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News

Green G8 summit to get underway in Japan: World leaders are heading to the Japanese island of Hokkaido, to take part in arguably the most ecologically-friendly G8 summit. Green issues will feature strongly at the three-day gathering along with other international headaches, such as global food and fuel prices as well as instability in the world's financial markets.

Two dead, seven injured in Abkhazia blast: A blast in Georgia's breakaway republic Abkhazia has killed two people and left seven injured. Those killed are reportedly acting head of the State Security Service and a local woman.

Medvedev’s global G8 agenda: For the past 33 years, the Group of Eight (G8) has met annually in one form or another. It is called the most exclusive club in the world and it has been seriously criticized for being long on talk and short on deeds. But this year, for a change, the G8 just might live up to its grand vision that it can change the world. And, Russia, more than ever, is willing to lead to make this happen.

South Ossetia claims it's under fire from Georgia: A police checkpoint in Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia has come under fire. South Ossetian peacekeepers say the shots were from Georgia's direction.

G8 summit could START Russia-U.S. missile reduction: Russia is hoping to sign a new arms limitation agreement with the U.S. by the end of the year. The current deal under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) expires in 2009.

Car blast in Sochi - no-one injured: A parked car has exploded near a residential building in the Russian resort city of Sochi. No-one is thought to have been injured.

Breakaway region shows map of alleged Georgian invasion: The leader of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia has accused Tbilisi of planning to seize the self-proclaimed republic by force. Abkhazian President Sergey Bagapsh says Georgia was going to block Russian peacekeepers' posts and launch a land and sea offensive.

Protesters disrupt naval ceremony in Black Sea port: Protesters in Sevastopol on Ukraine's Crimean peninsula have once again torn off the commemorative plaque marking the 90th anniversary of the Ukrainian flag being raised on Black Sea Fleet ships. Sevastopol, which has a predominantly Russian population, is the base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

World’s youngest capital turns ten: This weekend Kazakhstan celebrates the tenth anniversary of its new purpose-built capital, Astana. A decade ago, the capital was moved from the south-eastern city of Almaty to what is almost the geographical centre of the Euro-Asian continent. And despite its young age as the republic's main city, Astana has rapidly transformed itself into a modern and vibrant centre.

Dmitry Medvedev’s interview with Japanese media: President Dmitry Medvedev has mapped out his vision of Russia’s role in the world in a question-and-answer session with foreign journalists ahead of next week’s G8 summit.

Russian woman returns from Nepalese jail: A Russian woman has been reunited with her loved ones after spending two years in appalling conditions in a Nepalese prison. Irina Rudikh went to the country five years ago as a pilgrim to practise Buddhism and yoga.

Green light for a new Caspian gas pipeline: The construction of a new Caspian gas pipeline and future gas prices have been the focus of President Dmitry Medvedev’s first official visit to Turkmenistan. In the capital, Ashkhabad, he met the country’s president Gurbanguly Berdymukhameddov.

Poland rejects U.S. plans for anti-missile shield: Poland has refused to station ten interceptor missiles on its soil as part of a U.S. plan to deploy an anti-missile shield in Eastern Europe. However, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk believes the negotiations will continue.

Russia & EU kick off partnership agreement talks: The first round of talks between Russia and the EU on their new strategic partnership agreement has started in Brussels on Friday. Energy, trade and missile defence were all on the table as the two sides began work towards a new bilateral agreement.

Extinction 100 times closer than expected: Scientists have discovered there’s a much greater chance of some endangered species becoming extinct than previously thought. The previous error has been attributed to flaws in mathematical models used to evaluate the threat.

Ukraine commits foul ahead of hosting Euro 2012: In four years' time, Ukraine and Poland are scheduled to host one of the most prestigious sporting events in their history, the European Football Championship. But there are doubts now about Kiev's ability to satisfy the competition's high standards. And political rows between Ukrainian authorities are not making it any easier.

Abramovich quits as Governor: Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has quit as governor of the Chukotka region in Russia's Far East. He was governor for eight years and put his own money towards raising living standards in what had been one of Russia's poorest regions.

Belarus rocked by Independence Day blast: Around 50 people, including a Russian citizen, have been injured after a blast in the centre of the Belarus capital, Minsk. The explosion occured during local Independence Day celebrations, which drew a huge crowd, including the country's President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Notaries Chief shot dead near Moscow: The President of the Moscow region Chamber of Notaries has been shot dead in a small town near the Russian capital. The bodies of Vladimir Chelyshev and his driver were found in the entrance to an apartment block in Solnechnogorsk.

Japan set to give hearty welcome to G8: Japan is preparing to showcase its country to G8 leaders at their annual summit, being held in Toyako from Monday. Construction workers are completing a road to the isolated venue, near Sapporo, and a local hotel has been upgraded for summit guests.

