News From Russia:
India to assemble Russian “flying tanks”:
In July India is to begin assembly of Russia’s main battle tank, the T-90. Up to now the country has bought only fully assembled tanks, but now it will build them with parts supplied by Russia.
Georgian opposition plans to expand protests:
Georgia’s opposition has announced plans to extend protests against President Mikheil Saakashvili across the South Caucasus state, an opposition leader said on Thursday.
Chief suspect in Ingush president assassination attempt named:
The assassination attempt on the President of Ingushetia was organized by the leader of a militant group Magomed Yevloev, the Chechen republic’s Interior Minister has said.
Did nano-thermite take down the WTC?:
Could the most audacious terrorist attack in history be a “sophisticated masterpiece of demolition”?
What the Russian papers say:
MOSCOW, July 9 (RIA Novosti) Russia, U.S. see the ‘reset’ differently / Japan views Russian desire to mend relations as sign of weakness / Moscow patriarchy to participate in lawmaking / Duties on GPS devices may increase 10 times
Fifth anniversary of jouranalist’s murder:
Russian American journalist Paul Klebnikov remembered five years after he was shot in Moscow. The case remains unsolved, but new hopes emerged as U.S. and Russian authorities agreed to cooperate.
Russian Air Force denies spy drone missions over Georgia:
Russia’s Air Force chief dismissed on Thursday Georgian claims that Russia was spying on its territory using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Russian chess legends Karpov, Kasparov to clash in Spain:
Russian chess legends Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov are to renew their rivalry in a showdown in Valencia in late September.
First Thai Orthodox priest ordained in Moscow:
Father Daniil, born Danay Vanna, has completed his studies in the seminary. Soon he will be heading to Thailand where he is to become the country’s first Thai Orthodox priest.
G8 leaders support Russia-U.S. agreement on arms reduction:
Participants in the G8 summit in Italy have unanimously backed recent Russian and U.S. agreements to conclude a new strategic arms reduction deal by the end of the year, a Russian deputy foreign minister said on Thursday.
PACE move to deny Russia vote causes surprise in Moscow:
Moscow is confused over an initiative by some PACE members to try and deny Russia the right to vote during assembly sessions, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Russia’s broad monetary base up 5.4% in June – Central Bank:
Russia’s broadly defined monetary base expanded 5.4% to 4.968 trillion rubles ($155.25 bln) as of July 1 from 4.712 trillion rubles ($147.25 bln) on June 1, the Central Bank reported on Thursday.
Moscow wants OSCE to look into Russian-language issue in Ukraine:
Moscow hopes that the OSCE’s High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek will look into issues relating to the use of the Russian language in Ukraine, a Russian foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday.