Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'russia'

Centuries-Old Shipwrecks Found In Baltic Sea

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:52:00 EST

The 12 unusually well-preserved wrecks were found in a 30-mile-long corridor by a gas company building an underwater pipeline between Russia and Germany. Experts say the oldest wreck probably dates back to medieval times and could be up to 800 years old.

Russian Village Haunted By A Hidden Holocaust Past

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:01:00 EST

World War II ended more than six decades ago, but one Russian village on the Baltic Sea is still coming to terms with its role in the Holocaust. In Yantarny, Russia, then part of East Prussia, thousands of Jews were killed in 1945. Even now, some villagers are still unaware of what happened.

Russians Point Fingers Over Olympic Flameout

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:10:26 EST

Canadians are still basking in the glow of the Winter Olympics. But in Russia, which will host the next winter games, the mood is grim. Russian athletes performed like the Chicago Cubs in Vancouver, and the accusations are flying like shots into Ryan Miller's knee pads. Host Scott Simon talks to Tom Goldman about the week's sports news.

In Remote Kaliningrad, Russians Dream Of Ka-Ching

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:01:00 EST

The Russian government shut down all casinos in the country last year but stipulated that some could be reopened — but only in four outlying areas. Can far-flung Kaliningrad become Russia's Las Vegas? Or maybe Atlantic City?

Medvedev Wants Russia's Olympic Officials To Quit

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:08:00 EST

Proof that Russia has traveled far from its Soviet-era past was readily available Monday with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev's open invitation for members of Russia's Olympic committee to resign after the disappointing showing by Russian athletes in the just completed Vancouver games. In the days of Stalin, for instance, the committee members wouldn't have been invited to resign. They would have just found themselves in labor camps. Or worse

Russia Says It's Open To New Sanctions On Iran

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:53:00 EST

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says during a state visit to France that his country is ready to consider new sanctions over Iran's nuclear program. He also noted that it would be "desirable" to avoid sanctions — and insisted they should not harm the Iranian population.

Vancouver Is An Olympic Wipeout For Russians

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:03:00 EST

The Soviet Union once dominated the Winter Games, and expectations were high for Russian athletes in Vancouver. But an underwhelming showing has left Russians at home full of disappointment and shock — and looking to 2014, when Russia will host the Winter Olympics.

Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers For Feb. 25

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:05:00 EST

In The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them, Elif Batuman explores the lives of the great Russian authors, from Pushkin to Platonov, and of the people they continue to influence up through today. Her story makes the list at No. 14.

France Plan To Sell Warship To Russia Fuels Concern

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:08:00 EST

France is considering the sale of a Mistral-class warship to Russia. If the deal goes through, it would be the first time a NATO member has sold advanced military equipment to Russia. The proposed sale has France's NATO allies and Russia's neighbors worried.

Canada Routs Russia, Surges Into Hockey Semifinals

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:06:00 EST

A dominating Canada ended 50 years of Olympic hockey frustration against Russia. The Canadians got a goal and two assists from Dan Boyle during a take-charge first period to beat the world champions 7-3 Wednesday and surge into the Olympic semifinals.

Leaders Try To Cap Russia's Vodka Habit ... Again

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:01:00 EST

Every Russian leader, it seems, finds a new way to try to confront the country's addiction to alcohol. Now, it's President Dmitry Medvedev's turn. His approach: declaring war on cheap vodka. Vendors are now required to charge at least 89 rubles — or about $3 — for a half-liter of Russia's favorite drink.

Canada Routs Germany 8-2, Now Meets Russia

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:06:00 EST

Jarome Iginla scored two goals as a revived Canadian hockey team beat Germany 8-2, setting up a superpower showdown against Russia in the quarterfinals Wednesday — or four days sooner than predicted for a game that seems better suited for the finals.

Putin Signals New Tolerance For Protest In Russia

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:01:00 EST

In Russia, protests are generally small and often shut down by police. But recently, police have allowed a handful of anti-government demonstrations to go on. The prime minister says getting feedback from citizens (like 72-year-old Leokadya Maximova) is a good thing.

Ukraine Premier Tymoshenko Concedes Election

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:11:00 EST

The country's embattled premier lost a Feb. 7 runoff to pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych but has withdrawn her legal challenge, claiming she could not win because the court refused to consider documents that she said showed election fraud.

Iran Moves To Raise Its Uranium Enrichment Levels

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:15:00 EST

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country has new centrifuges not yet in operation that are five times more efficient than the model now in use at its Natanz plant. The announcement comes as Russia joins the U.S. and France in asking Tehran to halt its uranium enrichment program.

Russia-Friendly Candidate Claims Victory In Ukraine

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:55:00 EST

Russia-friendly candidate Viktor Yanukovych held a narrow lead Monday in a presidential election that seemed likely to spawn a court challenge from his opponent. There was no sign, however, that Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was following up on her vow to bring protesters onto the streets in the event of defeat.

Orange Revolution May Fade To Black In Ukraine

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:44:00 EST

Ukrainians vote in a runoff presidential election Sunday, five years after the Orange Revolution swept in democratic reforms. If the pro-Russia candidate wins, Ukraine could re-establish ties with Russia, and one of Europe's major democratic revolutions could become a memory.

Comic Tchaikovsky: 'The Tsarina's Slippers'

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

Tchaikovsky is famous for dark, brooding symphonies, and of all his operas, only one is a comedy. Yet his fanciful score The Tsarina's Slippers is surely among the most charming of all Russian comic operas.

Ahead Of New Year, Russian Shoppers Hit Malls

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:01:00 EST

For a growing number of Russians, shopping is an identical experience to that of millions of Americans. People in big cities like Moscow flock to vast indoor malls where Western chain outlets like Adidas, The Body Shop and IKEA sit alongside domestic stores.

The Story of 'The Tsarina's Slippers'

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

Russia Planning Mission To Save Earth From Asteroid

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:56:00 EST

Russia's space agency chief said Wednesday a spacecraft may be dispatched to knock the 885-foot asteroid off course, but U.S. scientists chances it would hit Earth are very slim.

Putin: U.S. Missile Shield Plans Holding Up Arms Deal

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:15:00 EST

Russia's prime minister demanded that the U.S. share detailed data about its defense plan under a new arms control treaty. He also said Russia would build new weapons to offset the U.S. missile defense system. The U.S. State Department rejected Putin's call.

U.S.: Arms Talks With Russia To Drag Into 2010

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:43:00 EST

Negotiations with Russia on a new arms treaty will extend into next year. The United States has confirmed that it will be unable to clinch a deal this year on a successor to their expired nuclear arms control agreement. A statement says the two sides hope to "finalize" the new treaty next month.

Report: Russian Cyber Gang Hacks Into Citigroup

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:00:00 EST

The FBI is looking into a computer-breach that targeted Citigroup. The Wall Street Journal reports millions of dollars appear to have been stolen by computer hackers linked to a Russian mob. A Citibank official denies that the cyber attack ever took place.

Significant Objects: A Doll With A Story

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

On this day, the Sunday before Christmas, when shoppers are in overdrive, there's an intriguing experiment going on: Joshua Glenn and his collaborators are trying to see if they can take junk — say, an ugly, plastic Russian doll with a big cloth mustache — and turn it into something valuable by simply adding a back story. And it seems to be working. They hired a writer named Doug Dorst to come up with a story for that little $3 doll — and they put it up on eBay. The winning bid? $193. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin has the story.