places in the world where foreign investors can buy into the country’s massive oil, gas and natural-resources wealth. [...]
Russia arrests suspected Politkovskaya killer Rustam Makhmudov is the suspected assassin of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was shot dead in 2006. Last Modified: 31 May 2011 15:02 Politkovskaya was well known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and criticism of Vladimir Putin [AFP] Russia has arrested Rustam Makhmudov, the suspected assassin of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was [...]
Medvedev wants to stay on as Russian president, says leading MP Medvedev set to defy pact with prime minister Vladimir Putin and seek second term, claims prominent politician Share154 Tom Parfitt in Moscow guardian.co.uk, Sunday 1 May 2011 18.17 BST Article history According to a leading politician, the Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev (right), is set [...]
Libya: US rebuffs British plea for help as Putin attacks ‘death sentence’ Liam Fox points to momentum in Libya in recent days, but US keen to minimise involvement Share Ewen MacAskill in Washington and Richard Norton-Taylor guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 26 April 2011 20.40 BST Article history Liam Fox and Robert Gates after a Pentagon meeting [...]
