* Iran has rejected in advance a new UN Security Council resolution, which is currently coordinated by the Iran-6, Ali Larijani, the country's top nuclear negotiator, said

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 05:28 GMT

MOSCOW, December 14 (RIA Novosti) – Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is expected to arrive in Moscow Thursday for a working visit.

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 06:19 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (New York), December 14 (RIA Novosti) – The UN Security Council has agreed on the main points of a draft resolution regarding Iran's disputed nuclear activities, Russia's ambassador to the organization said Thursday.

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 06:30 GMT

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said on Wednesday, Dec. 13, that its board of directors had endorsed a 100 million euro loan for Russia's SuperJet-100 project, which aims to upgrade the nation's fleet of medium-haul commercial aircraft.

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 06:56 GMT

Russia's attempts to increase its control over oil and gas assets may impede production growth in former Soviet Union countries including Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its monthly report that was published on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 07:12 GMT

Japan's foreign minister said a dispute with Russia over a string of islands could be solved by splitting the total land area in half.

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 07:14 GMT

Russian Foreign Minister beings his two-day visit to Brazil, one the largest Latin American countries. "Moscow and Brazil are interested in implementing long-term projects in the field of high technologies given Russia's leading positions and Brazil's potential in the sphere of science and technology such as peaceful use of outer space", the Russian Foreign Ministry press and information department reported.

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 07:14 GMT

India-born billionaire Lakshmi Mittal will pay Russia's largest private oil producer Lukoil $980 million to buy a 50 percent stake in a Kazakhstan oil firm. Mittal may later transfer it to ONGC-Mittal Energy Ltd, his venture with state-run ONGC.

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 07:19 GMT

MOSCOW, December 14 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's investment index will open Thursday at 759.46 points, down 0.87% on the previous day's trading, following Wednesday evening's sessions on major world trading floors.

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 07:26 GMT

India and Russia have signed a deal to upgrade older versions of MiG-29 fighters that have been in service with the Indian Air Force for almost two decades. The deal is worth $850 million.

// Dec. 14, 2006 - 07:41 GMT