Russia’s biggest carmaker Avtovaz plans to control up to 40% of the Russian car parts market, now estimated to be worth than $US 4 billion. Avtovaz's President Boris Alyoshin says he is not excluding the possibility of further expansion into other countries.

A hundred years ago the mysterious so-called Tunguska meteorite flattened 2,000 square kilometres of Siberian forest. Professor of geochemistry and planetology from the University of Vienna, Chris Koeberl, throws more light on the phenomenon.

Relations are improving rise between Moscow and Brussels, but Vitaly Merkushev, the Eurasian Political Studies Network Director, says some of the EU member states still may block the new Russia-EU partnership agreement.

It is possible that some anti-Russian countries within the EU will continue to block Russia-EU partnership talks, says political analyst Aleksandr Pikaev. Still, the eventual launch of the talks is a big step.

It always takes time for large powers to agree on strategic issues, believes Olga Butorina, head of the European Integration Department at the Moscow Institute of International Relations. She joined RT to discuss the EU-Russia summit.

Russia and the EU are expected to resume talks on a new strategic pact covering trade, energy and security. Mikhail Troitsky from the Moscow State University of International Relations told RT about the benefits of such an agreement.

There won’t be any breakthroughs at the Russia-EU summit in Siberia, says Andrey Kortunov, a political analyst at the New Eurasia Foundation in Moscow. He joined RT to discuss the event in Khanty-Mansiysk.

As Russia prepares to take on Spain in the Euro 2008 semi-final, former Spartak Moscow defender, twice a champion of the Soviet Union League, Gennady Logofet, speaks on the chances of the team tonight.

Russia and the European Union are to kick-start talks over a long-awaited deal to streamline economic cooperation between the two. Dr Fraser Cameron, the Director of the EU-Russia Centre joined RT to discuss what the Russia-EU summit can achieve.

Russia lost 4-1 to Spain in the Euro 2008 group stage, but they've improved since to get to the semis. Football analyst with the Sport Express newspaper in Moscow, Pavel Novikov, considers Russia's  chances against Spain today.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that now is a good time to move the Middle Eastern peace process forward. Irina Zvyagelskaya from the Institute of Oriental Studies spoke to RT on whether unity within Palestine is at all realistic in the near future.

Russian Orthodox bishops are gathering in Moscow to discuss unity within the Church after reunification with its branch abroad. Boris Falikov from the Centre for Comparative Religion Research explains the importance of the event.

When reporting on arson attacks the media should also say that arsonists are often people suffering from mental disorders, believes psychiatry professor Aleksey Bobrov. Otherwise they might be viewed as heroes and examples to follow.

Europe’s main human rights watchdog PACE plans to send its observers to Russia's North Caucasus regions in September. Russia's representative at PACE summer session Konstantin Kosachev joined RT with comments.

British entrepreneur Richard Branson is offering cosmic flights for $US 200,000. It is a lot cheaper than the $US 40m demanded by Russia’s Space Agency. Space expert Yuriy Karash  talked to RT about the future of tourism in this sector.

To solve the unemployment problem in the republic, the Chechen authorities intend to create around 90,000 new jobs within a year, said Zaur Tsetsaev from the administration of the Chechen president.

Military contractors are the main benefactors from the continuing US-led campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan, says RT military analyst Evgeny Khrushchev. He says only around 10 per cent of the allocated money is reaching people on the ground.

Would it have been possible for Russia to have avoided huge losses in the first days after the Nazi invasion in 1941 - and what difficulties had to be overcome to open up the second front? We asked military analyst Sergey Lebedev.

Russian footballers have to stay calm if they want to have a chance against favorites Holland in Saturday’s Euro 2008 quarter-final, says sports analyst Christopher Marcisz.

Although the Dutch are strong favourites to progress beyond the Euro 2008 quarter-finals, the Russia team is capable of causing a shock in Saturday’s match, says football analyst Gennady Fyodorov.

To become a strong player on the international market, Russia needs to diversify its economy and to export more services around the world, says EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, who spoke to RT ahead of Russia-EU summit.

Russia are through to the last eight of the European football championships for the first time in their history. RT's sports analyst Aleksey Nikolov assesses the team's chances of glory as they prepare to face Holland.

Boxing heavyweights, Nikolay Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev, are gearing up for their WBA title fight on July 5 in Germany. Valuev lost  their previous bout in April, 2007. But boxing expert Aleksandr Belenky believes this time will be different.

A must-win game against Sweden will decide Russia’s fate at Euro 2008. Sports commentator Ekaterina Malovichko joined RT to talk about the team’s chances before the match.

