Russian retaliation for Prince Charles' Putin-Hitler comparison

Link

A Russian news programme has launched a scathing attack on the British Royal Family after Prince Charles compared Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine to those of Adolf Hitler during the Second World War.The Kremlin-backed Russia Today (RT) suggested that the Royal Family should look at their own Nazi connections before disparaging the Russian leader.

Senior political correspondent Anissa Naouai said: “Russia has asked for an explanation although I'm not sure why because if anyone knows real Nazis it’s the Royal Family.”

I don't what side to take in this fight. I agree with Prince Charles however Russia also has a point, Even though it sounds far fetched to me.

Hayden's Reflection

   Over the course of  a month I have learned more about Russia than I new off hand. Russia is crazy mess in my option, but its a special kind of crazy that creates news. My favorite park was doing research on Putin and Stalin and find a great connection between the two. It is like Putin is living in a Copycat of his role model Stalin. Here's the catch, Stalin was god at what he did and Putin is not. In the book, Breaking Stalin's Nose Stalin was adored by the people and they did what he pleased. I've learned that Russia has still its communist roots, that being gay in Russia is a bad thing and its a bad time to go to the Ukraine of a vacation. If I take away anything from Russia and its problems that some countries don't change and stay the same while others change completely and forget who they were.
 

Andre Reflection

This was an interesting read.
Yelchin does a tremendous job of putting the reader in the middle of Stalin's Soviet Union through the eyes of the young narrator. Sasha is on the verge of becoming a Young Pioneer and is bursting with pride. His father is a high official and though the two live in what we would consider poverty, they are considered privileged.Everything changes when Sasha's father is arrested. The boy's fear and outrage are well described as is the horrors of communism and what it did to this society.
There aren't a lot of children's books out there on this subject matter and that is a shame. This is an accessible read that will help a new generation understand the tragic past of the Soviet Union.

Brad's final reflection for Breaking Stalin's nose

This book was a very quick read and by quick I mean the author barely gives anyone, reader and characters alike a chance to breath. Taking place over a period of two days, Sasha's life if torn apart when his father is arrested and everything he knew about the world he grew up in is called into question. 

I never felt like I got to know anyone in the book, not Sasha, his father or the people around them. The author basically points out who the bad guys are, who the good guys are and makes no effort to humanize anyone. The illustrations while beautifully done, are placed in the book in such a way as to break up the narrative which gave me the feeling I was missing something. Not only that some of the people are drawn oddly, almost like by making them seem weak the author was trying to drum up more sympathy for them. 

The book also ends on a very depressing note, I personally didn't mind it, but any kid who picks up this book may be disappointed if they read it looking for a happy ending. 

Prince Charles's Putin remarks outrageous - Russia

LInk

Deputy ambassador Alexander Kramarenko is due to meet Foreign Office officials to ask for official clarification.The alleged comments were made during a conversation with a former Polish war refugee during a royal tour to Canada.A Russian foreign ministry spokesman said "the remarks did the prince no credit, if he really said this".He said it was better, as one British Labour politician had been quoted as saying, for royalty to be seen and not heard.

Following the Russian embassy's statement, Clarence House said it had "no further comment to make at this stage".Prince Charles has been largely supported on the issue by the leaders of Britain's three main political parties.On Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said he would not comment on a private conversation. His deputy, Nick Clegg, said the prince was "free to express himself".Labour leader Ed Miliband said Prince Charles "has got a point", suggesting many Britons shared his concerns about Mr Putin's actions in Ukraine.The Prince of Wales reportedly made the remark during a conversation with Marienne Ferguson at an immigration museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she works.They had been discussing Hitler's takeover of countries. Ms Ferguson said the prince said "something to the effect of 'it's not unlike... what Putin is doing'".The prince and the Russian president are both due to attend a D-Day anniversary event in France next month.

Russia crash: 'Six dead' in train crash near Moscow

At least five people have died after a freight train hit a passenger train south-west of the Russian capital Moscow, officials say. Link to Article

Several carriages were derailed in a crash, which happened at 12:38 (08:38 GMT) near Bekasovo 1 station, 60km (37 miles) from the capital.

The Train was on its way from Moscow to Chisinau in Moldova. Officials said five people had died at the scene and a sixth had died in hospital. Another 45 people were injured, 25 of whom were taken to hospital for treatment.Officials said several carriages on the goods train came off the rails near the town of Naro-Fominsk and hit the passenger train, which was reportedly carrying about 400 people.

This was unsuspected to me and when I heard this I was astonished and shaken up that 5 were confirmed dead but that they total number was unconfirmed. The train cars were devastated from the crash, and "One of the carriages of the passenger train was crushed by the goods train wagons".

                                                                                             

The cost of Crimea

Moscow has said they will spend billions on everything in Crimea such as bridge linking to Russia and a higher standard of living. Which this year they have spent 7 billion. 
   Crimea will be a huge cost but its not all losses there are some benefits to this. There will be an end to the Gas for Base Agreement. This means Russia's gas prices will be lower and that Ukraine will be paying $100 more for each 1000 cubic meters of gas which will raise the gas prices for the people in Ukraine. 
   Another benefit to Crimea is their natural resources. Russia has estimated Crimea's reserves and got that there is 165.3 billion cubic meters of gas and 44 million tonnes of oil. The profit of  these resources would be over 1 billion and could be far higher with the unexplored offshore fields which could have trillions of cubic meters in gas. A long with resources Russia also has military equipment that was left in  Crimea by Ukraine and only will return some of it which might cause future problems with the cost of Crimea.
  I think this will be a huge investment for Russia and will cost so much money and take a lot of time. It may be worth it for Russia with all of the resources Russia could use or sell in Crimea.