Geneva - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been slated to open the 39th Davos World Economic Forum this Wednesday as world politicians are expected to take centre stage in dealing with the ongoing financial and economic crisis.
Forty heads of state and government are expected to attend the annual event in the Swiss ski resort, more than double the number that attended last year.
Moscow - Russia signalled on Monday it would overhaul its 2009 budget against the backdrop of plummeting oil prices, Russia's main export commodity, and a forced devaluation of the rouble.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the finance ministry to review the 2009 budget, based on an average price of oil at 41 dollars per barrel.
Moscow - A painting of an ice encrusted window by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was auctioned in his hometown of St Petersburg Saturday for 37 million rubles
(1.14 million dollars).
The original "Putin" entitled usor (pattern) brought in a record price among the group of works by 28 well-known individuals, the organizers of the charitable auction were quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
Berlin - The room in Berlin's Ritz hotel was pleasantly warm as Russia's prime minister met Friday with European gas company executives intent on resolving the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute.
Vladimir Putin emphasized his desire for a solution, although his messages were mixed. "Together, we need to work out how we can support our Ukrainian friends," the Russian premier said during the spontaneously agreed meeting in central Berlin's luxury hotel.
Berlin - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said his talks in Berlin Friday with three key western gas importers were "good."
Speaking after a lengthy meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin said he expected a settlement of the dispute and an end to the blockade that has cut westward supplies of Siberian gas via Ukraine.
Merkel told reporters there might be a test phase where gas pumping was resumed under monitoring by European Union inspectors.
Geneva - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been slated to open the 39th Davos World Economic Forum this Wednesday as world politicians are expected to take centre stage in dealing with the ongoing financial and economic crisis.
Moscow - Russia signalled on Monday it would overhaul its 2009 budget against the backdrop of plummeting oil prices, Russia's main export commodity, and a forced devaluation of the rouble.
Moscow - A painting of an ice encrusted window by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was auctioned in his hometown of St Petersburg Saturday for 37 million rubles 
Berlin - The room in Berlin's Ritz hotel was pleasantly warm as Russia's prime minister met Friday with European gas company executives intent on resolving the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute.
Berlin - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said his talks in Berlin Friday with three key western gas importers were "good."
