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(Adds details in paras 8, 9)

(Adds details in paras 8, 9)

(Adds details in paras 8, 9) MOSCOW, April...

(Adds details in paras 8, 9) MOSCOW, April 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russia"s Admiral Panteleyev missile destroyer has detained a boat carrying 29 suspected pirates off the Somali coast, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. A new task force from Russia"s Pacific Fleet led by the destroyer joined anti-piracy operations on Monday off the Horn of Africa. "A search of the detained vessel resulted in the discovery of seven Kalashnikov assault rifles, several handguns, portable navigation equipment, fuel canisters, and a large number of spent cartridges," the ministry said in a statement. "This leads us to believe that these pirates could have been involved in two unsuccessful attacks on a Liberian-flagged tanker with a Russian crew on board, which passed through this area on Tuesday with a shipment of oil en route to Singapore. The total number of people detained is 29," the statement said. The Russian maritime journal Sovfrakht reported on Tuesday that the NS Commander tanker, partly owned by Russia"s Novoship company, had been attacked by Somali pirates on Monday about 120 miles east of the Yemeni island of Sokotra. The 23-men crew successfully repelled the attempted hijack and the ship continued on its way to its destination. At the time of the attack, the tanker was about 130 miles from the Admiral Panteleyev, which is an Udaloy-class missile destroyer armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and Ka-27 Helix helicopters. A senior Russian navy official said later on Wednesday the navy was holding talks with littoral states along the Gulf of Aden as it looked to hand over the pirates. "We are holding talks with foreign officials on the pirates," the official said. "We plan to hand them over to a regional country soon for investigation." Around 20 warships from the navies of at least a dozen countries are involved in anti-piracy operations off Somalia. According to the United Nations, Somali pirates carried out at least 120 attacks on ships in 2008, resulting in combined ransom payouts of around $150 million.

Airlines operating in Europe have suffered...

Airlines operating in Europe have suffered huge losses since Iceland"s Eyjafjallajokull volcano began erupting Wednesday for the second time in a month, spewing a cloud of ash over Europe that has grounded flights and stranded passengers.

A Lexus RX400h car worth 1.3 million rubles...

A Lexus RX400h car worth 1.3 million rubles (more than $43,000) has been stolen from a St. Petersburg traffic police officer, the Operativnoye Prikritiye news agency has said.

A Madrid court has agreed to hold a behind-closed-doors...

A Madrid court has agreed to hold a behind-closed-doors trial of a former Spanish intelligence officer accused of selling classified information to Russia, a Spanish newspaper said.

A national referendum on Russian becoming...

A national referendum on Russian becoming a second official language in Ukraine would split the country, so each region should be able to decide the issue for itself, a Party of Regions lawmaker said on Tuesday.

A teacher has been killed in an attack at...

A teacher has been killed in an attack at a vocational school in the southwestern German town of Ludwigshafen, ZDF television reported on Thursday.

At least 20 people were killed and dozens...

At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured in Karachi on Monday when a suicide bomber attacked a Shiite Muslim procession, Pakistan"s Aaj TV reported.

Ben Southall, the winner of the "Best job...

Ben Southall, the winner of the "Best job in the World," has been stung by a deadly jellyfish as he jetskied near a tropical island in Australia"s Great Barrier Reef.

By Dmitri Trenin, Director, Expert Council...

By Dmitri Trenin, Director, Expert Council Chair, Program Chair at the Carnegie Moscow Center

Canada has blocked the adoption of all documents...

Canada has blocked the adoption of all documents to be considered at an upcoming Russia-NATO meeting, the Russian envoy to NATO said on Tuesday.

Canada"s women bobsledders took the gold...

Canada"s women bobsledders took the gold and silver medals at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver to bring an overall number of the medals to 15.

China seized 28.8 tons of drugs and arrested...

China seized 28.8 tons of drugs and arrested some 91,000 people, including 5,560 foreigners, on drug-related charges in 2009, Xinhua news agency reported.

Former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova has won...

Former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova has won the Cellular South Cup in the Regions Morgan Keegan Championship tennis tournament in Memphis, Tennessee.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has defended...

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has defended his decision to allow the sale of a Mistral-class amphibious assault ship to Russia by saying it would not threaten regional security, the Daily Herald reported.

Fugitive Russian businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev...

