Friday sees Russia finally get to join the World Trade Organization, after nearly two decades of talks. The long-anticipated accession will be a boon for some industries, but is likely to hit tough on others, so Russians greet it with mixed feelings. The signing of the package of documents on Russia’s joining the WTO is [...]
Tag: itar tass news
December 16, 2011
December 4, 2011
Evgeni Plushenko leaves politics to train for 2014 Sochi Olympics
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Evgeni Plushenko, a former Olympic champion figure skater, has reportedly left politics in St. Petersburg to train for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The Itar Tass news agency quoted Plushenko as saying Friday that he is leaving politics because “it is impossible to prepare for the competition while engaging in politics.” The [...]
November 26, 2011
Russia Sets Presidential Poll Date
The upper house of Russia’s parliament says that the country’s presidential election will be held March 4 of next year. The ITAR-TASS news agency reports that the senate unanimously backed the date. An official from the Central Electoral Commission had initially announced an election date in July, based on electoral rules. Meanwhile, in related news, [...]
November 21, 2011
Stalin’s grandson calls to clear leader’s name over Katyn
Grandson of Josef Stalin filed a suit against the Russian parliament, demanding to admit that his grandfather was not guilty of the Katyn Massacre of 1936-1938. 75-year-old Evgeny Gzhugashvili demands a review of the acknowledgement stating that the “Katyn crime was committed at the direct order of Stalin and other Soviet leaders.” This is not [...]
November 18, 2011
Drogba may become another diamond in Anzhi squad
Chelsea star forward Didier Drogba has been named the next transfer goal of the big-spending Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala. The English paper Daily Mail claims Anzhi owner Suleiman Kerimov is ready to offer the 33-year-old Ivorian as much as 16 million euro per year. The talks are expected to resume in January 2012, when the [...]
November 1, 2011
Fewer Russians ending up in pre-trial cells – officials
The number of people in pre-trial detention has dropped significantly in the last ten years, says Russia’s Prison Service. There are around 107,800 people awaiting trial who are not being kept in pre-trial detention, the authorities told journalists. This is almost 20 per cent less than in January 2009’s figure of 133,200. “Pre-trial isolators are [...]
October 25, 2011
Libyan reformer or playboy revolutionary?
Saif al-Islam was once heralded as Libya’s knight in shining armor. Now the liberal-minded philanthropist and jet- set socialite has found himself in the unlikely position of carrying the flag of resistance for his slain father Muammar Gaddafi. Saif al-Islam, the second son of the deceased former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was once a prominent [...]
October 22, 2011
Abkhazia successful in hosting Domino Worlds
The Dominican Republic has won the Domino World Championship, which took place in the capital of the Republic of Abkhazia, Sukhum. The Dominicans were the best in both individual and team competition, and received $24,000 out of the event’s $100,000 prize fund. Second place went to domino players from Venezuela, with Russia finishing ninth, while [...]