How to rob a bank?

Would you like to rob a bank and come off clear? Then you should be an ordinary middle manager in the West or hold one of the leading positions in a Russian bank. In this case your blame will bounce off you like water off a duck's back. But you had better hurry up, since the law is constantly changing and we have to rely upon human nonchalance.

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I think it is great the news is telling the world how to rob a bank. We as people can never have enough money and their methods are relatively intelligent.

Putin secretly divorces his wife and marries rhythmical gymnast Alina Kabaeva?

A recent issue of Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper said that Russia’s outgoing President Vladimir Putin was going to marry a girl who is 30 years younger. Furthermore, the newspaper wrote that Putin secretly divorced his wife, Lyudmila Putin, in February of the current year. With reference to rumours, La Repubblica wrote that Putin was going to remarry on June 15, Whit Sunday.

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Everyone has secrets. Just because you are rich and famous does not mean you are not human. We all have things to share, and for different people our secrets get exposed different ways.

Madonna invited for private dinner with President Putin and his daughters

Pop star Madonna plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during her two-day stay in Moscow within the scope of her Confessions Tour. Putin’s daughters are said to be big Madonna fans. Russian news agencies report that the president’s daughters, Maria and Katya, made their father schedule a private meeting with the world’s biggest pop star after her show in Moscow. Putin reportedly agreed.

Madonna will have an official meeting and dinner with the Russian president in Moscow. Her first-ever show in Russia's capital is scheduled for September 11. Organizers of the star’s concert in Russia say that the date has nothing to do with 9/11 attacks, but is only a mere coincidence.

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Even if you are famous, you can still have fun. I think it is great that Putin is spending quality time with his family.

Think of Russia as the Toy that Children Don't Like to Share

PITY Dmitry Medvedev. He is just three weeks from becoming president, and the man he is meant to replace keeps stealing his limelight—and his power. Vladimir Putin formally steps down on May 7th. But he has already ensured that he will stay on as prime minister, and on April 15th he accepted the “invitation” to become leader of the ruling United Russia party, a political movement created by the Kremlin. “I am ready to take on the additional responsibility,” he told a specially-convened party congress.


Mr Putin spent the eight years since he was first elected president building up the powers of the office. He neutered the once-combative legislature and appointed prime ministers distinguished only by their loyalty: Mikhail Fradkov and, since last year, the even duller Viktor Zubkov.


Now Mr Putin is reversing the process, robbing the presidency of its omnipotence. As prime minister and party leader, he will have a tight grip on the country's finances and its regional elites. In theory, Mr Medvedev retains the constitutional right to sack him. But Mr Putin could change the constitution, given that he now leads a party that commands more than two-thirds of the seats in the Duma.


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Well the power battle continues. Putin is now stripping power from the role of President to assure that he is supreme leader when he changes positions. It will be interesting to see if any more changes take place in the next few months. It would also be interesting to hear what Medvedev has to say about his friends actions, and if he himself would rather have all of the control.

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Can Computers hear Better?

The first operations on electronic chips implantation were held in Saint Petersburg Scientific Ear, Throat, Nose and Speech Research Institute. The microscopic audio processor will be essential for those who suffer from partial hearing loss. The main Russian otolaryngologist Yuri Yanov states that this chip provides a hearing rise to up to 90 percent from the norm.

The author of the hi-tech decision is the German company Medel, a monopolist in the acoustic implantant industry. The chip is implanted under the skin near the temple; the magnet in the outer side holds an audio processor. The resonator is put in the inner ear.

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Amazing, but somehow my senses say either A.) its not true, B.) it is true but noone trusts Russia or C.) its not new technology. In the US we are actually engineering these types of devices, but regardless it si great inovation and shows Russia's science could be on the rise.

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Selling Weapons Again

Russia’s outgoing President Vladimir Putin is making an official visit to Libya on April 16-17. Libya plans to purchase Russia’s military hardware in the sum of almost three billion dollars. Respective contracts have been prepared on the threshold of Putin’s visit to Libya. However, it is not ruled out that the contract because of Libya's debt.

Putin is visiting Libya on the invitation from the leader of the Libyan revolution, Muamar Kaddafi. Russia’s Finance Minister, Aleksei Kudrin and the Director of Russia’s major defense export enterprise Rosoboronexport, Anatoly Isaikin, are traveling to Libya with Putin, the Vedomosti newspaper reports will not be signed due to the problem with the Libyan debt.

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Once again Putin is trying to sell twenty year old weapons to another country. Since Brazil, and other african countries turned them down, its nice to see that someone is cooperating with Russia. Oh Wait! Libya might be in way to much debt to even pay the 3 billion dollars this will cost. But in actuallity the planes are up-to-date and could be semi-decent fighters. This could help stabalize Russia's economy more, but I doubt the deal will go through.

