Russia

Russian billionaire invests in U.S. genetics company 23andMe

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SAN FRANCISCO - Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, best-known for investments linking consumers to the Internet, is placing a bet on genetics.

Putin needs more than rhetoric to win over weary nation

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin will need to mix fresh ideas with his trademark patriotism and tough-guy image on Wednesday when he lays out his plans to a cynical population weary of corruption and poor state services.

Russian billionaire invests in U.S. genetics company 23andMe

SAN FRANCISCO - Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, best-known for investments linking consumers to the Internet, is placing a bet on genetics.

Lady Gaga accused of illegal gay rights promotion in Russia

ST PETERSBURG, Russia - A political ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking legal action against American pop star Lady Gaga for promoting gay rights to minors during a concert on Sunday.

Entertainment, Fashion, Music, 2:07pm EST

Russian opera's Galina Vishnevskaya dies at 86

MOSCOW - Galina Vishnevskaya, the Russian opera singer whose soprano voice entranced composer Benjamin Britten and persuaded violinist Mstislav Rostropovich to become her third husband has died at the age of 86, her theatre said on Tuesday.

Entertainment, Fashion, 12:12pm EST

Kremlin says no politics in order to test Northern American meat

NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia - The Kremlin said Russia must test imports of U.S. and Canadian beef and pork on grounds of safety, not politics, rejecting concerns the new demands, which could affect U.S. sales of $500 million, are in response to a U.S. human rights bill.

World, United Nations 11:56am EST

Russia rejects U.S. pressure to seek Assad's exit: report

MOSCOW - Russia has resisted the most recent U.S. appeals to Moscow to persuade Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to quit and threaten Damascus with sanctions in hopes of ending Syria's civil war, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported on Tuesday.

Abramovich's Norilsk stake cut in revised deal to end billionaires' feud

HONG KONG - Russia's RUSAL Plc said on Tuesday that Kremlin-favored tycoon Roman Abramovich would buy a smaller stake in Norilsk Nickel , the world's largest nickel and palladium miner, than previously agreed in a revised deal that will also give him reduced voting rights.

Russia's Hermitage Museum denounces blasphemy investigation

MOSCOW - The head of Russia's renowned Hermitage Museum accused Russian authorities on Monday of fostering "mob rule" in taking up complaints by Russian Orthodox Christians over a British exhibit they said injured religious feelings.

World, Arts, Oddly Enough 10 Dec 2012

Georgia, Russia to hold first bilateral talks since war

TBILISI - Russia and Georgia will hold the first bilateral talks since their 2008 war this week marking an improvement in ties after bitter Russia foe President Mikheil Saakashvili's party lost control of parliament in October elections.

World, 10 Dec 2012
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North Korea launches rocket in defiance of critics

SEOUL/TOKYO - Isolated and impoverished North Korea launched its second long- range rocket of 2012 on Wednesday and may have finally succeeded in putting a satellite into space, the stated aim of what critics say is a disguised ballistic missile test.

Ethiopia and Eritrea: An elusive peace on the cards?

Ethiopia and Eritrea are still at each others’ throats. The two neighbours fought hammer and tongs in sun-baked trenches during a two-year war over a decade ago, before a peace deal ended their World War I-style conflict in 2000. Furious veRed Sea, UNrbal battles, however, have continued to this day.