Four people have been charged in connection with the murder of the prominent journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Political analyst Dmitry Babich, of Russia Profile magazine, says that the Western media is sceptical about the investigation.

The U.S. Senate has condemned Pentagon officials for torturing prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Our military analyst Evgeny Khruschev says the so-called “harsh interrogation techniques” originated in Afghanistan.

A new Russian facility destroying chemical weapons is to begin operating in August. Valery Petrosyan, who is a United Nations expert on chemical safety problems, says Moscow is ahead of its obligations to eliminate its stockpiles by 2012.

Another Russian female cosmonaut might go into space within three years, according to the Head of the Russian Space Agency Anatoly Perminov.

There will be more women cosmonauts, says the first woman in space. Forty-five years after her historic flight, Valentina Tereshkova recalls what caused her to be picked for the important mission.

New laws which hand British police the power to detain terror suspects for up to six weeks without charge has raised serious concerns. An expert from the Institute of Globalisation and Social Movements in Moscow, Boris Kagarlitsky, tells us why.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is holding talks in Kiev over Ukraine's possible accession to the alliance. Vitaly Merkushev, director of the Eurasian Political Studies Network in Moscow, explains the issues involved.

Grozny’s first international film festival - Noah's Ark – has brought together participants from more than twenty countries. Canadian director Chrystal Callahan said the Chechen capital surprised her.

Several reasons have led to the global food crisis, including the rise in energy prices, increased use of biofuels and the falling dollar, according to Aleksey Borisov from the Russian Association of assistance to the UN.

On the 80th anniversary of Che Guevara’s birth, his popularity is as strong as ever. But the head of the Institute for Globalisation and Social Movements, Boris Kagarlitsky, says a lot of people wear Che T-shirts without any idea of what he was.

Around $US 400 million will be invested into Russia’s ports development in 2008. Yury Parfyonov, the head of RosMorPort, the state-owned port operator, spoke to RT about the prospects of the sector’s development.

Negotiations over the planned U.S. anti-missile shield are in deadlock, says Dmitry Rogozin - Russia's envoy to NATO. But he says Russia will help NATO in conflict-torn Afghanistan, where the Taliban has stepped up its military activities.

The role of the Russian press in the world is growing every day, says Viktor Lupan, editor-in-chief of the Russian-language Russkya Mysl newspaper in France. He puts this down to Russia’s recent economic growth.

The 10th World Congress of the Russian Press is under way in Moscow. The Editor-in-Chief of the first Russian language weekly in the UK - London-Info – is taking part. Margarita Grigoryan says it’s Press' task to publicise social problems.

The problem with press freedom is that many journalists exercise a high degree of self-censorship without trying to push the existing boundaries, says Andrey Zolotov, chief editor of Russia Profile magazine.

Russia has recently decreased its strategic nuclear arsenal by 60 per cent, says Viktor Mizin, political analyst with the Institute of Strategic Assessment. Washington rejects this. Mizin analyses U.S. claims that Russia is building-up its nukes.

Spain are widely regarded as the strongest team in Russia’s group for Euro 2008. So a draw would be an excellent result, says sports commentator Ekaterina Malovichko. She came in to RT to mull over Russia’s chances tonight.

Thousands of Russian football fans are in Austria for the country’s first game of the Euro 2008 campaign. They’re hopeful Guus Hiddink’s men can beat Spain. Football analyst Gennady Fedorov joined RT to look ahead to the game.

The St. Petersburg Economic Forum gathered the heads of the world's leading oil companies. The CEO of Royal Dutch Shell, Jeroen van der Veer, told RT that it’ll take years to change the balance towards alternative energy globally.

President Medvedev laid out his vision for Russia and its role in the world. Matthew Maly has written about  Russia's transition to democracy in a book titled “Russia As It Is”.

One of the key issues discussed at the Economic Forum in St. Petersburg this past weekend was the financial pressures facing today's world. Citigroup's vice chairman, Michael Klein, spoke to RT about Russia's economic challenges.

Is Russia's economy really overheating? Presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich discussed the economic situation.

As the economy is now approaching full capacity Russia needs more investment than in the past, said Roger Munnings, Chairman of KPMG for Russia and CIS, who was with RT at the 12th International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg.

Samuel DiPiazza, Jr., CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers,  spoke to RT on some of the results of St. Petersburg's 12th International Economic Forum.

President and Chief Operating Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, Muhtar Kent, joined RT at St. Petersburg's 12th International Economic forum to share his impressions of the event.

Professor a of Russia’s diplomatic Academy Yury Sherbanin gave his comments on Dmitry Medvedev’s vision of Russia’s foreign and domestic policies.

