Li Na Beat Sharapova 6-2, 6-2 to Reach Australian Open Women Final

EFT Report, Melbourne: 2011 runner-up China’s Li Na thrashed Russian world number two Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hour 33 minutes on January 24, 2013 to reach her second Australian Open’s women final.

The 30-year-old Chinese will meet the winner of the second semi-final match between world number one and defending champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and American 19-year-old Sloane Stephens, who defeated Serena Williams in the Quarters.

Li Na is the first tennis player from China to win a singles Grand Slam, wining the 2011 French Open title.

Li Na Beat Sharapova 6-2, 6-2

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Punk-Rock Group ‘Pussy Riot’ Members Sent to Siberia Prison

Two members of the Russian’s feminist punk-rock group Pussy Riot, who hit headlines recently because of their protest against Vladmir Putin policies, were sent to Siberia's harsh labor camps after losing their appeals on October 10.

Maria Alyokhina (24) and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (22) were sentenced to two years in jail. The third group member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was freed on probation and her sentence suspended.

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Russia, Macau Open Visa-Free Travel

A bilateral agreement on non-visa travel between Russia and Macau comes into effect on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012.

The agreement was signed in June to boost Russia's tourist exchange with the exotic special administrative region of China, widely known as Asian Las Vegas.

According to the Russian Embassy in China, more than 16,000 Russian tourists visited Macau in 2011.

A similar visa-free regime already exists between Russia and Hong Kong, which is another special administrative region of China.

The number of Russian tourists visiting Hong Kong increased three fold since the respective visa-free agreement came into effect in 2009.

Macau, a former Portuguese colony, became a special administrative region of China in 1999 and has gradually turned into a glitzy gambling capital, which every year generates five times more in gross gaming revenues than the casinos in Las Vegas.

Under the policy of "one country, two systems," China is responsible for the territory's defense and foreign affairs, while Macau maintains its own legal system, police force, monetary system, customs policy, and immigration policy.

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Zenit St Petersburg Signs Hulk for £32 Million

Big spending Russian club Zenit St Petersburg has signed the most-sought-after striker in Europe, Brazilian striker Hulk from FC Porto for £32 million.

The 26-year-old penned a five-year deal with the Russian champions. The Brazilian joined FC Porto in 2008 and has 54 goals from 103 league matches to his credit.

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Lady Gaga’s First Russian Concert on Dec. 9

Pop star Lady Gaga will perform her first ever concert in Russia in December, gig organizers said.

The Dec. 9 gig in St. Petersburg is part of the singer's Born This Way Ball tour, which kicked off in South Korea in April.

She will be supported by British band The Darkness.

Lady Gaga was due to play a gig at a musical award ceremony in Moscow earlier this year, but it was cancelled after the singer's agents said they could not secure the performance.

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Serena Thrashes Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 to Win Olympic Gold

United State’s Serena Williams won the Olympic gold medal in women tennis singles event on Saturday, destroying Russia’s Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1in a very one-sided final match.

In a match that lasted 62 minutes, Williams outplayed, out-powered Sharapova winning the first nine games before Sharapova could managed to take a game. This is Serena’s first Olympic singles medal; she has won two doubles titles at the Olympics with older sister Venus.

Top-seeded Belarus’s Victoria Azarenka took the bronze medal defeating No.14-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia 6-3, 6-4.

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Russia’s Sharapova to Take on US’s Serena Williams for Olympic Gold

Russia’s Maria Sharapova will take on United State’s Serena Williams in the Final of the London Olympic Tennis Ladies Single event on Saturday.

Sharapova dispatched off fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-2 6-3 in the semis while Serena Williams decimated world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-1 6-2 in the other Semi-Final.

Serena and Sharapova will now face each other not just for a gold medal but also to become only the second woman after Germany’s Steffi Graf to win all four grand slams and the Olympic title in their career. Serena Williams has a 8-2 win/lost (all-time) against Maria Sharapova.

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Olympic Tennis: Sharapova, Serena, Azarenka Reach Semis

Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, French Open winner Maria Sharapova and Wimbledon titlist Serena Williams posted quarterfinal victories Aug. 3, 2012 at the Olympic Games tennis event.

The reigning world No. 1 Azarenka handled seventh-seeded German left-hander Angelique Kerber 6–4, 7–5 on Centre Court at the All England Club, where the Belarusian's semifinal opponent on Aug. 4 will be the formidable Williams.

Azarenka will face Williams for a 10th time on Aug. 4, with the American great holding a commanding 8–1 lead in their career head-to-head matchups.

The third-seeded Sharapova, meanwhile, dismissed fellow former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters 6–2, 7–5 in 1 hour, 27 minutes on Centre Court. The Russian superstar is now 4–5 lifetime against the Belgian veteran. Their previous eight matches were all staged on hardcourts.

This marked the 29-year-old Clijsters' last match on Centre Court, as she will retire from tennis for a second time following the upcoming US Open.

