Arts & Entertainment

About 360 flights in Russia were cancelled...

About 360 flights in Russia were cancelled and almost 30 delayed, stranding over 30,000 passengers after an ash cloud spread over Europe from a volcano eruption in Iceland, Russia"s federal civil aviation agency said.

Afghanistan"s parliament voted on Saturday...

Afghanistan"s parliament voted on Saturday to reject most of the nominees put forward by President Hamid Karzai to serve in his new Cabinet.

After 13 years of complete Labor dominance...

After 13 years of complete Labor dominance in the Parliament and at Downing Street, the British are preparing to put on conservative attire. However, they will hardly dare to fully change colors from red (color of the Labour Party) to blue (color of the Conservatives). All the latest polls as well as various analysts, psychics, and the most reliable political forecasters - the bookmakers - suggest that after the May 6, 2010 general election, Britain will be dressed in a blue top and red bottom with substantial elements of orange (color of the Liberal Democrats) in the middle.

A Moscow court has thrown out a slander...

A Moscow court has thrown out a slander claim by Russian brewers against the country"s top drug and alcohol control official over statements they say "demonize" beer.

An international forum dedicated to global...

An international forum dedicated to global information security opened in the German city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Monday.

A Proton-M carrier rocket with the U.S...

A Proton-M carrier rocket with the U.S. telecommunications satellite Echostar 14 will be launched on Saturday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.

A Russian human rights veteran and her group...

A Russian human rights veteran and her group, Memorial, were nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, Russian media reported on Wednesday.

A Russian Nobel Prize winner will become...

A Russian Nobel Prize winner will become a scientific adviser to the high-tech business park the government is setting up near Moscow as the Russian "Silicon Valley," a Russian newspaper reported on Monday.

A senior aide for Russian President Dmitry...

A senior aide for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia"s performance at the Vancouver Olympics was "dismal" although he expected such failure.

A total of 38 people died and 55 were injured...

A total of 38 people died and 55 were injured as two buses collided in northern Peru, the Rossiya 24 TV channel reported.

A U.S. court has ruled to seize $419 million...

A U.S. court has ruled to seize $419 million worth of assets of Russia"s state oil major Rosneft under a lawsuit filed by managers of the now defunct oil giant Yukos, a business daily reported on Thursday.

A U.S. senator has urged U.S. Secretary...

A U.S. senator has urged U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to impose a ban on visas for 60 Russian officials and other individuals in a $230 million corruption case that lead to the death of a Moscow anti-corruption lawyer, the U.S. Helsinki Commission website said.

Canadian short track skaters won the gold...

Canadian short track skaters won the gold and bronze in the 500-meter men"s short track race in Vancouver.

Danish authorities have prevented an attack...

Danish authorities have prevented an attack on cartoonist Kurt Westergaard known for his cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that caused Muslims" wrath around the world four years ago.

Danish company Novo Nordisk, a world leader...

Danish company Novo Nordisk, a world leader in production of anti-diabetic medicine, has signed an agreement to build an insulin plant in Kaluga, the regional administration"s press service said on Wednesday.

Following is an official statement by RIA Novosti issued on Thursday:

Following is an official statement by RIA Novosti issued on Thursday:

Former KGB-agent-turned-tycoon Alexander...

Former KGB-agent-turned-tycoon Alexander Lebedev, the owner of three British newspapers, has offered to make his airlines, Red Wings, the backbone carrier in Russia"s North Caucasus region, a Russian daily said on Friday.

Four unidentified assailants have robbed...

Four unidentified assailants have robbed the house of a private businessman in St. Petersburg, stealing valuables estimated at over 2 million rubles ($65,000), a local police spokesman said on Sunday.

Gazprom announced on Monday it had agreed...

Gazprom announced on Monday it had agreed terms with Italy"s energy company Eni on joining the Elephant oilfield in Libya in an asset-swap deal.

Including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir...

Including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin among the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) list of the world"s freedom "predators" is totally wrong, the premier"s spokesman said on Tuesday.

KURSK, October 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russian...

KURSK, October 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited on Thursday the Cathedral of the Sign in the city of Kursk some 300 miles south of Moscow where a miracle-working icon of the Mother of God was recently brought.

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who...

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who fled the capital Bishkek amid violent opposition protests, said on Thursday he no longer has any real power but vowed not to resign, local news agency 24.kg reported.

MOSCOW, August 14 (RIA Novosti) - The situation...

MOSCOW, August 14 (RIA Novosti) - The situation around the missing Arctic Sea cargo ship that has reportedly been traced to a location outside Cape Verde is "dramatic," Russia"s NATO envoy said on Friday.

MOSCOW, August 21 (RIA Novosti) - The Finnish...

MOSCOW, August 21 (RIA Novosti) - The Finnish owner of the Arctic Sea ship, which was missing in the Atlantic for more than two weeks until it was found on Monday, wants reliable information on the crew, the Solchart company said on Friday.

MOSCOW, June 24 (RIA Novosti) - French Total...

