“Politicians should be diplomatic and should be able to express their
opinions and ideas without using obscenities
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Apparently, it was a mistake of Aleksandr Lebed to take the post of
Krasnoyarsk regional governor
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APPOINTED
 
Yuri Kobaladze, former head of the Foreign Intelligence service’s PR Department,
has been appointed deputy general director of ITAR-TASS. On January 22,
Yuri Kobaladze marked his 50th birthday
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Russian oil major LUKoil has received a $77.2 million loan from the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to finance its participation
in a multinational oil development project
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Politics
President Yeltsin was released from the Central Clinical Hospital on Saturday
January 30, from where he proceeded to his country residence
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Talks in Moscow last week saw progress in a project to finance gold
mining in Russia by issuing gold certificates, or securities denominated
in gold
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China’s growing influence in Laos impacts its longstanding ties with Vietnam, with both countries eyeing Laos’ vast and largely untapped natural resources and hydropower. So far, Vientiane has benefited from balancing the advances of the two neighbors. - Brian McCartan (Aug 29, ‘08)

Late-in-the-week US economic data stirred positive movements around Asia, but such Wall Street-inspired bounces are rarely the stuff of sustainable rallies, and certainly not under current conditions. Robert M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week’s markets.

North Korea’s claim of resuming nuclear warhead development was drowned out by the US Democratic convention, and likely won’t be heard next week when the Republicans take the stage. Whether it is sneaky timing or an enormous bluff, the North can present President George W Bush a full-blown nuclear crisis before he steps down. - Donald Kirk (Aug 29, ‘08)

Tata Motors’ plans to roll out the world’s cheapest car by October are threatened by protesting farmers demanding back their land. That isn’t the only reason investors are dumping stock in the new owner of Jaguar and Range Rover. - Raja Murthy