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Is Russia Wal-Mart's Answer?

Now that it is clear that Wal-Mart's (NYSE:WMT) international operations are growing much faster than its US division, the company is searching for new frontiers. Revenue overseas is growing at a rate better than 20% Wal-Mart has had trouble in some countries. Its operation in Japan continues to loss money and it has pulled out of Korea and Germany.

Now, the world's largest retailer is looking to Russia and eastern Europe for more growth. According to the FT, Wal-Mart "firmly signaled its intention to expand into Russia and eastern Europe, announcing that it had recruited Stephan Fanderl, a German retail executive, to explore opportunities in the region."

It will be at least a couple of years before the market can gauge whether Wal-Mart can have success in the region. It has to compete with other companies like big European retail chain Tesco. The Wal-Mart model clearly does not work in all cultures.

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If Wal-Mart takes on Russia as a new frontier, it could be economically profitable for the country. Wal-Mart operations provide the opportunity for jobs and economic growth. A large company coming to the country can signal positive ideas that Russia is a good place to go. This could lead to even more growth and power in the world community.

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More Putin Power

Mr Putin, who steps down as Kremlin leader next month, told nearly 600 party delegates on Tuesday "I accept the invitation of the party".

Mr Putin is due to hand over the presidency to his long standing aide Dmitry Medvedev. Mr Putin confirmed that he would become prime minister. Correspondents say the party job will give Mr Putin an additional power base.

United Russia controls two-thirds of the seats in parliament, and exerts great influence through its administrative and financial means. The party congress in Moscow was shown live on state-run television. Mr Medvedev declined to join United Russia, saying such a move would be "premature". He is due to be sworn in as president on 7 May. He won the 2 March election by a landslide.

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This new move by soon to be Russian Prime Minister Putin, will give him a new power source. Not only will Putin be sworn in as Prime Minister he will also be leading United Russia, the largest political party in Russia. I believe the people still love Putin as a leader and he desires power. I believe this is why power keeps being handed his way. Putin and Medvedev will make a knock out team covering President, Prime Minister and leading the most powerfull political party in Russia. This will ensure that power will be kept by Putin for years to come. I believe this shows that Putin isn't slipping out of the political spectrum any time soon.

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Motor homes come to Russia

Motor homes or trailers are still an unusual thing in Russia. However, they may become more popular in Russia than in the USA and Europe. A trailer seems a simple way to find a roof over my head.

Vacations in Russia are overshadowed by the problem of searching a good hotel for a fair price. “Because of their small number Russian hotels are very expensive, which naturally does not conform to their service,” concluded spokeswoman for the Russian Union of Travel Industry Irina Turina in an interview with Bigness.ru.

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In different countries new technology comes in different shapes and forms. Motor homes are inexpensive, and in Russia many people use them for vacations.

Putin's New Role

MOSCOW (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday agreed to head Russia's ruling party in a significant shift of the political landscape three weeks before he hands power to successor Dmitry Medvedev.

Putin, who leaves the Kremlin after two terms on May 7, also confirmed he would become prime minister under Medvedev.

"With gratitude I accept the proposal of the party members and their leadership.... I am ready to take on the additional responsibility and head United Russia," he told a party congress in Moscow after being urged to take the post.

The 55-year-old ex-KGB officer's announcement, carried live on state-run television, signalled a reordering of Russia's political mix on the eve of Medvedev's presidential debut.

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Right before Medvedev takes power Putin gives himself one more head role in the government. It has been known that Putin would be the Prime Minister, but he is now also going to be the leader of the most powerful political party in Russia. When Medvedev finally takes power it will be interesting to see whether Putin takes over any more roles and just how much he cuts back.

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Assessment Complete

Judge Killed in Southern Russia

Russia - Russian authorities say a high-ranking judge with the Supreme Court in the restive southern region of Ingushetia has been shot dead.Interior Ministry officials say an unidentified gunman in a passing vehicle opened fire Sunday on 51-year-old Khasan Yandiyev's car in the village of Karabulak.

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Death is a power thing. Why must everyone die, I do not know. We must all learn to accect it and look the other way.

Russia becoming like Britain?

Is it irritating when somebody is watching you all the time? Can you stand somebody’s supervision especially when you are working? It is high time you got used to it. More than every second Russian employee is under surveillance of “the glassy eye”. Video cameras obtrusively rush in office life, break customs and set new rules. Stay on alert!