MOSCOW, June 24 (RIA Novosti) - French Total and Russian independent gas producer Novatek are expected to implement a $1 billion project to develop a gas condensate project in northwest Siberia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, June 6 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President...

MOSCOW, June 6 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said ensuring stability grain prices and guaranteeing food security are priorities for the agricultural sector, a Kremlin press release said on Saturday.

MOSCOW, May 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russia"s...

MOSCOW, May 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russia"s foreign minister has met with his Somali counterpart to discuss international efforts to protect shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden from Somali pirate attacks, the Russian ministry said.

MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - Modernization...

MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - Modernization of Russia in the 21st century will be based on values and institutions of democracy, the Russian president said on Thursday.

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti economic commentator...

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti economic commentator Oleg Mityayev) - The Russian rail monopoly and its Mongolian partners agreed to set up a joint venture during Prime Minister Vladimir Putin"s visit to Mongolia on May 13.

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti economic commentator...

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti economic commentator Nina Kulikova.) – The early 1990s were a time when crime penetrated the Russian economy and money started flowing out of the country, whose legislation was lagging far behind the world’s anti-money laundering laws. As a result, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) put Russia on the black list of “tax havens” in 2000, which led to various discriminatory measures against Russian financial institutions.

MOSCOW, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - The...

MOSCOW, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - The Arctic Sea cargo ship that was missing for more than two weeks before being freed from hijackers is in the eastern Atlantic and could enter Mediterranean in two or three days.

Police are investigating the circumstances...

Police are investigating the circumstances of the death of fugitive Russian businessman Yevgeny Chichvarkin"s mother in Moscow, a police source said on Sunday.

Police in Finland"s southern city of Espoo...

Police in Finland"s southern city of Espoo have said the bodies of six people have been found in a shopping mall after a shooting spree earlier in the day, Finnish news agencies reported on Thursday.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski and up to...

Polish President Lech Kaczynski and up to 131 people traveling with him to commemorate the mass killing of Polish officers during World War Two died on Saturday when his plane crashed on landing in western Russia.

Russia and Belarus have signed an array...

Russia and Belarus have signed an array of agreements on crude oil deliveries and uninterrupted transits to Europe, a Russian deputy prime minister said on Wednesday.

Russia and China have agreed that Russia"s...

Russia and China have agreed that Russia"s part of work to build the second stage of the Tianwan nuclear power plant (NPP) will cost 1.3 billion euros ($1.8 bln), a source close to negotiations said.

Russia carried out on Friday the first flight...

Russia carried out on Friday the first flight test of its fifth-generation fighter and revealed some details of its concept and design.

Russia has cautioned its nationals against...

Russia has cautioned its nationals against visiting Bangkok in the next couple weeks due to continuing opposition protests in Thailand, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

Russia hopes that the Guinean government...

Russia hopes that the Guinean government will help ensure the security of a plant run by Russian aluminum giant RusAl that has been hit by recent militant attacks, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Russia is continuing talks with Belarus...

Russia is continuing talks with Belarus on oil deliveries to the ex-Soviet republic in 2010, with oil transit across the Belarusian territory provided in full, an aide to Russia"s energy minister said on Sunday.

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom and Polish...

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom and Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG) resumed natural gas talks on Tuesday amid conflicting reports.

Russian law-enforcement authorities raided...

Russian law-enforcement authorities raided the offices of Hewlett-Packard in Moscow to probe into allegations that its executives paid millions of U.S. dollars to win a government contract, a U.S. business paper reported on Thursday.

Russian police have broken up a 270-billion-ruble...

Russian police have broken up a 270-billion-ruble (about $9 billion) money-laundering operation run by four Azerbaijani nationals and several Russian bank employees, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama agreed on Wednesday to order the speedy completion of a new strategic arms reduction deal, the Kremlin said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and King...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and King Abdullah II of Jordan will focus on the Middle East settlement and the post-election situation in Iraq along with bilateral trade and economic relations during talks in Moscow on Thursday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev approved...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev approved on Friday a long-term policy for the development of the national defense industry.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed on Saturday his condolences over the collapse of a minaret in Morocco in which at least 41 people died.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday demanded the introduction of price ceilings for utility tariffs.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia could raise the issue of the scrapping of a new arms reduction treaty should the United States create an "imbalance," but hopes this will not happen.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin did...

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin did not plan to hold talks with Alexander Lukashenko during his visit to Belarus, the Russian government said on Tuesday, denying speculation the Belarusian president had gone to Venezuela to avoid a meeting.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on...

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday identified the central planks of the country"s economic development in the next two years, putting the emphasis on maintaining macroeconomic stability and balancing the budget.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said...

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Friday he hopes for successful cooperation with the United States in efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Russian prosecutors have not yet received...

Russian prosecutors have not yet received information from Dresden, Germany, on corrupt practices at the high-tech corporation Hewlett-Packard, the Russian prosecutor general said on Wednesday.

Russia"s budget deficit is unlikely to fall...