Fugitive Russian businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev, the former head of mid-sized oil firm RussNeft, is regaining control of the company in an apparent bid to rescue it from a heavy debt burden, a business daily reported on Monday.

If Moscow buys a Mistral-class helicopter...

If Moscow buys a Mistral-class helicopter carrier from France, it will be used principally as an amphibious command ship, a Russian Defense Ministry source said on Friday.

In March 1990 the Third Extraordinary Congress...

In March 1990 the Third Extraordinary Congress of Soviet People's Deputies adopted the Law on the Institution of the Post of President and Introduction of Amendments into the Constitution of the U.S.S.R. These amendments abolished the "leading and guiding role of the CPSU," declared a multi-party system, and made the President the head of the Soviet state. Other Union republics followed suit, and switched to presidential form of government.

Iran"s Revolutionary Guards have completed...

Iran"s Revolutionary Guards have completed a wide-ranging military exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Fars news agency reported on Monday.

Italian alpine skier Giuliano Razzoli brought...

Italian alpine skier Giuliano Razzoli brought his country its first Vancouver Olympics gold medal after winning in men"s slalom.

LAS PALMAS, September 19 (RIA Novosti) -...

LAS PALMAS, September 19 (RIA Novosti) - Spain has again refused to accept the Arctic Sea vessel in the port of Las Palmas, a port administration official said Saturday.

More than 2,500 RIA Novosti readers have...

More than 2,500 RIA Novosti readers have sent messages of support for the Polish people in the aftermath of the death of their president in a plane crash in western Russia on April 10.

MOSCOW, April 13 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian...

MOSCOW, April 13 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Foreign Ministry officially confirmed on Monday that Somali pirates have released the Norwegian-owned chemical tanker Bow Asir with a Russian crewmember onboard.

MOSCOW, April 14 (RIA Novosti) - The Sakhalin...

MOSCOW, April 14 (RIA Novosti) - The Sakhalin Region in Russia’s Far East, a regional leader in production volumes, accrued foreign investment and foreign trade, presented over 15 investment projects worth $2.1 bln in Korea, the region’s governor said on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, August 10 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian...

MOSCOW, August 10 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian maritime expert said on Monday that "something extraordinary" must have happened to a cargo ship that went missing off Portugal"s Atlantic coast.

MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti) - A British...

MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti) - A British epidemiologist said on Tuesday he was worried by close links between World Health Organization (WHO) officials and pharmaceutical companies over swine flu.

MOSCOW, February 24 (RIA Novosti) - The...

MOSCOW, February 24 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Navy will continue its important duties in the seas and oceans of the world, Navy spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

Moscow is considering a request to send...

Moscow is considering a request to send weapons to Afghanistan but will not send troops, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Friday.

MOSCOW, March 14, (RIA Novosti, Olga Lipich)...

MOSCOW, March 14, (RIA Novosti, Olga Lipich) - Orthodox Christians will have a 40-day Lent, beginning March 14. Talking to RIA Novosti, people at the Moscow Patriarchate"s department of external church relations noted that seriously ill persons, pregnant women, nursing mothers, soldiers, people engaged in hard physical work and travelers were allowed not to observe Lent closely. A RIA Novosti opinion poll that involved 100 respondents shows that most Muscovites prefer not to fast. Only 18 percent of all respondents intend to observe Lent. Twenty-three percent of the pollees admitted that they were not well aware of what Lent was. Nonetheless, they plan to fast. Sixty-seven percent of all respondents know what Lent is. However, 80 percent of them do not want to fast. At the same time, seven percent of the pollees, who do not intend to fast, would like fasting relatives not to make them follow their example. Many respondents perceive Lent as some kind of a diet, explaining their desire to fast by its positive influence on their bodies. Talking to RIA Novosti, an official at the press center of the Russian Armed Forces" logistics-support service noted that Russian soldiers will not be entitled to any special diet during Lent. Fasting servicemen can give their meat to someone else, the press-center official noted. Each soldier is entitled to the maximum possible amount of calories in line with specific regulations, he added. Talking to RIA Novosti, Oleg Kovalev, chairman of the State Duma"s house-proceedings and work-organization committee, noted that the lower parliament house"s canteen stipulated Lenten fare for many years in a row. However, few deputies plan to closely observe Lent. Kovalev did admit that he will not closely observe Lent, explaining that he played tennis three times a week, and that it was pretty hard to eat lenten fare alone. Deputy State Duma Speakers Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Vyacheslav Volodin will fast, but not so closely. Deputy house speaker Georgy Boos will not fast, his spokesperson informed RIA Novosti. Mr. Boos, who is a believer, respects Orthodox Christian traditions. Still he is not going to observe Lent, she added. Valery Komissarov, chairman of the State Duma"s information-policy committee, believes that a respectful attitude toward people is more important than fasting. Instead of refraining from meat, we should not eat each other. This is the most important thing, Komissarov told RIA Novosti. Valery Draganov, chairman of the State Duma"s economic-policy, business and tourism committee, is not going to fast either. I am in perfect physical form. One must eat as much food as the body needs, Draganov told RIA Novosti. Sports and intellectual activity are all one needs to lead a healthy way of life, Draganov believes. Dmitry Rogozin, who heads the State Duma"s Rodina faction, plans to observe Lent closely, his spokesperson told RIA Novosti. Talking to RIA Novosti, State Duma deputy Nikolai Kharitonov (Communist Party of the Russian Federation faction) noted that he was trying to fast. Still this is not always possible, Kharitonov said. I travel all over Russia a lot; in some cases, I have to eat what they give me, he said.

