Japan called on Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday not to visit the Kuril islands that are at the centre of a territorial dispute, warning of damage to bilateral relations.

Tehran is intending to file a lawsuit in court against Russia. The main reason is Russia’s denying to supply anti-aircraft missile systems S-300 to the country.

Putin argues projections that Russia may reach key agreements enabling entry into the World Trade Organization in coming days or weeks.

Russia hopes that the signal about the need to resume nuclear talks sent to Iran by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany will not be lost on Tehran.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad triggered a walkout of U.S. and other delegates suggesting in a U.N. General Assembly speech Thursday that the United States government staged the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Inspite of U.S.-Israeli fears, Russia would supply Syria with P-800 Yakhont cruise missiles.

The World Health Organization says 40 young Europeans are murdered every day, with Russia, Albania and Kazakhstan having the highest homicide rates.

Russia has canceled plans to supply Iran with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles due to UN sanctions imposed against the country.

Russia and Norway signed an agreement on their marine border and cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Talks on this issue have been held since 1970. And only now the states have got the chance of developing gas and oil deposits and solve fishery problems.

The World Congress of Chechen People, due to begin in Warsaw on Thrusday, may further aggravate the volatile situation in Russia's North Caucasus.