Will the 12th International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg succeed in making Russia more attractive for foreign investment? Jason Jarrell, Vice President of MMD Corporate and Public Affairs, shared his thoughts with RT.

Aleksandr Borisov from Moscow International Business Association gave his comments on President Medvedev's speech at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg.

The 12th International Economic Forum is underway in St. Petersburg. Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, talks about the future prospects of Russia’s IT market.

The winner of the Global Energy Prize for his achievements in processing synthetic oil Eduard Volkov spoke to RT. “The primary cost of synthetic oil at our plant is around $US16 per barrel while the world price of oil now exceeds $US 100,” he said.

The international economic forum that is being attended by more that eight thousand delegates, is taking place in St. Petersburg. Chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine Fyodr Lukyanov told RT his predictions for the event.

World-renowned author John Irving spoke with RT exclusively about the art and the craft of a writer, personal involvement with books you create and the importance of keeping readers in mind.

Following the start of the 12th International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Alexander Kotchoubey, the Head of the Investment Committee at Renaissance Investment Management, gave his comments to RT.

Mikhail Troitsky from the Moscow University of International Relations joined RT to discuss the disagreements between Russia and Georgia.

The Russian and Georgian leaders will find common ground, believes Aleksey Kuzmin, political analyst from Moscow's National Prospects Foundation. He was commenting on RT as the presidents met at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The Russian economy is showing signs of overheating. That’s according to German Gref, the head of Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, who was interviewed by RT in St. Petersburg ahead of the International Economic Forum.

Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev is playing host at an informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg. Political analyst from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations Irina Kobrinskaya says energy and security are the main issues.

During his first trip to the west as Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said there should be a new European security pact. Kirill Koktysh from the Association of Political Experts and Consultants told RT how his statement was perceived in Europe.

What is the future for the global oil market? Clement Bowman, a top Canadian oil scientist and a joint-winner of the prestigious Global Energy International Award, commented on the issue.

A political analyst from the New Eurasia Foundation, Andrey Kortunov, shared his views on President Medvedev's trip to Germany.

In light of President Medvedev’s trip to Germany, Alexandr Pikaev, a political analyst from the Committee of Scientists for Global Security spoke to RT. He said the visit of Medvedev has “demonstrated continuity in Russian foreign policy”.

Over the past few years, Germany has become a close partner to Russia. Sergey Karaganov, chairman of the Council of Foreign and Defence Policy, commented for RT on the Russian-German relations.

A ship with a Russian-Philippino crew onboard has been held captive by Somali pirates for a week. Mikhail Voytenko, the Chief-Editor of the maritime bulletin Sovfracht, spoke to RT about a possible resolution.

More than one in four of the Russian population live in conditions which threaten their health. Aleksey Knizhnikov, from the World Wildlife Fund, spoke in the RT studio about toughening up environmental laws throughout the country.

Russia's leading mobile operator Vimpelcom is to report first quarter earnings on June 4. Its CEO Aleksandr Izosimov told RT that Russia's underdeveloped 3G networks are expected to see explosive growth.

According to a leading French banker Russia is coping well with the international credit crunch. Laurent Couraudon, the president of BNP Paribas Russia, told RT that the country faces no problems with liquidity.

Russian environmentalists are alarmed over pollution levels. Aleksey Kokorin from the World Wildlife Fund in Russia shared his view on protecting the country's environment.

The show about Russian Empress Catherine the Great is back on stage in Ekaterinburg. Composer Sergei Dreznin told RT he hopes it will give audiences a new perspective on one of the country's most controversial rulers.

Russia has failed to ratify a document which the Council of Europe sees as making the European Court of Human Rights work more effective. Olga Shepelyova, a legal expert from Demos Centre, considers what the the stumbling block may be.

In a bid to fight corruption, President Medvedev has called for an audit of Russia’s laws at Federal and Regional level.  Aleksandr Yakovlev from Moscow’s New Juridical Institute explains what’s behind the bid to close legal loopholes.

Russia has sent soldiers rather than civilians to repair railroads in Abkhazia, causing consternation in Tbilisi. Mikhail Troitsky from the Moscow University of International Relations explains what’s behind the decision.

With six days until the kick-off of the Euro-2008 finals, Russia’s head coach Guus Hiddink spoke to RT on how his men have been working ahead of the tournament. Russia's first action will come in their match against Spain on June 10.

Two Czech citizens are on hunger strike over plans to install a U.S. anti-missile system on Czech soil. One of them, Jan Tams, told RT they won’t give until the government agrees to end talks with Washington.