fucking wow, talk about bending over Putin. Geesus.
these Chinese chaps smell blood........
UPDATE 1-Russia may accept majority Chinese control of big oil and gas fields
* Russian U-turn reflects pressure of Western sanctions
* Foreign know-now needed to tap inaccessible reserves
* "Now we know China better," deputy PM says (Changes dateline, writes through)
By Olesya Astakhova
KRASNOYARSK, Russia, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Russia may consider allowing Chinese investors more than 50 percent stakes in its strategic oil and gas fields, an official said on Friday, an about-face by Moscow that underlines its need for foreign help to develop energy reserves.
While closely guarding control of the oil and gas fields that supply the lifeblood of itseconomy, Russia has forged alliances with some Western companies to obtain the know-how it needs to tap hard-to-reach deposits.
But now that Western sanctions over Moscow's role in Ukraine have all but halted that cooperation, Russia has overcome a "psychological barrier" and is ready to deepen its economic ties with China, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said.
"We have a strategic partnership with China and now decisions are made much faster than before. In particular, we have a gas contract, a second one will be signed soon. Now we know China better: their motives and intentions are understood," he told a conference in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.
"There used to be a psychological barrier. Now it doesn't exist any more. We are interested in maximum investments in new industries. China is an obvious investor for us."
President Vladimir Putin has pushed for closer ties with Asia since the European Union and United States imposed sanctions on Russia last year over its role in the Ukraine conflict, plunging relations to lows not seen since the Cold War.
Last year, he oversaw the signing of a deal, valued by Russian state-owned gas firm Gazprom at $400 billion, to supply China with 38 billion cubic metres of gas per year by pipeline from 2019. So far, Russia sells pipeline gas only to Europe.
FEW DEALS
Despite overtures to China as part of Russia's "pivot east", Moscow has failed to complete a large number of deals and there has been a wariness in Asia about providing financing for Russian companies and banks.
China's CNPC and Sinopec Group have made upstream investments in Russia but only in quite small projects. CNPC has an exploration block but no production as yet.
"Putin is currently in a tough situation. We all know this. One of the ways to help him get out of the mess is trying to improve ties with China," said a senior Chinese oil industry official familiar with CNPC's strategy and Sino-Russian energy cooperation.
"It has been very difficult for CNPC to do upstream cooperation in Russia under Putin. We have tried numerous times before, to no avail. Now the situation has changed, the chance of doing that is higher."
Current restrictions allow foreign investors to own up to 50 percent of oil fields with reserves of more than 70 million tonnes and gas fields with more than 50 billion cubic metres.
Dvorkovich said that 50-50 ownership was "comfortable" for now but added that "if there is a request (for control), we will consider it." He said Russia had not yet decided whether to let Chinese investors take stakes in offshore oil and gas deposits.
As rival Communist powers, Moscow and Beijing endured a long rift in relations during the Soviet period, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told students of the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow that ties were now on "an unprecedented level".
"This has never happened before in history. They are not based on ... a desire to unite against someone but on the matching deep national interests of two neighbouring countries with a huge joint border," he said in comments broadcast live on television on Friday.
Lavrov said he saw "nothing dangerous here, though some are trying to warn against over-dependence" on China.
Most of Russia's oil production is based in western Siberia, where fields are running out. Any new areas for discovery, such as east Siberia and the Arctic, and hard-to-recover resources, would require foreign assistance.
According to BP, Russia's proven oil reserves, the world's 8th largest, stood at 93 billion barrels at the end of 2013. Its gas reserves were at 31.3 trillion cubic metres, second only to Iran's 33.8 trillion. (Reporting by Olesya Astakhova, Katya Golubkova and Timothy Heritage; additional reporting by Charlie Zhu in Beijing; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Elizabeth Piper and Mark Trevelyan)
these Chinese chaps smell blood........
UPDATE 1-Russia may accept majority Chinese control of big oil and gas fields
* Russian U-turn reflects pressure of Western sanctions
* Foreign know-now needed to tap inaccessible reserves
* "Now we know China better," deputy PM says (Changes dateline, writes through)
By Olesya Astakhova
KRASNOYARSK, Russia, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Russia may consider allowing Chinese investors more than 50 percent stakes in its strategic oil and gas fields, an official said on Friday, an about-face by Moscow that underlines its need for foreign help to develop energy reserves.
