Russia

Natural Gas Dependence Hobbles Western Response to Crimean Crisis

With the Crimean referendum just days away, President Obama hopes that economic sanctions will cause Russia to back-off its threatened annexation from Ukraine. However, Europe may be unlikely to go along due to it's dependence on Russian natural gas.

March 11, 2014 - Living on Earth

Friday Funny: Flex Your Way to a Free Subway Ride

As Russia prepares to welcome to world to the 2014 Winter Olympics, subway riders in Moscow are being treated to a free trip. The only caveat: You'll need to complete 30 squats to earn your ticket.

November 15, 2013 - CBS News

Copenhagenizing Moscow

A new report by Danish firm Gehl Architects presents recommendations for transforming car-cluttered Moscow. A compact city center along with a strong desire for change are potential building blocks for a human-friendly and sustainable city.

September 25, 2013 - Cities for People

A marriage proposal in Gorky Park

Gorky Park's Transformation from Gritty to Glam

Moscow's Gorky Park, once the rundown backdrop of a murder novel, has experienced a remarkable turnaround. Today, the mayor imagines its recovery as part of his legacy while Muscovites simply see it as the perfect place to play, dine, and relax.

September 4, 2013 - The New York Times

Moscow Gives Biking a Go

While the launch of NYC's bike share program was all the rage in the U.S. last week, Moscow began a program of its own with 220 red bikes at 30 stations. Sally McGrane frames it more as a 'triumph for political activism' than a commuting revolution.

June 3, 2013 - The New Yorker

Russia Takes its Own Route to Auto Efficiency

Vehicles driven by Russia's abundant supplies of natural gas put hybrids to shame with their mileage per gallon. Gazprom is betting that it can expand the market for such vehicles beyond the country's lower-income and rural drivers.

April 12, 2013 - The New York Times

Next Olympic Host Becomes Pawn for Putin's Ambitions

It will cost more than $50 billion to transform the "once sleepy" Black Sea resort of Sochi into the "sleek host" of the 2014 Winter Olympics, writes David M. Herszenhorn. The most expensive games ever is a pet project of President Vladimir V. Putin.

February 8, 2013 - The New York Times

For Russian Retail, It's 1982 All Over Again

Russia's growing middle class is leading a boom in American-style enclosed shopping malls, which are still rather new to the country. Some rival the size and popularity of Minnesota's infamous Mall of America.

January 3, 2013 - The New York Times

Friday Fright: Driving in Russia

You know what they say about not being able to turn away from an accident? Well what about 13 minutes of accidents? We can't help but laugh at some of the insane (and frightening) driving on display in this compilation of Russian accident videos.

December 14, 2012 - NPR

Three-Day Traffic Jam Strands Russian Motorists

Over the weekend, a 100-mile long traffic jam caused by snow, questionable decisions, and underinvestment on Soviet-era infrastructure, left 10,000 vehicles stranded on the M10 highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

December 4, 2012 - The New York Times

Europe's Tallest Tower Tops Out in Moscow

Mere months after it was completed, London's Shard has passed the title of Europe's tallest building to Moscow's Mercury City tower, a "beacon of pink mirrored glass," writes Oliver Wainwright.

November 19, 2012 - The Guardian

Moscow Cyclists Doing it for Themselves

Jennifer Hattam profiles a DIY project of artist Anton Polsky, who set out to create a better bike map for the city of Moscow.

February 24, 2012 - Treehugger

Is the Government Abandoning Moscow?

Nate Berg reports on a plan by federal and city government officials in Moscow to decamp from the central city for offices in newly annexed outer regions, and to redevelop the former office buildings as housing and hotels.

February 15, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Environmental Devastation From Russia's Oil Drilling Considered Routine

It's on the scale of a Deepwater Horizon spill every 2 months - except that it's considered the cost of doing business. Aging pipes, lax oversight and inclement weather all combine to make an estimated 5 million tons of annual spillage.

December 20, 2011 - AP via Yahoo Finance

Creating A Silicon Valley in Russia

Officials in Russia are hoping to create their own version of Silicon Valley by luring tech companies to the Skolkovo innovation hub.

August 24, 2011 - Financial Times

A Russia-U.S. Tunnel?

Russian officials are pushing a plan to build a tunnel connecting Russian territory to the United States.

August 23, 2011 - MSNBC

To Counter Congestion and Crowding, Moscow Expands

Officials in Moscow are pushing a plan to double the footprint of the city in order to ease congestion and overcrowding. Some worry sprawling development patters will follow.

July 27, 2011 - Guardian

Olympic Preparations Spur Private Building Boom in Russian Resort City

Construction is underway to prepare the Russian resort city of Sochi for its hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics. But it's not just venues for the games that are being built.

July 10, 2011 - The Voice of Russia

Soviet Monorail to the Future

The blog of Pavel Popelskii highlights illustrations from a time when Russia was looking towards a bright, space-age future, with nuclear-powered dirigibles and "super mega jet air cushion trains".

April 15, 2011 - scienceillustration.mypage.ru

Russian Olympic City's Vast Transformation

As it prepares to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, the Russian resort city of Sochi has transformed from a "blank slate" into the "world's biggest construction site".

March 18, 2011 - Business Insider

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