According to the Russian officials the ban is not linked to the U.S. position on the Russia-Georgia conflict but is based merely on non-following the Russian sanitary and veterinary norms by the American poultry plants.

The Commission on Awards of the RF has introduced a medal for “Forcing to peace”. The medals will be given to the peace-makers who took part in the operations in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

According to the Russian media, in September Denmark closes its Consulate in St. Petersburg. As the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains, the decision is based on economy reasons.

Moscow International Automobile Salon, which opens in the Russian capital today, is rated “A” together with similar events in Geneva, Paris, London, Detroit and Frankfurt. The salon welcomes visitors 12 hours a day for 13 days.

Yesterday Russia's Upper House of Parliament has voted in favour of formally recognising the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The Angolan authorities have formalized the project of construction, launch, and control of the first country`s satellite Angosat. The project has been estimated at $US326,7 million.

Last Saturday the first ever world championship in aerobatics on YAK-52 aircraft took place in Russia. 25 participants from Russia, Belgium, Latvia, Finland, the Republic of South Africa and other countries arrived to the Russian city of Novosibirsk.

Olga Kaniskina and Shirvani Muradov have taken Olympic gold today. Olga Kaniskina has set a new Olympic record.

Abkhazian parliament has approved President Sergey Bagapsh’s address to Russia to regognize its independence from Georgia.

The Russian athlete Andrey Silnov and the wrestler Mavlet Batirov have earned gold medals in Beijing today.