Morning re-cap of main news, February 19
* Russia and Azerbaijan have reached the level of strategic partnership, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 05:23 GMT
Georgia blocks roads to breakaway region capital
TBILISI, February 20 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskhelia) – Georgia has blocked all roads to the capital of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia, senior officers said Monday.
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 06:40 GMT
Russian-Iranian nuclear deal possible - Iranian negotiator
TEHRAN, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – The head of an Iranian delegation due to arrive in Moscow Monday for crucial talks on the country's controversial nuclear programs has said that Iran and Russia could reach an agreement on a joint uranium enrichment venture in Russia.
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 07:21 GMT
Two workers killed in Siberian pipeline tragedy
TYUMEN, February 20 (RIA Novosti, Alexander Perestoronin) – Two men have been killed in Siberia after an oil pipeline burst in the trench where they were working, a local Emergency Situation Ministry spokesman said Monday.
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 07:47 GMT
Wage arrears in Russia rise 24.9% in January - statistics
MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – Wage arrears in Russia stood at 7.186 billion rubles (about $254 million) as of February 1, 2006 and increased by 24.9% month-on-month, the Federal Statistics Service said Monday.
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 07:53 GMT
Iranian delegation arrives in Moscow for nuclear talks
Moscow, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – An Iranian delegation arrived in Moscow Monday for crucial talks on the country's controversial nuclear programs.
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 08:19 GMT
Russian Farmers Feed Cows with Chocolate to Sweeten Milk
Cows in the Russian Kostroma region not far from Moscow now feed on chocolate, which the farmers claim makes milk sweeter and higher on fat.
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 08:37 GMT
Two Oilmen Killed in Pipeline Accident in Russia's Siberia
Two men were killed in the Siberian oil-rich province of Khanty-Mansiisk, after an oil pipeline burst in the trench where they were working, emergency officials reported Monday.
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 08:37 GMT
Russian Hockey Team Beats Latvians to Reach Quarterfinals
Ilya Kovalchuk scored four goals and Russia stormed into the Olympic men's hockey quarterfinals with a dominating 9–2 victory over Latvia on Sunday.
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 08:37 GMT
Euro up 12.1 kopeks on MICEX
MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – The average weighted euro rate for contracts with "today" settlements was 33.6618 rubles during Monday morning's unified trading session on the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX), up 12.1 kopeks from Friday.
// Feb. 20, 2006 - 08:48 GMT