Russia"s budget deficit is unlikely to fall below the projected figure of 6.8% of GDP in 2010, as the government intends to fulfill its social obligations, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said on Wednesday.

Russia"s Foreign Ministry sent on Tuesday...

Russia"s Foreign Ministry sent on Tuesday a note of protest to Japan over a document describing the Southern Kuril islands as "territory occupied by Russia."

Russia"s gold and foreign exchange reserves...

Russia"s gold and foreign exchange reserves grew $13.52 billion to $440.6 billion in 2009, the Central Bank of Russia said on Thursday.

Russia"s largest independent oil producer...

Russia"s largest independent oil producer LUKoil won an auction on Saturday for a contract to develop one of Iraq"s largest oil fields.

Russia"s largest private crude producer...

Russia"s largest private crude producer LUKoil said on Wednesday it hoped to return to its Iran project under more favorable economic conditions.

Russia"s largest privately held oil company...

Russia"s largest privately held oil company, LUKoil, plans to drill the first exploration well at the West Qurna-2 oil field in Iraq, LUKoil CEO Vagit Alekperov said on Wednesday.

Russia"s leading stock exchanges, MICEX...

Russia"s leading stock exchanges, MICEX and the RTS, opened on Monday with their key indexes going down on news of terrorist attacks in the Russian capital, but recovered soon afterwards.

Russia"s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport...

Russia"s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport confirmed on Saturday ongoing arms talks with Libya, but said no new contracts have been signed yet.

Russia will pick from two to four international...

Russia will pick from two to four international and domestic lenders to manage its sovereign Eurobond issue, a government official said on Tuesday.

Soaring imports into Russia registered in...

Soaring imports into Russia registered in the fourth quarter of 2009 threaten the country"s economic recovery and may plunge it into a new economic decline, a business paper reported on Thursday.

Swiss alpine skier Carlo Janka took the...

Swiss alpine skier Carlo Janka took the Olympic gold in men"s giant slalom.

Switzerland"s decision to ban the construction...

Switzerland"s decision to ban the construction of mosque minarets has sparked criticism from politicians and religious figures worldwide.

Tensions between Tehran and the UN nuclear...

Tensions between Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog over Iran"s nuclear program will not affect the construction of the Islamic Republic"s first nuclear power plant, a Russian senator said on Tuesday.

The development of the Shtokman gas condensate...

The development of the Shtokman gas condensate field in the Russian sector of the Barents Sea will start in the spring of 2011, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.

The head of a Moscow traffic police battalion...

The head of a Moscow traffic police battalion whose subordinates commandeered several private cars to stop a runaway vehicle but refused to pay compensation for damage was officially reprimanded on Tuesday.

The high-tech business park the Kremlin...

The high-tech business park the Kremlin is setting up near Moscow as the Russian "Silicon Valley" will enjoy unprecedented privileges and will be exempt from major taxes, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.

The Indian government has given the environmental...

The Indian government has given the environmental okay to the construction of a nuclear plant in the state of West Bengal, the Times of India newspaper reported.

The London High Court has lifted a freeze...

The London High Court has lifted a freeze in the U.K on the assets of Russian state-run oil major Rosneft in a lawsuit filed by former managers of now defunct oil giant Yukos, a Rosneft representative said on Thursday.

The lower house of the Russian parliament...

The lower house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday passed a bill introducing price ceilings for basic pharmaceuticals.

There is no hard proof that Iran is working...

There is no hard proof that Iran is working on nuclear weapons, but Tehran has to clarify several key issues on its nuclear program to avoid fresh international action, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

The Russian leadership is still considering...

The Russian leadership is still considering whether to buy a Mistral-class amphibious assault ship from France or to build a similar ship domestically, Russia"s top security official said Tuesday.

The United States called on Israel to halt...

The United States called on Israel to halt settlement construction in East Jerusalem, which has become the main obstacle to reviving peace talks between Israel and Palestine authorities, Haaretz newspaper said Monday.

Three Russian emergencies ministry planes...

Three Russian emergencies ministry planes took off for Haiti on Thursday carrying rescuers, supplies and equipment including a mobile hospital to help the earthquake-stricken country.

Toxic gases and ash released during the...

Toxic gases and ash released during the eruption of an Icelandic volcano pose no health threat to Europeans and will only have short-term effects on weather and precipitation, a Russian scientist said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov was...

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov was elected leader of the Party of Regions on Friday.

U.S. Patriot missiles will be stationed...

U.S. Patriot missiles will be stationed in northern Poland about 60 miles (100 km) from the border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad rather than near Warsaw, the Polish defense minister said on Wednesday.

Vladimir Lisin, the owner of the Russian...

Vladimir Lisin, the owner of the Russian steel giant Novolipetsk Steel, was named Russia"s richest person with an estimated wealth of $18.8 billion by Russia"s Finans (Finance) business magazine.

Washington"s continued efforts to build...

Washington"s continued efforts to build a missile defense shield in Europe have complicated nuclear arms reduction talks with Russia, Russia"s deputy prime minister said on Saturday.

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