Sharapova captured the French Open in June to complete a career Grand Slam and needs an Olympic title to secure a "Golden Slam."

Her semifinal opponent will be compatriot Maria Kirilenko, which guarantees a Russian in the women's gold-medal match. Russia swept the women's singles medals four years ago in Beijing, when Elena Dementieva captured gold, Dinara Safina took home silver, and Vera Zvonareva secured bronze.

The fourth-seeded Williams waltzed past eighth-seeded fellow former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6–0, 6–3 on Court 1. Williams whipped Wozniacki in 77 minutes, striking 23 more winners (30–7) and holding her massive serve throughout on Day 6 of this nine-day tournament.

The mighty Williams, who captured her fifth Wimbledon title in this London suburb just last month, has now won her last 15 matches overall since being shocked by France's Virginie Razzano in the first round at the French Open in May.

The 30-year-old Williams, who is a perfect 11–0 on grass this season, owns 14 major singles titles, but, like Sharapova, needs an Olympic gold medal to complete a "Golden Slam."

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Russian Football Chief Fursenko Resigns After Euro 2012 Exit

Russian soccer chief Sergei Fursenko quit his post on June 25, 2012 following Russia's disappointing showing at Euro 2012.

Fursenko, who also sits on the UEFA executive board, resigned after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I would like to apologies to our fans for such a result. I have taken a difficult decision - to step down as head of the Russian Football Union (RFU)," Fursenko told his close friend Putin.

Fursenko has been heavily criticized for the team's poor showing at the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, where they failed to advance past the group stage following a 1–0 upset by unfancied Greece in their final Group A match.

Fursenko, 58, was appointed as the RFU boss in February 2010 after working as the president of Russian Premier League club Zenit St Petesburg for four years.

He was largely responsible for hiring Dutchman Dick Advocaat as Russia coach in 2010 after deciding against extending a contract of fellow-Dutchman Guus Hiddink [ Images ], who led the Russians to the Euro 2008 [ Images ] semi-finals. The team then failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Fursenko's resignation was greeted with mixed reviews from Russian soccer experts.

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eBay Opens Office in Russia

The world’s largest online auction and shopping website eBay has opened its representative office in Russia. This local company will be called eBay Marketplaces.

The office will be headed by Vladimir Dolgov, a former Google manager in Russia. The company has long thought of entering the Russian market.

Website ebayrussia.ru allows access to a global auction catalog.

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Euro 2012: Czech Republic vs Poland; Greece vs Russia Today

Despite two good performances at Euro 2012, co-hosts Poland must win their final group game against the Czech Republic to advance from Group A.

Poland have drawn their opening two group matches of the European Championship and know that anything other than victory on Saturday (June 16, 2012) against the Czechs will mean their time at the tournament is over.

Czech Republic's Petr Cech has let in five goals from 12 shots on target so far at the continental championships and has not been helped by poor defending.

In fact, Czech Republic have conceded almost two goals per game on average in 2012, which will give Poland plenty of confidence ahead of Saturday's match.

Smuda is hopeful defender Damien Perquis, as well as midfielders Dariusz Dudka and Eugen Polanski, will be fit after suffering injuries against Russia.

Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky may not play in Wroclaw after admitting he can barely stand due to an injured Achilles tendon, while there is also some doubt on Cech who has a shoulder problem.

Greece vs Russia

Russia is set to take on Greece in the last round of games in Group A. Russia's opening performances against the Czech Republic and Poland suggest that they are capable of defeating anyone this summer. With Greece needing a win to stay in the competition, and Russia only a point, it is little wonder Dick Advocaat's team are favorites to reach the quarter-finals.

Greece's injury-ravaged squad have yet another casualty in the form of Kostas Chalkias, who limped out of his side's 2–1 loss to Czech Republic mid-way through the first-half. The PAOK goalkeeper was replaced by Michalis Sifakis on Tuesday, but Alexandros Tzorvas could also be in contention to replace the 38-year-old. Russia, by contrast, could be set to stick to the same starting XI that earned them a convincing victory against Czech Republic and a credible draw against Poland.

History is not on the side of the Greeks, who have lost to the Russians in each of the last two group stages of the competition in 2004 and 2008. Besides, the former Soviet Union national team were victorious in nine of their 11 meetings with Greece.

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Anand Wins His Fifth World Chess Championship Title

Defending champion Vishwanathan Anand of India clinched the World Chess Championship title for the fifth time in Moscow on May 30, 2012 defeating Israeli challenger Boris Gelfand in a rapid-chess tie-breaker.

Anand sealed his fourth-consecutive world title beating Gelfand 2.5–1.5 in the four-match tie breaker at Moscow's State Tretyakov Gallery. The tournament went into the tie-breakers after Anand and Gelfand drew the 12th game on May 28. They were tied 6–6 after the final round.

