WORLD
* Four U.S. nationals have been arrested in Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab on suspicion of espionage, Iran’s Press TV reported
* The Japanese government plans to expand stockpiles of crude oil and petroleum products as part of preparations for possible disasters
* Iran has criticized Turkey for its decision to host NATO missile defense elements on its soil, the Mehr News Agency reported
* Hundreds of Bulgarians marched in the streets of the capital Sofia demanding a ban on shale gas exploration, the Sofia News Agency reported
RUSSIA
* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the country’s investment environment is still woeful and needs to be improved as a matter of urgency
* Kazakhstan has lifted a moratorium on test launches of Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) from the Baikonur space center
* A total of 11 cars were burnt in the Russian capital in what police suspect to be a series of arsonist attacks
SPORTS
* Alan Dzagoev’s deflected strike gave Russia a 1-0 win in Slovakia, all but assuring the Russians of automatic qualification to the Euro 2012 finals