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Transmissions from a Lone Star: Notes on the Landscapes Spotted in the Backgrounds of News Reports

Weekly column by Daniel Kalder

Recently I started a daily ritual of watching Euronews after dinner. I’m not sure why I find the channel so absorbing, as when I actually lived in Europe I found it incredibly dull. And not dull in a smug, irritating BBC way but just… soul-crushingly boring, as is characteristic of anything that begins with the chilling prefix “Euro-”.

Women Talk: Could a Bachelor Be a President of Russia?

Weekly column by Svetlana Kolchik

“I really like this guy, but I couldn't possibly vote for him because he's a single at his age, it's just so suspicious!”

Deeper Than Oil: A Day Out at an Iranian Nuclear Reactor

Weekly column by Marc Bennetts

I’m no expert of course, but security at the Tehran nuclear reactor where I spent last Valentine’s Day seemed a touch on the lax side. Aside from a metal detector and a poster of the late Ayatollah Khomenei, there didn’t really seem to be much else safeguarding the facility ahead of what promised to be a milestone event for Iran’s disputed atomic program.

Trendswatcher: Whitney Houston Is Dead, Long Live Whitney Houston

Weekly column by Natalia Antonova

Even though Whitney Houston’s sad demise at the age of 48 was no great shock, the Russian reaction to the news still managed to surprise me.

Transmissions from a Lone Star: Congratulations President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan on Your Outstanding Election Victory!

Weekly column by Daniel Kalder

With the world currently rocked by political unrest and open rebellion, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan on his resounding victory in last week’s elections. Apparently he won 97% of the vote!

Features, Opinion & Analysis »

Russian Church Urges Tougher Blasphemy Laws After ‘Punk Prayer’

MOSCOW, February 22 (Marc Bennetts, RIA Novosti)

Russia should make blasphemy a criminal offense, a leading Orthodox Church official said on Wednesday, the day after notorious all-female group Pussy Riot performed a protest song at the altar of Moscow’s largest cathedral.

The Syrian Crisis: A View from Damascus

Alexey Pilko* for Ria Novosti

It would be no exaggeration to say that the Syrian crisis has become the most important international issue of the day. Dramatic changes are sweeping a huge region where the interests of many countries, including Russia, the United States, China and EU nations intersect. Temperatures are rising in the Middle East, and may soon reach the boiling point.

Europe’s Financial Pill Won’t Cure Greece

RIA Novosti economic commentator Vlad Grinkevich

On February 21 eurozone finance ministers agreed to a second bailout for Greece – it has received a 53.5% reduction of its debt to private banks and will get up to 130 billion euros from the International Monetary Fund.