MOSCOW, November 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia"s...

MOSCOW, November 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia"s Central Bank has cut its investment in bonds with U.S. mortgage agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from $65.6 billion to $20.9 billion as of November 1, the bank"s chairman said on Wednesday."The amount of Bank of Russia investments has decreased as the securities have been repaid," Sergei Ignatyev said, speaking in Russia"s lower house of parliament. The banker said the U.S. Treasury move that saw both mortgage agencies come under U.S. government conservatorship in September 2008 guaranteed that they would honor their financial commitments. The Central Bank was not currently selling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bonds, nor had it signed any new deals with either of the two mortgage financiers, Ignatyev said. Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin earlier said bonds held by the Central Bank in the two U.S. mortgage giants yielded over $1 billion in the first half of 2008. The U.S. government-sponsored firms, which together own or guarantee $5 trillion in U.S. mortgage debt or almost 40% of the market, were taken over by a federal regulator early in September to prevent their possible collapse amid the growing credit crunch. Freddie Mac, the second-largest U.S. residential mortgage financier, asked the U.S. Treasury last Friday to provide $13.8 billion after posting third-quarter losses of $25.3 billion.

MOSCOW, November 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russian...

MOSCOW, November 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russian news agency RIA Novosti resumed on Monday the Arabic edition of the Moscow News paper after a 17-year break, Anbaa Mosku editor Raed Jaber said.

MOSCOW, October 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russia...

MOSCOW, October 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and India are set to jointly develop helicopters, infantry fighting vehicles and a fifth-generation fighter, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

MOSCOW, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - China"s...

MOSCOW, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - China"s transport ministry has issued a warning for the country"s ships to avoid the area of the Indian Ocean where a bulk carrier was hijacked two days ago.

MOSCOW, October 30 (RIA Novosti) - RIA Novosti...

MOSCOW, October 30 (RIA Novosti) - RIA Novosti on Friday strongly denied allegations it had teamed up with a Western PR company "to justify Russia"s great power ambitions and improve the image of Joseph Stalin."

MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novosti) - Italian...

MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novosti) - Italian lawmakers are set to consider a ban on the public wearing of Islamic burqas - clothing covering the entire face and body - by women, local media said.

MOSCOW, (RIA Novosti commentator Anatoly...

MOSCOW, (RIA Novosti commentator Anatoly Korolyov) For the first 500 years of its existence, Russia did not have a coat of arms, or a national flag or anthem. In the middle ages, instead of a flag, the prince's troops carried a miraculous icon, and before embarking on a campaign or going into battle, the men would usually pray in front of the holy image.

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti military commentator...

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti military commentator Ilya Kramnik) - The Japanese government has approved a document declaring the South Kurils an occupied territory.

MOSCOW, September 14 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela...

MOSCOW, September 14 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela and a consortium of Russian oil companies intend to invest $20 billion into the development of the Junin 6 oil deposit in the Orinoco River Basin, the Venezuelan oil and energy minister said.

MOSCOW, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's...

MOSCOW, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's investment in the troubled U.S. mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is estimated at around $30 billion, the Audit Chamber chief said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW, September 1 (RIA Novosti) -- Moscow...

