A list of 25 leading Russian transnational companies has been made up recently by the experts from Columbia University. According to the list, such companies as Lukoil, Gazprom, Severstal and RUSAL control 78% of all Russian assets abroad.

It has become known that AvtoVaz is going to sell its blocking shareholding of 25% to Renault instead of General Motors. The agreement is expected to be concluded prior to 25 February, 2008.

Last week the presentation of Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Russian Edition took place in Moscow. Only five cars specially designed for “rich Russians” will be assembled.

Russian Evraz Group S.A., one of the largest vertically-integrated steel and mining businesses, and its subsidiary Titan Acquisition Sub. Inc. have announced they have reached the final agreement on purchase of Claymont Steel Holdings, Inc.

The gas pipeline Urengoi-Pomary-Uzhgorod transporting gas from Russia to Europe exploded on the territory of Ukraine on Thursday evening.

General Motors has submitted a formal bid for a stake in AvtoVaz, a Russian car-manufacturing company.

The Venezuelan government plans to acquire 12 Russia military planes including IL 76 transport aircrafts and IL 78 aerial refueling tankers, the representative of the Venezuelan Air Force said.

The next presidential election is due to be held on the 2nd of March 2008, but, according to the experts, there will hardly be a candidate able to step over a threshold of 50% of votes.

On Tuesday Kamaz, the largest Russian vehicle manufacturer, and Geramn Knorr-Bremse signed an agreement to form JV for production of brake systems in Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia.

The Russian government has listed 32 gas fields as strategic. The new strategic status of a gas filed means that only companies controlled by Russian organizations are permitted to develop it.