Morning re-cap of main news, October 24
* Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said:
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 04:27 GMT
11 of 18 sailors found alive from sunken Russian ship in Pacific
VLADIVOSTOK, October 25 (RIA Novosti) – A total of 11 sailors have now been found alive from the 18-man crew of a Russian cargo ship that sunk in the West Pacific two days ago, after rescuers found another six on Wednesday, Russian officials in Vladivostok said.
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 05:35 GMT
Over 1.8 mln questions in for President Putin's live Q&A session
MOSCOW, October 25 (RIA Novosti) – More than 1.8 million questions from the public have so far been submitted for the Russian president's annual televised question-and-answer session, to be held Wednesday, organizers said.
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 06:17 GMT
Russia-China trade to hit $32-34 bln in 2006 - ambassador
BEIJING, October 25 (RIA Novosti) – Trade between Russia and China is expected to reach $32–34 billion in 2006, and climb to $60–80 billion in the near future, Russia's ambassador to China said Wednesday.
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 06:42 GMT
President Lukashenko Says Belarus Wants Deeper, Respectful Ties with U.S.
Belarus wants to improve relations with the United States, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko today told the new U.S. ambassador to Belarus, Karen Stewart.
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 07:17 GMT
RUXX investment index set to open 0.32% down
MOSCOW, October 25 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's investment index will open Wednesday at 671.87 points, down 0.32% on the previous day's trading, following Tuesday evening's sessions on major world trading floors.
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 07:20 GMT
11 Russian Crew Rescued from Sinking Ship in S.Korean Operation
Rescue teams, battling inclement weather, have saved 11 crew from a wrecked Russian cargo ship off South Korea's coast. With the one recovered dead body, fate of six seamen remains unknown.
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 07:29 GMT
Russia's GDP Growth Exceeds Forecasts, Expected at 6.7% by Year End
Russia's gross domestic product is expected to grow by at least 6.7 percent this year, faster than initially expected, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said on Tuesday, Oct. 24, quoted by Russian news agencies.
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 07:43 GMT
Dollar slips 2.82 kopeks on MICEX
MOSCOW, October 25 (RIA Novosti) – The average weighted dollar rate for contracts with "tomorrow" settlements was 26.9025 rubles during Wednesday morning's unified trading session on the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX), down 2.82 kopeks from Tuesday.
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 07:46 GMT
Euro rises 3.82 kopeks on MICEX
MOSCOW, October 25 (RIA Novosti) – The average weighted euro rate for contracts with "today" settlements was 33.8041 rubles during Wednesday morning's unified trading session on the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX), up 3.82 kopeks from Tuesday.
// Oct. 25, 2006 - 07:48 GMT