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Thursday, May 7, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
RUSSIA: Little Suspense Ahead of Election Day
Russians are voting this Sunday in legislative elections that President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party is expected to win by a landslide, and which opposition parties, human rights groups and academics say have already been marred by crackdowns on opposition parties and voter coercion.DEATH PENALTY-RUSSIA: Duma Leaves Punishment on Table
The State Duma concluded its four-year term last week, leaving a stack of important legislation - including that of banning the death penalty - unattended to.RUSSIA: Women Look for Greater Representation
Several women leaders are hoping for a higher representation in parliament after the Dec. 2 elections than the present 10 percent.TRADE-AFRICA: Russia Opens Market to Poorest Countries
Africans looking to do business in Russia's burgeoning market can now export goods under new preferential trade agreements.RUSSIA: Putin Could Lead Another Way
If President Vladimir Putin does accept the post of prime minister offered him by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, he would take a step down in the political hierarchy. For a while, anyhow.RUSSIA: U.S. Report on Rights Challenged
Russian authorities and analysts have hit back at the latest U.S. State Department report on religious freedom, non-profitable organisations and democracy. The report 'International Religious Freedom 2007' was released Sep. 14 by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour of the State Department.RUSSIA-AFRICA: Trucks Traded for Cash Crops and Oil
Russia’s truck manufacturers say they’re ready to do more business in Africa but the country’s image problem may be getting in the way.CORRUPTION-RUSSIA: A Fight Easier Declared Than Won
A few days after his appointment as new Prime Minister, Viktor Zubkov promised to tackle Russia's biggest problem: corruption. But analysts have their doubts how far he can succeed given that corruption has permeated from the top to the lowest positions.RUSSIA: Putin May Be Preparing Only a Political Sabbatical
The appointment of obscure politician Viktor Zubkov as new Prime Minister by President Vladimir Putin raises critical questions about the political successor to the presidency.POLITICS-RUSSIA: Ahead of Presidential Polls Putin Gains Free Hand
It happened eight years ago when former Russian leader Boris Yeltsin ousted his cabinet and unexpectedly catapulted little known Vladimir Putin to the helm of political affairs.RUSSIA: Winter Olympics – Putin Warns Against Corruption
President Vladimir Putin has issued a blunt warning to heads of organisations and regional administrations involved with the preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia’s southern sea resort, to eschew corruption.RUSSIA: Opposition Parties Face Hurdles
A presidential decree allowing political parties to engage officially in public campaigns for parliamentary elections has come into effect, but opposition parties fear they may not get adequate access to media coverage.RUSSIA: Murder Arrests Unconvincing
The public announcement by Russian prosecutor-general Yury Chaika last week that ten people have been arrested in connection with the killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya has called into question the effectiveness of the justice system.ECONOMY: Thinking Big, Russia Misses Microfinance
In the big expansion plans for the economy, financial institutions are neglecting the microfinance that small and medium business enterprises need, experts say.RUSSIA: 'The Army Needs Religion'
Low morale and high crime within the Russian army could be tackled if the interior ministry and the military authorities accept strengthening army chaplaincy as an instrument of change, religious leaders say.HEALTH-RUSSIA: Mandatory Drugs Testing May Not Work
Russian authorities plan to enforce mandatory testing to detect drugs use among students joining academic institutions this year. It will be a tough task ahead.FINANCE: U.S. Uneasy Over Russian Money
Political obstacles could stand in the way of Russian investment into the United States, analysts say.RUSSIA: Talking Its Own Language
Russia is looking to promote its language and culture as a way to improve its image abroad.G8-AFRICA: Shortfall on Help in AIDS Fight ‘Devastating’
Although the Group of Eight industrialised nations agreed at their summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, to allocate 60 billion dollars to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa, health activists say the treatment targets are much lower than originally pledged, which is "devastating news", especially for the millions of people with HIV/AIDS.AFRICA: G8 Has Yet to Deliver on Aid Promises – World Bank
The industrialised nations of the Group of Eight are failing on the promises made in their previous summits to help Africa's economic development and to push for poverty alleviation for those struggling to survive on less than a dollar per day, say World Bank experts and development activists.RUSSIA: Putin to Stand Firm at G8 Summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to reaffirm his disagreement with Washington's view of Russian democracy, reiterate objections to the proposed U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe and give more meaningful explanations on the rules of the international community at the Group of Eight (G8) summit under way in Germany this week, analysts say.« Previous Page — Next Page »
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