Russia begins patrolling Abkhazian waters:
The first Russian patrol boat has arrived in the Republic of Abkhazia to protect the sea borders of the young state which declared independence from Georgia last summer following Tbilisi’s attack on South Ossetia.
EU to blame Georgia for the South Ossetian war:
An independent international commission working for the EU has put the blame for last summer’s war in South Ossetia on Georgia, but claim part of the responsibility also lies with Russia.
Melting ice may change world shipping:
Global warming could pave the way for a boom in commercial shipping across the eastern Arctic. Use of the Northern Sea Route, which links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, would save companies time and cut fuel costs.
Iconic Soviet spy dies at 97:
Legendary Soviet undercover agent Elizaveta Mukasey died in Moscow at the age of 97 following a heart attack. She had been working for the country’s foreign intelligence for over half a century.
Russia’s first couple present Siberan bear cubs to Swiss capital:
The Russian president and his wife presented two Siberian bear cubs to Bern at a ceremony on Tuesday, on the second day of Dmitry Medvedev’s state visit to Switzerland.
Russia’s state defense order to rise 8% to $36 bln in 2010:
Russia’s state defense order will rise 8% in 2010 year-on-year to 1.1 trillion rubles ($36 billion), Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Tuesday.
Five police officers injured in mortar attack in south Russia:
At least five police officers were injured when their vehicle came under mortar attack in the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia, police said on Tuesday.
Russia and Switzerland: a comparison chart:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Switzerland on September 21. The Russian leader will hold talks with his Swiss counterpart Hans-Rudolf Merz and meet with leading Russian and Swiss business representatives.
Russian, Chinese warships escort 23-vessel convoy off Somalia:
Russian and Chinese warships have completed a joint anti-piracy exercise which involved escorting a convoy of 23 merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden, a Pacific Fleet official said on Monday.