In the tie-breaker, Anand went ahead after winning the second game in 77 moves following a draw in the first in 33 moves. The remaining two games also ended in a draw for a result of 2.5–1.5 as Anand defended his world championship title for the third time in a row.

Anand will receive $1.5 million, while challenger Gelfand bags $1 million.

Anand said he was too tense to be happy.

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World Chess Championship in Moscow From May 11–28

The World Chess Championship 2012 will be held at the Engineering Building of the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia from May 11–28, 2012.

Current world champion Viswanathan Anand of India will take on Boris Gelfand of Israel, winner of the Candidates tournament. The match will be held under the auspices of FIDE, the World Chess Federation. Anand is the defending champion, having held the title since 2007 and holds a 6-5 overall record against Gelfand.

The $2.55 million championship will see 12 games from May 11 to 28, with a playoff on May 30, if required.

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Russia to Set up Aerospace University

Russia is planning to set up an aerospace university to produce a new generation of professionals for the aviation and space industries.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said: "We have plans connected with the creation of a modern aerospace university, where we will produce a broad range of specialists, for aviation, and also the rocket and space industries."

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Russia to Ban Indoors Smoking

Russia is due to ban smoking in all enclosed spaces in an effort to stamp out the habit that kills up to 500,000 people every year, the health ministry said.

"All disagreements between ministries over the ban have been resolved," a ministry spokesperson said.

The bill is still subject to approval by the parliament.

The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the bill, describing it as a "breakthrough" for Russia.

More adults smoked in Russia than in any other heavy-smoking country in the world, the WHO concluded in a report released last year.

It said nearly 40 percent of the country's 143-million-strong population were smokers.

Smoking-related diseases kill as many as 350,000 to a half million of Russians every year, according to Russian officials.

In 2010, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin approved a government anti-smoking program which aims to cut the number of adult smokers by a quarter by 2015.

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International Tourist Fair Begins in Moscow

The annual international tourist fair begins in Moscow from March 17-20, 2012. More than 85,000 people are expected to visit the city during the festival.

The fair started at the Crocus Expo center on Saturday.

According to the Russian State Committee for Tourism the popularity is growing from year to year.

The number of participants has increased to 1,300 people in 2012.

They include representatives of tourism companies and tourist agencies from almost all Russian regions and foreign countries such as Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Norway, Tunisia, Morocco, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, Cuba, China and Thailand.

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Moscow to Get Solar-Powered Bus Stops

Though the Russian capital city of Moscow is not known for its sunshine, authorities believe the city gets enough sunlight to afford solar-powered bus stops.

The stops, which will use solar energy collected during day to provide lightning for passengers at night, are part of the City Hall's strategy for tackling Moscow's abysmal transportation problems, said Deputy Mayor Nikolai Lyamov.

Moscow will invest 192 billion rubles (around $6.5 billion) for updating its mass transit and road network in 2012, Lyamov said.

In addition to solar-powered bus stops, money will also be spent on roadside traffic jam warning boards, and new "adaptive" traffic light systems.

The total number of solar-powered bus stops was not specified.

Moscow gets about 1,700 hours of sunshine a year — more than London — but the insolation level, or measure of energy, the Russian capital get from the sun is far below Miami or Paris, said the Moscow-meteo.ru website.

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Nissan to Launch Cheap Automobiles in India, Brazil, Russia

Nissan Motor Co plans to launch cheap automobiles tailored for emerging markets under its old Datsun brand in 2014.

The vehicles, priced around 500,000 yen ($6,200), will initially be built and sold in India, Indonesia and Russia. Japan's No. 2 automaker hopes to sell 300,000 Datsuns a year soon.

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Poland, Ukraine to Host Euro 2012 From June 8–July 1

Poland and Ukraine will jointly host the 16-nation Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) European Football Championship, known as Euro 2012 for the first time, from June 8–July 1, 2012.

Euro 2012 will take place in four Polish cities of Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw and Poznan as well as four Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Lvov, Donetsk and Kharkov. Tournament's opening match will be held on June 8 in Warsaw and the teams playing the opener will be Poland and Greece.

Euro 2012 Participating Teams:

* Croatia
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* England
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Italy
* Netherlands
* Poland (co-hosts)
* Portugal
* Republic of Ireland
* Russia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Ukraine (co-hosts, first appearance)

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World’s Largest Quran in Russian Mosque

The Holy Quran kept at Kul Sharif (also spelled as “Qolsharif”) Mosque in Kazan, Russia has been awarded a Guinness World Records certificate for being the world’s largest.

This Holy Quran was made in Italy. Printed on Scotland paper, its size is 150×200 cm, has 632 pages and weighs 800 kg. The cover is made of malachite and semi-precious stones and is encrusted with phyanite, jade, gold and silver leaf.

In June, this Quran will be transferred to Bolgary city in Tatarstan, an autonomous republic within Russia, and will be deposited in a building erected to commemorate the adoption of Islam as the state religion of Volga Bulgaria in 922.

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