While closely guarding control of the oil and gas fields that supply the lifeblood of itseconomy, Russia has forged alliances with some Western companies to obtain the know-how it needs to tap hard-to-reach deposits.
But now that Western sanctions over Moscow's role in Ukraine have all but halted that cooperation, Russia has overcome a "psychological barrier" and is ready to deepen its economic ties with China, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said.
"We have a strategic partnership with China and now decisions are made much faster than before. In particular, we have a gas contract, a second one will be signed soon. Now we know China better: their motives and intentions are understood," he told a conference in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.
"There used to be a psychological barrier. Now it doesn't exist any more. We are interested in maximum investments in new industries. China is an obvious investor for us."
President Vladimir Putin has pushed for closer ties with Asia since the European Union and United States imposed sanctions on Russia last year over its role in the Ukraine conflict, plunging relations to lows not seen since the Cold War.
Last year, he oversaw the signing of a deal, valued by Russian state-owned gas firm Gazprom at $400 billion, to supply China with 38 billion cubic metres of gas per year by pipeline from 2019. So far, Russia sells pipeline gas only to Europe.
FEW DEALS
Despite overtures to China as part of Russia's "pivot east", Moscow has failed to complete a large number of deals and there has been a wariness in Asia about providing financing for Russian companies and banks.
China's CNPC and Sinopec Group have made upstream investments in Russia but only in quite small projects. CNPC has an exploration block but no production as yet.
"Putin is currently in a tough situation. We all know this. One of the ways to help him get out of the mess is trying to improve ties with China,"
said a senior Chinese oil industry official familiar with CNPC's strategy and Sino-Russian energy cooperation."It has been very difficult for CNPC to do upstream cooperation in Russia under Putin. We have tried numerous times before, to no avail. Now the situation has changed, the chance of doing that is higher."
Current restrictions allow foreign investors to own up to 50 percent of oil fields with reserves of more than 70 million tonnes and gas fields with more than 50 billion cubic metres.
Dvorkovich said that 50-50 ownership was "comfortable" for now but added that "if there is a request (for control), we will consider it." He said Russia had not yet decided whether to let Chinese investors take stakes in offshore oil and gas deposits.
As rival Communist powers, Moscow and Beijing endured a long rift in relations during the Soviet period, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told students of the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow that ties were now on "an unprecedented level".
"This has never happened before in history. They are not based on ... a desire to unite against someone but on the matching deep national interests of two neighbouring countries with a huge joint border," he said in comments broadcast live on television on Friday.
Lavrov said he saw "nothing dangerous here, though some are trying to warn against over-dependence" on China.
Most of Russia's oil production is based in western Siberia, where fields are running out. Any new areas for discovery, such as east Siberia and the Arctic, and hard-to-recover resources, would require foreign assistance.
According to BP, Russia's proven oil reserves, the world's 8th largest, stood at 93 billion barrels at the end of 2013. Its gas reserves were at 31.3 trillion cubic metres, second only to Iran's 33.8 trillion. (Reporting by Olesya Astakhova, Katya Golubkova and Timothy Heritage; additional reporting by Charlie Zhu in Beijing; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Elizabeth Piper and Mark Trevelyan)
ouch.....
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/worl...ing-as-booze-a-risky-russian-tipple-1.2152930
[h=1]Cleaning products moonshining as booze a risky Russian tipple[/h][h=2]As layoffs and wage cuts hit in wake of economic slump, doctors battle health complications[/h]
As the economic crisis sweeps Russia, a dangerous trend is emerging in the traditionally heavy-drinking country: the rise in consumption of potentially lethal moonshine, medical alcohol or even cleaning products.
Layoffs, wage cuts and price increases are combining to worsen the problem of alcoholism, a long-standing major public health issue, by increasing the mix of dangerous products on the market.
Those who can no longer afford shop-bought drinks are turning to “under-the-counter” alternatives that can cause serious damage, even death.
Dr Polikarpov said: “A number of patients who previously could afford expensive spirits are now forced to reorient in the sense that they use cheaper and lower-quality spirits.”
Sales of legal beer and vodka have fallen sharply as prices rise, buoyed in part by the rising cost of imported ingredients after the rouble’s value tumbled last year.
Analysts said falling sales likely do not mean that demand is falling, simply that it is being pushed into an illegal and dangerous black market.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/worl...ing-as-booze-a-risky-russian-tipple-1.2152930
[h=1]Cleaning products moonshining as booze a risky Russian tipple[/h][h=2]As layoffs and wage cuts hit in wake of economic slump, doctors battle health complications[/h]
As the economic crisis sweeps Russia, a dangerous trend is emerging in the traditionally heavy-drinking country: the rise in consumption of potentially lethal moonshine, medical alcohol or even cleaning products.
