For the first time in five years Standard & Poor’s has cut Russia’s credit rating to ‘BBB-‘, just above junk status. It warns the tension in Ukraine and ‘significant’ capital outflow could mean another downgrade. Moscow says it is “politically motivated.” “In our view, the tense geopolitical situation between Russia and Ukraine could see additional... 

A Russian Yak-130 combat training jet. The war of words between the United States and Russia has heated up over Crimea and eastern Ukraine with US military officials now saying that Russian fighter jets crossed into Ukrainian airspace several times over the past 24 hours. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists about the issue, said... 

Post-communist countries within the EU are losing population faster than Russia, Mark Adomanis, a Forbes blogger argued in his article. American economist Lyndon LaRouche pointed out that as of 2012 the population of 14 European countries has decreased. He called the EU’s policy in the field of demography a policy of “genocide,” and Russian expert Irina Rudneva agreed with him. Mark... 

Moscow’s refusal to acquiesce to NATO over Ukraine signals new cold war. Top diplomat Christopher R. Hill says that Russia’s response to the Ukraine crisis means that Moscow has betrayed the “new world order” it has been a part of for the last 25 years. In a piece for the influential Project Syndicate publication, Hill, a former US ambassador to Iraq and Korea, writes that Russia’s annexation... 

Ukraine’s Acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia Ukraine acting foreign minister says Kiev is ready to fight Russian troops if Moscow deploys forces to the country. “The Ukrainian people and Ukrainian army are ready to do this. Ukraine will confront Russia. We will defend our land. We will defend our territory,” the Associated Press quoted Andriy Deshchytsia as saying. The Ukrainian official... 

Russia holds military drills near the Ukrainian border as a response to Kiev’s using armed forces against pro-Russian protestors and NATO’s recent European exercises. Russia’s military drills came on Thursday after President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of using armed forces against protesters in Ukraine’s eastern regions. Earlier on Thursday Ukrainian troops entered the eastern city... 

Five anti-government protesters have reportedly been killed and one injured in the eastern Ukrainian town of Slavyansk after Kiev authorities sent tanks and armored vehicles against the local population. “During the antiterrorist operation, three checkpoints erected by illegal military groups have been destroyed in the northeastern part of Slavyansk,” the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said, adding:... 

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday delivered ​​a report to the deputies of the State Duma on the work of the government in 2013. The report from the head of the cabinet lasted for one hour, ten minutes and was interrupted by applause eight times. In his speech, the Prime Minister spoke about the achievements and challenges in the activities of the government, announced the plans... 

US frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) has entered the Black Sea, according to the US Navy, as the Pentagon announces plans to dispatch some 600 troops to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for military exercises. The US claims the ship’s entry is “to promote peace and stability in the region.” “The US Navy routinely operates ships in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and International... 

A shocking report prepared by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev privately explaining his decision today to postpone the introduction of certifying genetically-modified seeds (GMO) for another three years in the Russian Federation warns that these “artificial” organisms are now showing “compelling evidence” of their being related to “bio-warfare agents” due to their “catastrophic effect”... 

Taking proper precautions when going out in the sun, avoiding tanning beds and sun over-exposure can cut the risk of skin cancer. Latest research in Britain demonstrates a dramatic rise in the number of people with skin cancer, adding that more than 2,000 people die from the disease on an annual basis. Each year, more than 13,000 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form... 

Russia will not start certifying GM seeds for at least three more years due to delays in creating the necessary infrastructure, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told MPs. Earlier Russia had expected to allow planting such seeds from June. The delay comes amid the general GMO-skeptic mood that the Russian government adopted recently. The country may even ban the cultivation and import of genetically... 

The Czech government has approved a new project funded by the US State Department, which is trying to promote Islam to Czech public school children and convert them across the country and other European countries, such as France and Spain. The project which is called Muslims in the Eyes of Czech Schoolchildren is being financed with American taxes from a grant the US Embassy in Prague gave them. According... 

A sobering report prepared by Northern Fleet (NF) Commander Admiral Vladimir Korolev that is circulating in the Kremlin today states that the “meteor incident” in the skies above Murmansk Oblast early this morning (02:10 local time) that resulted in a “spectacular fireball” explosion [see video below] was, in fact, the destruction of an American spy drone fired upon and destroyed by “advanced... 

Where do Easter eggs come from? Why do the children eat chocolate rabbits? And what about that game looking for hare’s eggs in the garden? We take a look at the symbolism behind Easter and its traditions and we find some common values and eternal cycles of respect for reproduction and human life. As Easter approaches, let us take a look at the symbolism behind the traditions as we celebrate...