... current soon after being introduced — at first their presence in Soviet waters was negligible. But the crustaceans were only biding their time. Many introduced species multiply only very slowly until reaching a “critical mass” when the population explodes. The Kamchatka crabs in the Barents were no exception. The red king crab is now found across about 100,000 square kilometers of the Russian part of the Barents Sea, and the total population is estimated at about 9.25 million individuals...

Russia plans to sign an anti-poaching agreement this year with Japan and China to protect heavily fished Far East crab populations. At the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vladivostok, Russia will sign an anti-poaching agreement with Japan and China to protect Far East crab populations, after a similar agreement with South Korea has shown good results...

... to complain about the injustice of the climate where you live, you can always comfort yourself with the fact that it's probably colder in Murmansk, where snow can linger into May and reappear in September. Murmansk Population: 307,700 Main industries: Shipping, fishing City manager: Andrei Sysoyev Founded in 1916 Interesting fact: Murmansk is home to the tallest building in the Arctic, the 16-story Arktika hotel. Helpful contacts: Mikhail Sokolov, deputy city manager...

... percent per year over the next five years. The food retail segment will build up its indicators roughly at the same level that it did prior to the financial crisis, while the non-food segment will be more active and could grow more than 15 percent. With a population of over 142 million and a growing disposable income, Russia is unquestionably one of the most important markets for most of retailers. In 2011, for example, the overall revenue of retailers in Russia stood at more than $4,540 per resident....

... a troubling statistic in what is part of a growing drug epidemic, the country’s top addictions doctor said Friday. "The number of Muscovites who have consumed drugs at least once in their life is about 1 million, or 10 percent of the city’s population," said Yevgeny Bryun of the Health and Social Development Ministry, Interfax reported. And the number is on the rise growing 1 percent to 2 percent every year, he said. "In 2000 there were 23,000 [habitual drug users], and in 2012...

... children. "The Holy Father reminded us all of the importance of increasing the birthrate," she said. "There are too few of us Georgians, and therefore this is very important." Saakashvili has set a goal of increasing Georgia's population from 4.5 million to 5 million by 2015. Since coming to power in 2004, Saakashvili has focused on modernizing and expanding the economy, attracting foreign investment and pushing for closer ties with the United States and Europe. With Georgia's...

... the Kamchatka Peninsula juts 1,500 kilometers into the Pacific. PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY — At a corner of this huge country, at the very edge of the world, the Kamchatka Peninsula juts 1,500 kilometers into the Pacific. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Population: 179,395 Main industries: Fishing, energy, mining, manufacturing Mayor: Vladimir Semchyov Founded in 1740 Interesting fact: Kamchatka’s eastern coast, where Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located, is one of the most seismically active spots...

... claims that the Bronka project could repeat the negative impact of massive land reclamation on St. Petersburg's Vasilyevsky Island in 2006. "The two-year-long construction created tons of lime deposits, which led to a massive decrease in the fish population," said Alexander Tolkachyov, an expert with the NGO. Risks vs. Rewards The threat of oil spills is rising as new terminals are installed and shipping grows, said the WWF's Knizhnikov. "Construction of new terminals and increasing...

As the protest movement continues in Moscow, I really feel sympathy for the one part of the population that has been suffering the most — translators. Êîíòðîëüíàÿ ïðîãóëêà: test stroll As the protest movement continues in Moscow, I really feel sympathy for the one part of the population that has been suffering the most — translators...

... players that liquidity and yield compression are back on the agenda of regional retail investment. Besides these new dynamics we expect will motivate the kickoff of a new development cycle for construction of modern quality retail schemes in cities with a population of 300,000 to 700,000. In three to five years, this trend will ensure both the expansion of retail chains and considerable growth of the volume of retail real estate investment in Russia. In 2011, regional investment deals accounted for only...

... languages are heard on the streets of the country's ancient towns, and Moscow has turned into a Babylon inhabited by many nationalities and every race on Earth. This influx of migrants from other cultures naturally provokes mixed reactions from the local population. Russian society is polarized between two extremes — those who welcome migration and cultural diversity as beneficial and those who protest it with signs demanding "Russia for Russians" and want the migrants deported. But Einstein's...

... focused on consumerism. But this radically changed on Sept. 24 when Putin announced at the United Russia convention that he would switch places with President Dmitry Medvedev. A European-type middle class now constitutes one-third of Russia's adult population and almost 50 percent of the population in major cities, according to Mikhail Dmitriyev, an economist from the Center for Strategic Studies. What's more, the middle class will grow steadily in the coming years. Its members demand fair elections...

... attacks and try to avert what he said were deliberate efforts to sow discord between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. "There is now … a real threat of the conflict spilling over into Lebanon, where — given the history and ethnic and religious makeup of the population, and the principles on which the Lebanese state is based — it could end very badly," he said. (Reuters)

... of the oldest cities in Siberia, Krasnoyarsk boasts sights like picturesque churches and fountains with dazzling night lighting. But none of them can compare to its main attraction — majestic Siberian nature. Krasnoyarsk Population: 990,600, according to the 2011 census. Its 1 millionth resident was born in early April. Acting mayor: Edkham Akbulatov Founded in 1628 as a military prison. Interesting fact: The major symbols of Krasnoyarsk — the Chapel of Paraskeva...

... Dmitry Medvedev have both identified Russia's demographic situation as one of the biggest challenges facing the country. In one of Putin's campaign articles published in the run-up to the March 4 presidential vote, he pitched a strategy to increase the population from the current 143 million to 154 million by 2050 with the help of measures like providing financial and other support for families with more than two children and by raising migration into Russia by 300,000 people a year. 179742

... and Abkhazia, everything should be done so "people feel comfortable, communicate, relax and do business." Ankvab congratulated Putin on assuming the office of president and stressed Abkhazia's appreciation of Russia. Ankvab said Abkazhia's population has a "positive mood, because the people feel Russia's support." Putin also met with South Ossetian leader Leonid Tibilov Saturday, who made his first official visit to Russia. The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and...

... section head and section head of a military unit 1995-1997: Headed a research and development directorate at the All-Russia Research Institute for Civil Defense and Emergency Situations 1997-1999: Deputy head of the department for protection of the population and territories at the Emergency Situations Ministry 1999-2003: Deputy head, Civil Defense department of the Emergency Situations Ministry 2003-2006: Head of the Civil Defense department of the Emergency Situations Ministry 2006-2007: Head...

... construction last year and were already holding competitions for their local winter sports fans. Now, 26 other spots in Russia were in the running for the next season's build. Petropavlovsk was up against cities like Vladivostok, Ufa, and Kazan, which contain populations many times the size of the entire Kamchatka region. Petropavlovsk's youth set to work. The phrase "Burton Park" was on the tip of everyone's tongue. Social networking sites lit up with links and images dedicated to drumming up more...

... mobile-phone sector in Turkmenistan was dealt a devastating blow in late 2010, when authorities pulled MTS’ license, leaving about 2.4 million subscribers without service. That left government-owned Altyn Asyr as the only provider available to the population of 5 million. “A year and a half ago, MTS stopped working in Turkmenistan due to the expiration of its license. Both MTS and I think the quality of communications suffered in Turkmenistan because of that,” Yevtushenkov said. MTS...

... provisions of the Convention. The Convention first came into force on May 3, 2008, after being adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2006, according to the UN website. There are more than 13 million disabled people in Russia, or 9.2 percent of the population, Health and Social Development Minister Tatyana Golikova said in February, Interfax reported. Several instances of apparent discrimination against disabled people have drawn national media attention in recent weeks. Last week, the mother of...