Layoffs, wage cuts and price increases are combining to worsen the problem of alcoholism, a long-standing major public health issue, by increasing the mix of dangerous products on the market.
Those who can no longer afford shop-bought drinks are turning to “under-the-counter” alternatives that can cause serious damage, even death.
Dr Polikarpov said: “A number of patients who previously could afford expensive spirits are now forced to reorient in the sense that they use cheaper and lower-quality spirits.”
Sales of legal beer and vodka have fallen sharply as prices rise, buoyed in part by the rising cost of imported ingredients after the rouble’s value tumbled last year.
Analysts said falling sales likely do not mean that demand is falling, simply that it is being pushed into an illegal and dangerous black market.
Putin, terrified:
[h=1]Russia says will retaliate if U.S. weapons stationed on its borders[/h]
A plan by Washington to station tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia's border would be the most aggressive U.S. act since the Cold War, and Moscow would retaliate by beefing up its own forces, a Russian defense official said on Monday.
====
Just another Paul post that blew up in his face.
[h=1]Russia says will retaliate if U.S. weapons stationed on its borders[/h]
A plan by Washington to station tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia's border would be the most aggressive U.S. act since the Cold War, and Moscow would retaliate by beefing up its own forces, a Russian defense official said on Monday.
====
Just another Paul post that blew up in his face.
[h=1]Putin issues veiled threat to the West as he reveals Russia will gain an extra 40 intercontinental missiles capable of piercing any defences in latest attempt to re-ignite Cold War arms race[/h]
.
Vladimir Putin has confirmed that Russia is set to receive 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles that are capable of piercing defence systems in the latest attempt to reignite a Cold War arms race.
Putin made the statement at the opening of an arms show at a shooting range in Alabino, just west of Moscow, which was a huge display intended to showcase the nation's resurgent military might.
The announcement also served as a blunt reminder of Russia's military power amid tensions with the west over the Ukraine crisis.
.
+7
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech at military show, where he confirmed the country would be receive 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles
+7
The Russian president made the announcement at an arms show in Moscow, intended to showcase the nation's resurgent military might
.
- Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia will receive the 40 new ballistic missiles
- He made the statement at a military show at a shooting range in Moscow
- He also vowed to continue a big arms modernisation programme in country
- Comes amid continuing tension with the West over the Ukraine crisis
.
Vladimir Putin has confirmed that Russia is set to receive 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles that are capable of piercing defence systems in the latest attempt to reignite a Cold War arms race.
Putin made the statement at the opening of an arms show at a shooting range in Alabino, just west of Moscow, which was a huge display intended to showcase the nation's resurgent military might.
The announcement also served as a blunt reminder of Russia's military power amid tensions with the west over the Ukraine crisis.
.
+7
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech at military show, where he confirmed the country would be receive 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles
+7
The Russian president made the announcement at an arms show in Moscow, intended to showcase the nation's resurgent military might
.
Again, just another all-time epic beclowning thread
[h=1]Russia undeterred after Kerry phone call, continues flights to Syria[/h]
[h=1]Russia undeterred after Kerry phone call, continues flights to Syria[/h]
Russia has it right here. That part of the world needs strong leaders to keep the local vermin in line.
We got rid of Saddam (who was no threat to the U.S.), and Iraq is now allied with Iran and the entire
area of Eastern Iraq and Western Syria is dominated by even worse people known as ISIS. If Syria were
to fall, do you think it would be to a pro-U.S. government? No. It would be to ISIS. Russia is doing us
a favor by backing Assad, who is much, much more moderate than ISIS and the countless other turd
bag groups of Islamic fundamentalists running around that area of the world.
We got rid of Saddam (who was no threat to the U.S.), and Iraq is now allied with Iran and the entire
area of Eastern Iraq and Western Syria is dominated by even worse people known as ISIS. If Syria were
to fall, do you think it would be to a pro-U.S. government? No. It would be to ISIS. Russia is doing us
a favor by backing Assad, who is much, much more moderate than ISIS and the countless other turd
bag groups of Islamic fundamentalists running around that area of the world.
All time epic beclowning thread
[h=1]Russia plans second big military base near Ukrainian border[/h]
The new base will house 5,000 soldiers and heavy weaponry, according to public documents and people working at the site.