MOSCOW, September 1 (RIA Novosti) -- Moscow high school students know very few, if any, names of Russian scientists, Minister of Education and Science Andrei Fursenko told the Trud daily newspaper. Commenting on the results of a Moscow survey conducted prior to the new academic year, the minister said: "It is a pity that young people do not know the names of many outstanding Russian scientists. This is not surprising, though. This ignorance is a reflection of the public"s approach to science." According to the survey, which was conducted among 100 Moscow high school students, Russian science became prominent thanks to Polish astronomer Nicholaus Copernicus (1473-1543), American computer magnate Bill Gates, and Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a deputy speaker of the Russian parliament"s lower house better known for his publicity stunts. Most of the respondents knew about Dmitry Mendeleyev and his periodical table (26%) and Mikhail Lomonosov (18%), after whom Moscow University is named. But only three students recognized the name of nuclear physicist Andrei Sakharov, a Nobel Prize winner and a human rights champion. Nearly half the teenagers did not know what to say at all. According to Fursenko, modern society views a scientist as somebody who is not very successful and gets a pittance for hard work, whereas "Bill Gates is admired and envied because he is wealthy and famous worldwide."

On March 24, Russia and NATO discussed efforts...

On March 24, Russia and NATO discussed efforts to combat drug trafficking in Afghanistan at an extended meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels.

Pakistan"s president signed a bill to increase...

Pakistan"s president signed a bill to increase punishment for harassment of women at workplace, national television reported on Saturday.

Police in Mexico have arrested a leader...

Police in Mexico have arrested a leader of a key drug gang, the local Universal newspaper has said.

RIA Novosti chief editor Svetlana Mironyuk"s...

RIA Novosti chief editor Svetlana Mironyuk"s comment to gazeta.ru online edition

RIA Novosti has joined the world"s largest...

RIA Novosti has joined the world"s largest financial information network, BT Radianz Shared Market Infrastructure, the news agency"s director general said on Tuesday.

Russia and Abkhazia signed a deal on Wednesday...

Russia and Abkhazia signed a deal on Wednesday to establish a Russian military base in the former Georgian republic

Russia insists that the monitoring of missile...

Russia insists that the monitoring of missile manufacturing facilities should not be included in a new strategic arms reduction deal to replace the START I treaty, a source said on Friday.

Russia is planning to develop a unique satellite...

Russia is planning to develop a unique satellite system to monitor climatic changes and survey energy resources in the Arctic region, Russia"s top space official said on Thursday.

Russian billionaire oligarch Viktor Vekselberg...

Russian billionaire oligarch Viktor Vekselberg in charge of coordinating the project of Skolkovo"s high-tech research and production hub believes the new research center will become self-sufficient in 5-7 years.

Russian oil output rose 1.2% to 494 million...

Russian oil output rose 1.2% to 494 million metric tons (3.63 bln bbl), and natural gas production declined 12.1% to 584 billion cubic meters in 2009 year-on-year, the country"s statistics service said on Friday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed speculation that Moscow"s new military doctrine would see a return of Cold War tensions in an interview published on Thursday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday though the global economic crisis still persists, his country had successfully passed the worst stage of it.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has...

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has approved new rules on the sales and use of pyrotechnics more than two weeks after a deadly nightclub fire killed at least 150 people in the Urals.

Russia on Thursday put a new military satellite...

Russia on Thursday put a new military satellite into orbit, a spokesman for the Space Forces said.

Russia"s Constitutional Court reaffirmed...

Russia"s Constitutional Court reaffirmed on Friday that Moscow should obey Strasbourg human rights court decisions and ordered further legislative and other reforms to ensure their implementation.

Russia"s Defense Ministry rubbished on Saturday...

Russia"s Defense Ministry rubbished on Saturday media reports of corruption linked to purchases of Daimler AG vehicles.

Russia"s government was able to carry out...

Russia"s government was able to carry out large-scale anti-crisis measures last year without any cuts in social spending, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday in his annual report on the government work.

Russia"s major international airlines are...

Russia"s major international airlines are continuing to make regular flights to Kyrgyzstan, Aeroflot and S7 spokesmen said on Thursday.

Russia"s new high-tech research and production...

Russia"s new high-tech research and production hub outside Moscow will have its own police force and local administration, a Russian business daily said on Wednesday.

Russia"s newly appointed chief of Ground...

