Standard and Poor’s has raised ratings on 8 Russian banks under its new ratings procedure designed to provide a more accurate estimate of their financial capability. SP reconsidered ratings of 18 Russian banks. The only top ten Russian bank to see a change in its long-term rating is Alfa bank. It has been raised from [...]
Tag: change
December 12, 2011
December 12, 2011
December 11, 2011
Durban deal prevents next decade emission chaos
Durban deal prevents next decade emission chaos Published: 11 December, 2011, 15:47 South African Foreign Affairs Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane (R) receives a standing ovation from Congress of Parties Executive Director Christiana Figueres and hundreds of delegates at the Climate Change Conference in Durban on December 11, 2011 (AFP Photo / RAJESH JANTILAL) TAGS: Ecology, Global [...]
December 7, 2011
Russia election aftermath is no Tahrir Square moment | David Hearst
On Monday thousands of people vented their anger on a Moscow boulevard, chanting “Russia without Putin!” “Revolution!” and “Shame!” after an election that, even though it was rigged in favour of the Kremlin-backed party, United Russia, delivered an electoral slap in the face for Vladimir Putin. It was the biggest liberal opposition rally in years, [...]
December 6, 2011
Putin pledges changes in government after March elections
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday pledged a major reshuffle of federal government and regional governors after presidential elections in March. Putin, who is expected to return to the Kremlin in next year’s polls, said the first step – a reshuffle of the lower house – had been achieved after Sunday’s parliamentary elections. “The [...]
December 1, 2011
FROM A SAFE DISTANCE: Misplaced Hopes for Political Change
FROM A SAFE DISTANCE: Misplaced Hopes for Political Change By Alexei Bayer Published: November 30, 2011 (Issue # 1685) Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was booed at a wrestling match a week ago, and Russia’s liberal intelligentsia felt encouraged. When Putin announced that he would seek another presidential term, disgust around the country was palpable. Over [...]
December 1, 2011
Climate Change in Russia’s Court
Climate Change in Russia’s Court By Adnan Vatansever Published: November 30, 2011 (Issue # 1685) There is one boat only, and we are all in it. Science is clear on what needs to be done to avoid rocking the boat: The world needs to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius to prevent catastrophic [...]
November 29, 2011
Russian doctors perform sex change operation on toddler
MOSCOW, November 29 (RIA Novosti) – A 2-year-old boy underwent a sex change operation in the southern Russian city of Rostov after doctors discovered that he had been born with a set of female chromosomes and reproductive organs, Life News reported on Tuesday Oksana S, 29, from the Rostov Region, gave birth to the baby [...]
November 26, 2011
Revolution reality-check: West to reap fruit of Arab Spring
The epic fight for democracy which unfolded in Egypt in February has turned to major disillusionment. As the aspiring revolutionaries take a reality check, it seems a pattern is emerging among countries caught up in the Arab Spring. Almost a year after Mubarak’s fall, Tahrir Square is again stained with blood as ordinary Egyptians struggle [...]
November 23, 2011
November 21, 2011
November 20, 2011
‘Occupy similar to ‘60s Civil Rights movement’
As Obama’s presidency nears its end, assessments of his reforms are beginning to appear. But editor of The Nation Katrina Vanden Heuvel says that the most significant changes are coming not from the man on top, but from movements at the bottom. “One man, one woman, even a president cannot change the political system in [...]
November 12, 2011
Change in Russian political system will be ‘evolutionary’
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the current political system in Russia remains effective and that any change will be “evolutionary.” “We do not believe that it has fully exhausted itself, but we are not going to stand in place,” Putin said on Friday at a meeting with members of the Valdai discussion club. The [...]
November 9, 2011
Russia tightens grip on its oil reserves
Eager to boost control over natural riches, Russia’s Energy Ministry has proposed to classify more oil reserves as “strategic.” The officials suggest lowering the defining threshold from 70 million tonnes to 30 million. Currently, all reserves that contain less than 70 million tones can be explored by anyone, while those offering more are distributed between [...]
Arab Spring: Out with old, in with the…old?
The success of the Egyptian revolution inspired a wave of uprisings across the region, but as Egyptians once again take to the streets to demand change, some experts are skeptical about the results of the Arab Spring. Author and political commentator Mark Glenn told RT that many Egyptians do not believe that any significant changes [...]