On Saturday May 17 this site was attacked by a Russian, who left behind a trail of technical identifiers, and whose identity is known. The feedback confirms the accuracy and value of the materials posted on the site during the past week. We appreciate the backhanded acknowledgement.

by John Helmer - Sunday, May 18th, 2008
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The document is available here.

by John Helmer - Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
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Many things can make a person greater than he or she really is, except for time. Time activates the bacteria that strip the flesh off the bones, until only a forensic pathologist can detect the tiny signs of individuality; and even they add up to nothing more than a catalogue of pain and death. Time […]

by John Helmer - Saturday, December 22nd, 2007
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By John Helmer in Moscow Mystery American company takes concession to mine large antimony reserves in Tajikistan. Antimony is one of the rare metals for whom new applications are being devised in electronics, battery manufacture, and flame retardants, but whose worldwide supply is fast running out. That imbalance between supply and demand makes for highly […]

by John Helmer - Monday, October 22nd, 2007
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OPINION AND ANALYSIS “It’s pleasant to be here, you feel comfortable, and you don’t feel people are watching you,” Roman Abramovich on buying Chelsea Football Club in London, for equity and debt totaling $240 million. Russian villagers like to say that if you drink you die; and if you don’t drink you die, so it’s […]

by John Helmer - Tuesday, August 7th, 2007
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By John Helmer in Moscow Oleg Deripaska is under unexpected personal pressure, at home and abroad, just when his plan to take control of one of the largest bauxite and aluminium producers in the world is close to final government approval. And that is exactly why the trouble for Deripaska is growing now. Russian government […]

by John Helmer - Saturday, May 19th, 2007
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By John Helmer in Moscow The decision of the Estonian government to remove the city’s Soviet war memorial and the graves of Red Army soldiers who fell in the last war against Germany has been an on/off thing for months. Now that it’s on, clashes between protesters and supporters, have already cost one life (Russian); […]

by John Helmer - Friday, May 18th, 2007
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By John Helmer in Moscow Never complain, never explain — that was the advice of the worst loser in modern American politics, Richard Nixon. Norilsk Nickel, the lead mining company of Russia and biggest nickel producer in the world, appears not to understand how to lose, now that its bid for LionOre has been topped […]

by John Helmer - Friday, May 18th, 2007
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Yury Trutnev, the Russian minister in charge of issuing mining licences, had a youthful reputation he was proud of in the martial arts. Very recently, he was so keen to test his prowess as a big-game hunter, he insisted on going on a safari in a South African game-park. Victor Vekselberg, the metals magnate who […]

by John Helmer - Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
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It is unprecedented in corporate takeover practice for white knights to beg to pay more for the privilege of rescuing those who appeal for help; and positively quixotic for them to accept less for their chivalry. However, Russian steelmaker Alexei Mordashov appears so keen to sell out his assets, and ride his rapidly thinning charger […]

by John Helmer - Wednesday, June 21st, 2006
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