Morning re-cap of main news, December 14
* President Vladimir Putin said the deployment of mobile Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile systems makes a major contribution to Russia's national security
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 05:26 GMT
Russian Air Force receives first advanced bombers
MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's Air Force received Friday its first two newly built Su-34 Fullback bombers.
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 06:10 GMT
Putin, Lukashenko to discuss Union State in Moscow
MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian and Belarusian leaders will discuss the Union State and integration in Moscow Friday, a Kremlin source said.
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 06:36 GMT
Russian Chessboard Maniac Charged With 49 Murders
A Russian man dubbed the Crazy Chess Killer has been charged with 49 murders but failed to achieve his goal of 64 – one for each square on a chess board.
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 06:51 GMT
Putin, Lukashenko to Discuss Union State in Moscow
The Russian and Belarusian leaders will discuss the Union State and integration in Moscow Friday, a Kremlin source has said.
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 07:27 GMT
First Advanced Bombers Delivered to Russian Air Force
Russia's Air Force received Friday its first two newly built Su-34 Fullback bombers. Designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the Su-34 will replace the Su-24 Fencer frontline bombers. Experts said the new bomber has the potential to become the best plane in its class for years to come.
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 07:28 GMT
Banks' correspondent accounts with CBR rise 1.3%
MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti) – Credit institutions' balances on correspondent accounts with the Russian Central Bank totaled 439.9 billion rubles ($16.75 billion at the current exchange rates) at the beginning of the business day, up 1.3% (5.5 billion rubles/$210 million) from Thursday, the CBR said Friday.
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 07:29 GMT
Kyrgyz lawmakers consider closing U.S. airbase
MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti) – Kyrgyzstan's parliament passed a resolution Friday instructing the government to consider closing a U.S. airbase in the Central Asian country's capital, Bishkek, following a fatal incident involving an American serviceman.
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 07:32 GMT
RUXX investment index set to open 0.5% up
MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's investment index will open Friday at 763.22 points, up 0.5% on the previous day's trading, following Thursday evening's sessions on major world trading floors.
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 07:42 GMT
Russia Approves $6.5Bln Spending at Mobil's Sakhalin-1 Project
Russian authorities have approved $6.5 billion of costs spent by ExxonMobil-led Sakhalin-1 project, the country's Energy Ministry said in a statement on Thursday, Dec. 14.
// Dec. 15, 2006 - 07:48 GMT