Category Archives: Russia

On the death of Boris Berezovsky

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Tim Newman

Amid all the speculation, I found this most interesting: In an informal interview with journalist Ilya Zhegule on the eve of his death, and published on Forbes’ Russian language website, Mr Berezovsky reportedly said his life no longer made sense … Continue reading →

Posted in Russia | 2 Comments

Baltic Trip Part 1 – St. Petersburg

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Tim Newman

I’m not sure if St. Petersburg can really be called part of the Baltic region, but this is where I started my trip anyway.  There were a couple of reasons for it: firstly, I had a duty to visit my … Continue reading →

Posted in Russia, Travel | 1 Comment

Who, me?

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Tim Newman

This article in Upstream Online caught my eye: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is all but certain to become president again next month, has said non-state companies should be given access to the hydrocarbon-rich offshore Russian Arctic. Right, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil & Gas, Russia | 3 Comments

Why Some Countries are Poor

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Tim Newman

“Why do some places prosper and thrive while others just suck?”, asks P.J. O’Rourke at the start of Eat the Rich, “It’s not a matter of brains.  No part of the earth (with the possible exception of Brentwood) is dumber … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economics, Nigeria, Russia | 15 Comments

The Police Is Your Friend*

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Tim Newman

Today I got pulled over by a dodgy traffic policeman for the first time since I came to Lagos over a year ago.  I wasn’t driving (I never do: a pale face behind a wheel may just as well be … Continue reading →

Posted in Nigeria, Russia | 10 Comments

Buying Airline Tickets in Russia

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Tim Newman

In February 2011 some changes were made to how you can book tickets on Thai Airways from Moscow.  The website on which the new rules are described speaks volumes about how business is conducted in Russia. Please be informed that … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Russia | 2 Comments

Self-Parody

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Tim Newman

What follows is an email sent from an employee living in company accomodation to the estate services department of a Russian oil company. Dear Olga M., I am resident of Block B leaving in (349). I wanted to inform you … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil & Gas, Russia | 8 Comments

Cherry Picking

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Tim Newman

The BBC reports on Russian president Dmitri Medvedev speaking about Yuri Gagarin: Space exploration remains a priority for Russia, President Dmitry Medvedev has said, as the country marks the 50th anniversary of the first human space flight by cosmonaut Yuri … Continue reading →

Posted in Russia | 13 Comments

Business as Usual Part II

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Tim Newman

It’s good to see that following the Macondo well blowout last year, BP have taken all necessary steps to ensure they don’t lurch into yet another embarassing  crisis: UK supermajor BP and Russian giant Rosneft have been blocked by an … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil & Gas, Russia | 3 Comments

Some Shit They Supposed To Do

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Tim Newman

In Chris Rock’s Bring the Pain he observes that: Niggaz always want credit for some shit they supposed to do. … A nigga will say some shit like “I take care of my kids!” You’re supposed to, you dumb mother … Continue reading →

Posted in Russia | 6 Comments