* Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said:

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 05:25 GMT

On Thursday, Nov. 16, Georgia appeared to soften its stance on blocking Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization after the Kremlin said the United States and Russia would sign a WTO deal next week.

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 06:10 GMT

Russia wants the European Union to open its doors to Russian investment, President Vladimir Putin's envoy on EU issues Sergei Yastrzhembsky said on Thursday, Nov. 16, speaking before an EU-Russia summit in Finland later this month.

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 06:11 GMT

The Indonesian government has agreed to purchase military equipment worth $1 billion from Russia in an effort to diversify its arms sources, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said on Thursday, Nov. 16.

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 06:12 GMT

MOSCOW, November 17 (RIA Novosti) – Two bodies have been pulled from the water from a sunken Russian fishing vessel off Kunashir Island, part of the Kuril chain bordering on Japan in the West Pacific.

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 06:21 GMT

Russia questioned on Thursday whether Lebanon's government had acted legitimately in approving a special court to try suspects in the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 06:28 GMT

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) Steering Committee and Governing Board have ended the working session in Paris reports the press secretary for the continental branch of the WJC – Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC).

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 06:38 GMT

HANOI, November 17 (RIA Novosti) – About 1,200 businessmen, representing leading companies from the Asia-Pacific region, will meet in the Vietnamese capital Friday during a business forum ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), to be held in Hanoi November 18–19.

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 06:52 GMT

MOSCOW, November 17 (RIA Novosti) – Credit institutions' balances on correspondent accounts with the Russian Central Bank totaled 337.9 billion rubles ($12.67 billion at the current exchange rates) at the beginning of the business day, up 0.2% (700 million rubles/$26.3 million) from Thursday, the CBR said Friday.

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 07:28 GMT

UFA, November 17 (RIA Novosti) – The first deputy interior minister of the Russian Republic of Bashkiria in the southwest Urals has been found dead, the Russian Interior Ministry press service said Thursday.

// Nov. 17, 2006 - 07:40 GMT