Russia"s newly appointed chief of Ground Forces said on Thursday Russia would do well with half the number of tanks it has today.

Russia"s plans to take out foreign loans...

Russia"s plans to take out foreign loans may not be realized due to high oil prices and uncertainty about the government"s budget deficit, a business paper reported on Monday.

Russia"s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport...

Russia"s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has signed two contracts worth $1.2 billion on the deliveries of 16 jet fighters to Algeria and another six fighters to Uganda, the Russian Vedomosti daily reported on Monday.

Russia"s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC)...

Russia"s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said on Monday it does not plan to enter a lucrative contract to replace the U.S. Air Force"s fleet of aerial tankers.

Russia will continue deliveries of military...

Russia will continue deliveries of military equipment to Venezuela to help the Latin American country boost its national defense, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.

Russia will contribute about 1,000 military...

Russia will contribute about 1,000 military servicemen to joint military exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in southern Kazakhstan, a senior military official said.

Russia will provide Abkhazia financial assistance...

Russia will provide Abkhazia financial assistance worth over 10 billion rubles ($330 million) in the next three years, Russia"s ambassador to the former Georgian republic said Thursday.

Sales of new passenger cars in Russia in...

Sales of new passenger cars in Russia in January-February 2010 decreased by 34% compared with the same period last year, according to the Association of European Businesses (AEB).

State Technology Corporation Rostekhnologii...

State Technology Corporation Rostekhnologii plans to establish a joint venture with Israel Airspace Industry for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Russian corporation"s head said on Wednesday.

Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special envoy to...

Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special envoy to North Korea, has arrived in Seoul to engage in consultations with South Korean officials prior to his highly-anticipated visit to North Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported.

ST. PETERSBURG, October 23 (RIA Novosti)...

ST. PETERSBURG, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - The Arctic Sea cargo ship, which has been at the centre of a mysterious hijacking case since July, is currently being towed towards Malta, the ship"s Finnish owner said on Friday.

Talks between Moscow and Washington on Russia"s...

Talks between Moscow and Washington on Russia"s accession to the World Trade Organization should be raised to a top political level as negotiating experts have failed to agree on the issue, a Russian first vice-premier said on Wednesday.

Tehran could face tougher economic sanctions...

Tehran could face tougher economic sanctions if it goes ahead with its uranium enrichment plans, a senior Russian MP said on Monday.

The deal extending Russia"s use of a naval...

The deal extending Russia"s use of a naval base in Ukraine"s Crimea is economically beneficial for both Moscow and Kiev, the Russian ambassador to Ukraine said on Friday.

The eruption of a volcano in Iceland was...

The eruption of a volcano in Iceland was not a valid reason to close down air traffic throughout Europe, the Russian Deputy Transport Minister said on Friday.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names...

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has registered Russia"s national Cyrillic domain as .аЂа„, the Russian Press and Communications Ministry said on Friday.

The launch of the Cryosat-2 satellite was...

The launch of the Cryosat-2 satellite was postponed until an unspecified date for further technical inspection, Russian Federal Agency Roscosmos spokesman Alexander Vorobyov said on Friday.

The Russian airbase in Kant, around 20 kilometers...

The Russian airbase in Kant, around 20 kilometers (12 miles) outside the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, is continuing to function normally, a Russian Air Force spokesman, Vladimir Drik, said on Thursday.

Three car bombs exploded in the Iraqi capital...

Three car bombs exploded in the Iraqi capital on Sunday, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 200 in coordinated attacks that security officials said targeted foreign diplomatic missions.

Twenty five cows will be handed over to...

Twenty five cows will be handed over to farmers in eastern Poland to graze in the open, creating an ideal habitat for the Lesser Spotted Eagle, Polskie Radio reported Tuesday.

Twenty years ago, on January 31, 1990, some...

Twenty years ago, on January 31, 1990, some 5,000 people gathered in Moscow"s Pushkinskaya Square, waiting for the opening of a McDonald"s restaurant, the first to start working in the Soviet Union.

Ukraine"s parliament on Thursday approved...

Ukraine"s parliament on Thursday approved Mykola Azarov, 62, an ally of President Viktor Yanukovych, as prime minister.

Vietnam is turning into a major buyer of...

Vietnam is turning into a major buyer of Russian armaments after India, with several contracts worth billions of U.S. dollars signed recently, a Russian expert said on Wednesday.

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