Russia greets new U.S. ambassador: The new U.S. ambassador to Russia has arrived in Moscow on Thursday. John Beyrle has already held a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislyak and handed him a copy of his letter of credence.

Israeli politician wants to shrink his homeland: The Israeli residency status of two East Jerusalem suburbs may be revoked, if Israel’s Vice Premier has his way. Haim Ramon (Kadima) wants Jabel Mukaber and Zur Baher to be treated as Palestinian villages.

A kiss that cost a life: A twenty-seven year old girl who was kissing her boyfriend on railway lines has died after being hit by a passenger train going from the southern resort of Anapa to Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk. Some witnesses say she noticed the train in the last second and managed to push the boy away from danger, but didn’t have time to save herself.

Preserving Sochi’s environment a priority - Putin: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has proposed to change the location of a number of Olympic facilities, meant to be built in Sochi, in order to quell environmental concerns. Putin criticised 2014 Winter Olympics organisers for what he called improper plans in locating a number of facilities.

Vandals target Hans Christian Andersen tomb: The tombs of famed Danish story teller Hans Christian Andersen and Nobel prize winning physicist Niels Bohr have been vandalised in Copenhagen. The gravestones were covered with graffiti which is believed to be a response to cleaning graffiti off the cemetery wall earlier.

Doctors told to defy parents and save child’s life: Doctors had to ask for a court’s help to give a six-year-old girl a life-saving blood transfusion. Her parents were refusing to give their permission to the procedure on religious grounds. The family are Jehovah’s Witnesses.

S Ossetia & Georgia exchange ‘terror attack’ accusations: The head of a police station has been killed in Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia. Authorities in the region have blamed Georgian special services for what they call a terror attack. Tbilisi denies the allegations and has blamed South Ossetia for an attack on a Georgian official.

Greenies maintain rage over Sochi Olympics: Sochi is preparing to celebrate one year since it won the right to host the 2014 Olympics, but for environmentalists it’s a sad day. They remain angry about the environmental damage caused from massive Olympic construction work.

Sarkozy triggers French TV revolution: France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced plans to overhaul French television. His ideas though have met with strong opposition in broadcasting circles, which accuse him of trying to take over the airwaves.

Medvedev brushes aside Russia’s critics ahead of G8: President Dmitry Medvedev has mapped out his vision of Russia’s role in the world in a question-and-answer session with foreign journalists ahead of next week’s G8 summit. In a wide ranging interview, Medvedev discussed the country's foreign and domestic policy, the Yukos case, and the looming world economic crisis.

Sochi blast claims 2: An explosion has ripped through a 12-storey apartment block in the Russian resort city of Sochi, killing at least two people and leaving more than 30 others injured. A 14-year-old and his grandmother were killed. A criminal case has been opened into the incident.

Russian tourist bus crashes in Turkey: A bus carrying 18 tourists from Russia has crashed near the Turkish resort of Antalya. The group’s guide was killed and more than ten people were injured.

Medvedev is definitely a striker: Hiddink: The Russian national football team have achieved a great sporting feat, according to President Dmitry Medvedev, who met Russia's Euro Cup heroes at his residence in the Moscow region.

Lithuania told to stop ‘anti-Russian activity’: The State Duma has called on Lithuania to end what it calls anti-Russian activity. It came after the U.S. suggested the former Soviet republic could become a base for its planned anti-missile shield in Europe and also followed the adoption of a ban on the public display of all Soviet symbols - a move Russia describes as rewriting history.

Ultra-left activists storm Russia’s foreign ministry: A dozen Bolshevik activists have been detained in Moscow after storming the reception of Russia’s main foreign ministry building. The members of the banned National Bolshevik movement handcuffed themselves to pipes and heaters before being detained.

Medvedev seeks quick anti-corruption laws: President Dmitry Medvedev has asked Russian lawmakers to draft modern anti-corruption legislation by 2009. In a speech to Russia's Council of Legislators, he outlined a plan of reforms designed to combat the growing scourge of corruption.

European Chechens won’t hide Politkovskaya suspect: Rustam Makhmudov, who is suspected of killing journalist Anna Politkovskaya, has no chance to find help among Chechens living in Europe, according to the vice-president of the World Chechen Congress. The Chechen national Makhmudov is on the international wanted list.

Medvedev pledges to succeed where Putin failed: Russia is among the world's most corrupt countries, and authorities have struggled to keep it under control. President Medvedev has made fighting corruption a priority and is now hoping to amend legal loopholes, protect businesses and make judges independent.

Research casts doubt over Russia’s ‘growing’ middle class: There are more billionaires in Russia than any country on earth, bar the U.S., but new research shows that many Russians are hiding their poverty by calling themselves middle class.

Nine killed in helicopter crash: At least nine people have died in a helicopter crash in Russia’s north-east. The MI-8 helicopter incident took place in the Yamalo-Nenetsky region. The Russian Emergencies Ministry says 16 people were on board, 13 of them oil workers.