A step to the right or a step to the left may be regarded as an escape, while Birthdays and various parties that used to be boisterous office merrymaking turned into mere tea-parties. There is no rumour-mongering in the smoking room any more, but there is more distrust and intimidation for directors. Employees miss the times when they could move around the office without leaving their chairs and play with crumpled paper balls in their free time. Colleagues became humble and hardworking; they come to work as per schedule, spend minimum time for dinner and fully devote themselves to work.

Does that sound familiar to you? Most of you work in companies equipped with video surveillance systems. As it turns out, video surveillance affects employee’s work more significantly than other control methods (wiretapping, looking through emails and reading the most frequently visited websites). p – as an attempt to fly away.

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Russia is now reporting that soon all offices will have video surveillance watching every move a person makes. The hope in this is to insure efficiency at the big corporations and offices. No hanging out behing the counter or slacking because your always being watched. Hopefully this will cut down on the slack and bring up productivity. But the plan could back fire if the people dont accept this change well.

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The UN Wants More Money

MOSCOW • UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked Russia yesterday to increase its contributions to the United Nations budget to reflect the country’s growing clout on the world stage.

“Russia is one of the largest contributors in terms of financial contributions and also peacekeeping operations,” Ban, on his first visit to Russia since taking the U.N. post early last year, told a news conference.

“But with the increased development of the economy as well as the political profile, I hope Russia can do more. This is the wish that I have expressed to the Russian leadership,” he said, sitting alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

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Russia has shown that they already have resources to contribute a lot to the UN, but the UN wants even more. They feel that Russia has the ability to contribute more money, and hopes that the country will do so. By giving even more money to the UN Russia could show just how powerful they are and that they truly want to help the world.

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Fighting on a New Level

Federal Security Service of Russia is going to fight terrorists not only be the means of force, but also with ideological decimator. It is well-known that foreign intelligence often uses Nongovernmental organizations (NGO) both to obtain useful information and to force concealed influence on political processes. It was a headache for the authorities to realize.

For example, the militia of Grozny noticed a car parked in the desert area. When the militia demanded to show documents, 2 passengers exerted armed resistance and flew the coop. The third passenger, Salambek Evloev, was arrested. He had the ascertainment of the International Nongovernmental organization. In the boot there were found 2 Kalashnikov guns and 3 explosive belts. The convicted man, though, stated that his mates and he cooperated with World Vision. hat terrorists use exactly the same methods.

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So pretty much, Russia's new way of fighting terrorists is through ideology. That want to confuse the fighting force and try to convince them that what they believe in is false, and they should lay down their weapons for the good of the world. But if we want to be truthful for a moment, anyone that is willing to kill themseleves and other people for their beliefs probably arent going to give them up without question. Personally I belive it is either A.) a way for Russia to avoid going to war, or, B.) They really believe this and it is a complete waste of time and resources.

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Don't Drink the Radioactive Water...

Russian town Chapaevsk, situated in Samara region, dies off. For several decades there have been produced warfare toxins. As a result for the last 15 years the population of the town has decreased in a quarter. The soil and ground waters are filled with dioxins and other poisons. People die from tuberculosis, throat and liver cancer.

In the 20th there has been constructed a secret plant that would produce the inside part of chemical weapons: sulphur mustard and lewisite. During World War II the chemicals were produced 24 ours a day and all the wastes were dumped into the near river and canals.

After the war the factories continued to produce chemical weapons, projectiles and explosives, which badly damaged the ecology of the town. Since early 90th the defense plants haven’t been producing anything. Soon the chemical plant was also closed down. However even today the citizens find chemical projectiles with strange stinky liquid leaking out of it. The town is situated on the bank of the river Chapaevka, all the wastes have been dumped there, so as a result the river doesn’t meet any ecological demands.

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The town of Chapaevsk is facing problems because of the damage to the environment caused by productions of toxic products in WWII. The plants in the region that produced wartime materials did not take the time to safely destroy the material, but rather just dumped it into the streams and rivers. The towns in the water supplies have long haunted the citizens of this region, and the water is still not safe to drink to this day. In order to promote growth and safety these environmental issues are something that Russia is going to need to address.

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Unrest Over Possible New NATO Members

MOSCOW, April 11 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will be forced to strengthen security on its borders if Georgia and Ukraine join NATO, Army General Yury Baluyevsky, chief of the country's General Staff, said on Friday.

At a summit in Bucharest last Thursday, NATO members decided to postpone offering Georgia and Ukraine the chance to join the NATO Membership Action Plan, a key step toward full membership, but promised to review the decision in December.

"Russia will undoubtedly take measures to ensure its security near the state border. These will be both military and other measures," Baluyevsky said.

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Russia is concerned that is Georgia and Ukraine become full members of NATO there will be unrest among citizens against this and possible out lashes towards their country. They have basically said if they are finally accepted as members they will take security measures on their border, but the specifics of these measures has yet to be specified.

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