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The Moscow Times Moscow Guide – Winter 2008

Since the middle of autumn one of the most important topics of discussion, could only be … no, not the financial crisis… New Year! The winter issue of The Moscow Times Moscow Guide is entirely devoted to New Years celebrations. Seven great ideas for celebrating the “Night of Nights” will help readers finalise their plans and choose how and where to party, give fresh ideas and lots of practical advice.

And don’t forget – problems will come by themselves, but happiness and luck need an invitation. That why the more cheerful and light-hearted your celebration of the coming holiday is, the happier and more successful 2009 will be for you.

The Crisis: Signs of a Kremlin Fearful Of Unrest
Sociologist Yevgeny Gontmakher has painted a disturbing picture of what might emerge from the financial crisis, forecasting continued unemployment, huge protests and spreading violence.

Market Matters: Huge Grain Harvest No Boon for Farmers
This year Russia is enjoying the biggest grain harvest it has ever seen -- and farmers couldn't be more worried.



Thursday, January 08, 2009 Updated at 31 December 2008 22:36 Moscow Time.

The Moscow Times » Issue 4036 » News

Navy Plans Pirate Patrol Near Africa

21 November 2008The Navy said Thursday that it would keep a presence off the coast of East Africa to patrol against Somali pirates.

The Navy dispatched the warship Neustrashimy to the Gulf of Aden after a Ukrainian ship with Russian tanks and sailors was hijacked in late September. The Neustrashimy, which belongs to the Baltic Fleet based in Kaliningrad, has scared off pirates trying to capture ships this month.

"After the Neustrashimy, ships from other fleets of the Russian Navy will head to the region," Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said, RIA-Novosti reported.

Military forces across the world are trying to protect cargo ships using the sea corridor around the Horn of Africa linking Europe and Asia -- one of the busiest trade routes in the world.

The Russian Navy wants to improve its image after a series of deadly accidents. This month, 20 people died on a nuclear submarine when fire-extinguishing equipment went off, releasing a toxic gas that asphyxiated them.

It was the worst Russian naval accident since an explosion on a submarine killed 118 sailors in 2000.

Russia's ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, said Wednesday that naval action alone -- even involving a large fleet from a powerful nation -- would not be enough to defeat the pirates and that NATO, the European Union and others should launch land operations in coordination with Russia.

Reuters, MT