It is further east than one under construction in Belgorod region reported by Reuters earlier this month but still close to the border with separatist-held parts of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, where there has been heavy fighting.
The bases are part of a Russian military buildup along a new line of confrontation with the West, running from the Black Sea in the south to the Baltic in the north, which carries echoes of the Cold War-era "Iron Curtain".
[h=1]Russia plans second big military base near Ukrainian border[/h]
The new base will house 5,000 soldiers and heavy weaponry, according to public documents and people working at the site.
It is further east than one under construction in Belgorod region reported by Reuters earlier this month but still close to the border with separatist-held parts of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, where there has been heavy fighting.
The bases are part of a Russian military buildup along a new line of confrontation with the West, running from the Black Sea in the south to the Baltic in the north, which carries echoes of the Cold War-era "Iron Curtain".
All time epic beclowning thread
[h=1]Russia Carries Out Airstrikes in Syria for 2nd Day[/h]
Russia’s entry into the Syrian conflict, which started on Wednesday with a bombing attack on Syrian opposition fighters, has been angrily condemned by United States officials.
===
Maybe the White House will launch a hashtag campaign against this!
[h=1]Russia Carries Out Airstrikes in Syria for 2nd Day[/h]
Russia’s entry into the Syrian conflict, which started on Wednesday with a bombing attack on Syrian opposition fighters, has been angrily condemned by United States officials.
===
Maybe the White House will launch a hashtag campaign against this!
Look at how scared Putin is!
[h=1]U.S., Allies Demand Russia Stop Attacks on Syria Opposition[/h]
As Russia continued striking targets in Syria, the U.S. was joined by the U.K., France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in saying a bombing campaign begun byVladimir Putin’s government on Wednesday “led to civilian casualties” and didn’t target Islamic State militants. The statement came hours before Putin was due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French and Ukrainian presidents, Francois Hollande and Petro Poroshenko, to discuss a Ukrainian cease-fire pact in Paris.
[h=1]U.S., Allies Demand Russia Stop Attacks on Syria Opposition[/h]
As Russia continued striking targets in Syria, the U.S. was joined by the U.K., France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in saying a bombing campaign begun byVladimir Putin’s government on Wednesday “led to civilian casualties” and didn’t target Islamic State militants. The statement came hours before Putin was due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French and Ukrainian presidents, Francois Hollande and Petro Poroshenko, to discuss a Ukrainian cease-fire pact in Paris.
The Russian military air strikes has accomplished more in one day...
Than a years worth of US EU 'desert dirt bombing' had accomplished in fighting ISIS.one has to question why we who
have been flying missions for a year have not hit hard structures like command centers and training camps.
The coalition has conducted more than 6,500 airstrikes and eliminated estimated 20,000 Islamic State fighters,
of whom were mostly goats and local wildlife and a couple of windmills.
Than a years worth of US EU 'desert dirt bombing' had accomplished in fighting ISIS.one has to question why we who
have been flying missions for a year have not hit hard structures like command centers and training camps.
The coalition has conducted more than 6,500 airstrikes and eliminated estimated 20,000 Islamic State fighters,
of whom were mostly goats and local wildlife and a couple of windmills.
Not a good week for some of the dumber posters here such as the clown who started this thread.
[h=1]Europe needs better relations with Russia: Juncker[/h]
Juncker said tensions had to be eased, even if this was not necessarily popular. "We must make efforts towards a practical relationship with Russia. It is not sexy but that must be the case, we can't go on like this," he said at an event in the southern German town of Passau.
Last week U.S. President Barack Obama accused Putin of acting out of a position of weakness to defend a crumbling, authoritarian ally in the Syrian leader.
But Juncker signaled Europe should take a different approach. "Russia must be treated decently," he said. "We can't let our relationship with Russia be dictated by Washington."
[h=1]Europe needs better relations with Russia: Juncker[/h]
Juncker said tensions had to be eased, even if this was not necessarily popular. "We must make efforts towards a practical relationship with Russia. It is not sexy but that must be the case, we can't go on like this," he said at an event in the southern German town of Passau.
Last week U.S. President Barack Obama accused Putin of acting out of a position of weakness to defend a crumbling, authoritarian ally in the Syrian leader.
But Juncker signaled Europe should take a different approach. "Russia must be treated decently," he said. "We can't let our relationship with Russia be dictated by Washington."
